Sunday, January 18, 2009
Here's the Thing - Cats and String
Here is a big YEAH for the kitties this morning! They let me sleep until almost 7:00! Amazing!
Skor is still continuing his reign as the whiny kitty and throws in acts of destruction just to keep us on our toes. His latest destruction job? His FAVORITE toy. It is a fishing pole type toy with Mylar streamers. He always drags the thing around the house and the other day he brought it back to me . . . sort of. He only brought back the Mylar streamers - not the pole or the string - just the streamers. It took me about 15 minutes to hunt for the rest of the toy to see just what had happened.
Here is what I have pieced together - Skor took his toy out for a tour of the house and decided it needed to check out behind the toilet. The only problem is that the toilet room is rather narrow and the stick couldn't make the tight turn. Not one to be deterred, Skor kept tugging until something gave. The streamers came out of the plastic piece by which they are connected to the string and the rest of the toy remained in the toilet room.
Mystery solved.
Hubby, the king of the hot glue gun, glued the streamers back into the toy but not before I made a very interesting discovery.
Skor LOVES this particular toy. He has several others but this is his favorite of all times. In fact, he would prefer to play with this toy even if it doesn't have any streamers attached. He likes it when it is just the stick and the string.
And so does Miss Cleo.
Hubby and I have been a bit saddened by Miss Cleo's lack of playing over the past several months. Last night, I found the key. The stick and the string.
Now, she originally liked the Mylar streamers (fondly nicknamed Mr. Sparkly) but when Skor came in - she just laid there and watched him freak out chasing Mr. Sparkly. However, last night she was curled up to watch the nightly entertainment (Skor freaking out while chasing his toy) when suddenly, she pounced on the string, threw it up in the air and ran after it.
I was in shock. Remember, Miss Cleo had basically stopped playing like this a LONG time ago. Hubby wasn't too impressed but then again, he was watching Ohio State basketball so I am not even sure he even noticed. Wanting to see just how far Miss Cleo would take the playing - since she had had very brief returns to playing in the past - I continue to play with both cats and the stick with the string on it.
The two cats played very well together. Miss Cleo would watch as Skor ran like a crazy kitty after the string and, when he had caught it and was resting, she would take her turn chasing the string in a much more sedate, but still active, manner. Skor would watch until she had caught the string and had thrown it around a bit. Then he was ready to play again.
I kept this up for over a half an hour and only stopped because of MY arms getting tired - not because either cat wanted to quit.
This morning, after feeding the cats, I got out the toy (remember, it is just a stick with string on it) and BOTH cats played again. Eureka! I think I have found the secret. Who needs the streamers? Just trail the string around and both cats act like it is the best toy ever.
This will save us a lot of money in cat toys!
Trisha
Voice Update: Doing pretty well. I am still doing my massage. I have gotten into a routine of doing it each time I am in the car as well as during commercials when I am watching tv. The sessions are not very long but I do a lot of them so the time adds up. I think my voice is doing pretty well. I still have some issues with those unvoiced consonants but they are currently barely noticeable. Yeah!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
My Big Outing
This week has been a real bummer for me since I have been sick most of the time. Needless to say, I didn't get out too much. Yes, Hubby and I went to JoAnn's to get some pictures framed but that was pretty much it. I was getting a bit stir crazy!
Yesterday, I braved the chilly temps (again - chilly for TEXAS) and went to Wal Mart. I felt like a kid in a candy store! Suddenly, all of the mundane things in Wal Mart seemed sparkly and new. Everything was interesting and deserved attention (everything except the auto parts section - that still seemed sort of dark and grimy to me). I wandered up and down the aisles despite the list in my pocket.
I looked at cookware and laundry baskets, vacuum cleaners and clothes hangers, sheet sets and pillows. The electronics section was next and all of the CDs and video games were enthralling. On to the craft section (which, by the way, I hear will be eliminated some day - horrible!) and then a quick left to head to the clothing section to browse the sock aisle.
After the socks groceries were the next adventure. I checked out the chip aisle, the dairy aisles and then strolled down the meat aisle fascinated by the choices which don't show up in Kroger. Bison. Lamb. Tripe (okay - just who is buying all the tripe? There were LOTS of packages of the stuff in the bins!).
A kid in a candy store!
After the groceries I perused the end caps as I headed to the check-outs. The book section was on the way with a special "sale" table out front that caught my attention. Books of all sorts and CDs were strewn across the table like tempting desserts. I checked each out in turn.
Feeling happy after my illness, I chatted with the check-out woman about her son who just joined the Marines. Even the woman behind me got in on the conversation.
It was a nice trip to the mega-store!
Oh - did I mention slippers were half off?
Trisha
Voice Update: So-so. I have been a good girl and have been doing my massage (when I have been awake) but yesterday my voice had a tough time. True, it was at its worst when Hubby asked me to repeat something for the THIRD time. Most of the time it was just fine. *sigh* I guess it is just in need of more work!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Books and Bookmark How-Tos
Well, I am feeling slightly better (again) this morning. Let's all hope that it stays that way!
It is COLD here in Texas - only 26 degrees!**Editor's Note: Yes, I KNOW 26 degrees isn't cold in some parts of the country and that those same parts are having even colder temperatures but, come on, this is TEXAS! I was thinking of walking again this morning for the first time since I got sick but, I thought better of it and stayed in bed for an extra hour instead!
Today I have a couple of book reviews for you and then an explanation of just how my elastic bookmarks work.
Here is the first book. The Red hat Club Rides Again by Haywood Smith. My Aunt Donna gave me this book and even though I had not read the first book, I enjoyed this one.
The Red Hat Club, composed of six women who have been friends for a LONG time (I can't remember exactly how long), meets once a month to have lunch and a lucious talk. This time the club members "ride" to the rescue of one of their own, Pru, who is lost in the throes of drugs and bad company. The club travels to Las Vegas, courtesy of the rich member of the group who has a private jet, and kidnaps Pru and sets her up in an exclusive rehab.The group then undertakes a special "make-over" cruise once Pru is out of rehab. During the trip to Vegas, the cruise, and everything in between, the group follows the ten rules they have created for their group and their lives work through various complications which add interest and reality to the characters.
Like I said, I haven't read the original (I did pick it up at Half-Price books recently with my coupon!) but I will say that this book was a fun read. I had no problem identifying with the characters and becoming involved in their exploits. A fun book.
Next up is Emma's Secret by Barbara Taylor Bradford. Again, this book was given to me by Aunt Donna and it isn't the first in the series. However, this book stands alone well enough that you don't need to have read the other books written about the same characters.
Three clans, the Hartes, the O'Neills, and the Kallinskis, are intertwined due to their long history together which began with great-grandparents. The three families are powerful in business but the grandchildren are hardworking and dedicated despite the family money.In this book, a young woman from America, Evan, comes to London to seek Emma Harte, the matriarch of the Harte clan, whom her grandmother has told her to seek out. She is dissappointed to learn that Emma has been dead for thirty odd years but decides to remain in London and takes a job at the Harte business, a prostegious department store chain.
Evan's appearance causes quite a disturbanc among the clans. Her appearance, at first glance, reminds people of Paula, the current matriarch of the Harte clan. The resemblence starts a search of the family tree to determine if Evan is a part of the family or not (and as such, a possible threat to the inheritence of the grandchildren).
During the course of the investigation, the family "black sheep" returns to London and attempts to stir up trouble as he seeks revenge against Paula for past slights. This puts a slight kink in things and before it is all over, a family secret is revealed for the first time in thirty odd years.
I really liked this book. However, I do think that the ending was a bit abrupt. Perhaps this is because there is another book concerning the same characters? In any event, the book was interesting and a good read. I might even go back and find the other books written about the same characters. They should be interesting as well!
Okay - time for the bookmark "how-to" session.
As I said in my previous post, the bookmark is made from flat, black elastic. There is a decorative button on one end and a buttonhole/loop on the other end. Like this:

