Good Morning

This is what mornings look like around here lately...sometimes reversed, with Champ in the window and Barley on the chair, and occasionally with both of them sharing the window.

Fiddy

I took my camera to Bromfield Camera (best photo shop in Boston!) the other day to have the sensor cleaned - for one because I was tired of having to photoshop a million little flecks of dirt and dust off every picture I took, and for another because I was pretty sure that the dirty sensor was causing a lot of problems with my focusing. I figured I'd get it cleaned to see if that would fix my focusing problem before I looked into a new lens.

Well, I have no idea if it did/would have fixed my focusing problem, because I asked the guys what it would cost to upgrade my lens (a manual focus 50mm) to one that would auto focus with my camera body, and it was a lot less than I expected. And they would take another $40 off for my lens (almost 40% of what I paid for it). So I left the store with a clean sensor and a new lens.

AND I LOVE IT.

AND THE CATS (AND PETE) HATE IT.

Number 4: (day five) 10am / Words

Me and Champ, snuggling and reading (The Golden Compass) in bed. That's where I was at 10am, where were you?

Champ isn't big on physical contact - doesn't snuggle, doesn't really care about getting pets, and is very skittish so it's hard to even stand next to her. But the other day Pete grabbed a can of almonds for a snack, and suddenly Champ showed up at his feet. Then jumped onto the arm of the couch. Then Pete held up an almond for her to inspect, and she spent a loooooong time licking it and sniffing it and trying to figure out how to actually eat it. After a minute, Barley wanted to know what it was all about, but he had zero interest and left it for Champ.

Apparently the way to Champs heart is through her stomach.

Irene

This is how Champ prepares for impending hurricanes.

Coworker

Champ was keeping me company while I worked today (by which I mean that she was in the same room with me, but would not let me touch her. I may have saved her life and forced Pete to "let" me adopt her, but that doesn't make her love me. Can we say UNGRATEFUL?).

She didn't seem particularly interested in helping out on the go/no-go decision making.

Snuggle Bugs

Apparently I missed the memo that it was family nap time.

Sunshine Snuggles

These two are ridiculously adorable when they sleep together.

Spring?

The thing to note here is not Champ, but the fact that the window is OPEN! It was 60 degrees out today, so we opened the windows and let the kitties enjoy shoving their faces against the screens.

Shower Power

Lately, Champ's schedule has also included a romp in the wet tub after we take our showers in the morning. We don't often catch her in action, but you can find a little trail of wet paw prints across the bathroom floor almost daily, and if you try to pet her when she walks by you in the hall in the mornings, you usually end up with a wet hand! Who knows why rolling around in a wet tub is so appealing.

If you're interested, I've been crocheting away this weekend, and you can see some of my latest projects over on Flickr - specifically those last two in the bottom row.

Snow Day

We got a whole lot of snow today! I don't know how much, I haven't really paid close attention to the reports and it didn't really stop snowing until well into the evening. I was stir crazy, though, and so around nine o'clock I rugged up and went outside. I shoveled our stairs and sidewalk (our landlord has someone that comes and does this, but who knows when they were coming and I had energy to burn anyway), which worked up quite a sweat. And then I rewarded myself with a stroll to Coffee Break Cafe for a tasty hot chocolate!

If ever you want the scoop on what's going on in the midst of a snow storm, head to the local coffee shop. I got the update (second hand) from the firemen that had been in earlier, and the policeman that came in while I was there. Luckily, he had just walked out the door when the power lines that cross the street fell, so he pulled out of the parking lot and blocked the road until someone could come clear those away. Also luckily, the guy whose car the power lines landed on had just five minutes before finished digging out his car - good thing he wasn't still standing there!

Props to the MBTA, who was out in force keeping the T stop and the parking lot in great shape! I didn't ride the T at all during the storm, but the reports I heard were that the service was running great and with few delays due to the weather. Pete said a zillion times in the morning that he was going to head into the office to get some work done because there was a lot to do, but he wimped out after walking only half way to the T stop (which equals a short block, for those of you not familiar with our neighborhood). Lazy bum! He sat inside and played video games all day. Meanwhile, I hopped in the Zipcar I had booked and headed to see a friend. I know. Crazy to be driving in a blizzard. On that note, was it officially a blizzard, or is everyone just calling it that? I don't even know, but it honestly wasn't horrible when I was out, which was the tail end of what was meant to be the worst of it. Anyway, I headed to see a friend and help out with shoveling, because sometimes people need a friend around, and I wasn't going to let a snow storm stop me from being that friend. Plus, shoveling = alternative workout, and I missed the gym Tuesday (because of plans after work) and Wednesday (because I didn't go to work)!

Props also to the plow crews that were out - the roads were in pretty great shape considering the amount of snow we got and how quickly it was coming down in the morning! I guess that's what happens when you have thousands of plows on standby, waiting for the first flake to fall. 95 was in pretty good shape when I first headed out around noon, and it was in fantastic shape when I was heading home just after eight o'clock! I was pleasantly surprised, because I had geared myself up for a very slow, very stressful ride and while it was slower than usual, it was not nearly as stressful as I had anticipated. So thank you to all the plow drivers that were out in force for what I'm sure was a veeeeeery long day.

Oh...and here's a glimpse of how Champ spent her snow day.

OH WAIT! That's exactly how she spends every day. Lucky not-so-little thing. I'm sure that when I took this, Barley was in Pete's lap doing his best to be as annoyingly in the way of the XBox controller as possible. :)

Happy Thanksgiving....

..from me and mine to you and yours! 

I'm thankful for a whole lot - more than I could possibly list here, and plenty that is probably on everyone else's list, too. But here's one thing that I'm very thankful for that is not likely on anyone else's list: Pete's butt, and it's amazing ability to radiate heat and keep me warm!

Wishing everyone a great day and a full belly!

Update

The cats still love to snuggle and nap on the Poang. As usually, Barley uses fatty Champ for a pillow.

If cats could talk....

...they wouldn't.

Champ wasn't amused when I invaded her peace and quiet in the bedroom to take a picture. But how sweet is she? She's slowly recovering from her fall a week ago. I think the most noticeable difference between before her fall and now is that Barley is more desperate for our attention because he doesn't have Champ to chase and play with right now.

Slightly unrelated: I'm on vacation! Sorta kinda...I need to log on for a few hours tomorrow afternoon to tie up a few loose ends, but at least I can do that from home. My plans for vacation: hang shelves and artwork, edit overdue photos, cheer on the 3 Day walkers, get a haircut, read, squeeze in as much yoga as possible...and then head to DC/NoVA to throw a baby shower for my sister and visit with friends and their new baby. I'm very excited.

Totally unrelated: I was playing with the layout here last week and I still haven't quite worked out the picture situation. Bear with me, it's on my list of things to sort out while on vacation!

Two year foundiversary

Two years! It's been two years since we found Champ in a car engine. I had begged Pete to get a second cat for a long time (for the record, this second cat was supposed to be orange, and preferably a Maine Coon because I also wanted it to be a big fat cat), and he was completely resistant to it. But how do you resist a teeny 1-pound-soaking-wet kitten who hisses at anything that makes eye contact?! I don't think we ever realized how much we would love having another cat, even if she is overly skittish and constantly hiding under the bed.

Here she is one year ago, and when we found her two years ago.

A List: Things To Do This Summer

I realize it's a little late to be starting this list, but better late than never, right?!

1. Lunchtime croquet with co-workers on the Greenway Attempted Friday, September 10th to no avail - there were games, but no croquet.
2. Buy a bike. And ride it.
3. Watch a Movie by Moonlight at the Boston Harbor Hotel (link opens PDF)* You know what ruined this? Hurricane Earl!
4. Hike a new-to-me Boston Harbor Island* completed Saturday, July 3rd
5. Kayak on the Charles
6. Shakespeare on the Common* completed Saturday, August 7th
7. Celebrate a feast in the North End
8. See at least one Free Friday Flick at the Hatch Shell (link opens PDF)*
9. Attend the Forest Hills Lantern Festival** This was overruled by our friend Karl's gallery opening.

*Will involve a picnic lunch/dinner
**Will involve dinner at Bella Luna


Doesn't it feel like I should have an even 10? I couldn't come up with one. If I do, I'll let you know. In the meantime, what's on your "To Do This Summer" list?!

Smooshy Face

Honestly, seeing these two curled up together never ceases to entertain me!

Stink Eye

I bought a Poang chair a few weeks ago because I LOVE them and think their super comfy. Apparently the cats do too, because this chair has at least one cat in it for approximately 22 hours of every day.

Champ hates when I get out the camera (much like Pete, I think he taught her this trick) so she always moves from cute to stink eye as soon as I get it out to take her picture.

Doesn't every sister sit on her brother's head to show her love?! I caught them like this and had to take a picture...and then intervene to be sure she didn't suffocate him. The poor guy was trying to kick her in the face to get free, but she was holding strong. To think we were worried when we brought her home that SHE would be the one getting beat up and abused!