To utilize the book mark, you follow these steps.
First, insert the elastic into the book where you want your place marked.

Next, close the book and bring the two ends to the front of the book (I suppose you could bring them to the back just as easily).

Now, stretch the elastic so that the two ends come together (this is hard to do when you are taking a picture of it so forgive the awkward looking picture!)Thursday, January 15, 2009
Like a Yo-Yo
What goes up must come down . . . and go up, and come down, and go up . . .
My temperature has been acting like a yo-yo lately. 101 . . . 97 . . . 99 . . . 97 . . . 100 . . . 99 . . . 100 . . . 97 . . . 99
What fun! A little frustrating. The only thing that is good is that there is no vomiting or other bodily function coming along for the ride. I just feel achy and tired a lot.
I am beginning to suspect that this is a ploy to get me to buy more aspirin . . . what do you think? And yes, if this keeps up for another full day I will make and appointment to see Doc Feelie, which isn't my favorite thing to do.
In other news, Hubby and I went to JoAnn's yesterday to get a couple pictures framed. One was a scene from Victoria, British Columbia and one was a castle in Austria. I hope to hang them in my music room but . . . who knows where they will end up.
Framing is such fun. The first thing the framing guy asked was . . . "Do you know how you want these framed?" Ummmm..... no. "Where are you planning on hanging them?" Ummmmm . . . . we aren't sure.
We were off to such a good start!
After trying about a billion different frames and a million mats for the castle, Hubby and I finally decided on a blue mat and two different yet coordinated cherry frames. Whew - thank goodness that is over. There are just so many choices! I felt bad for the framing guy for having to go through all of that with us. Then, to add insult to injury, he had to check us out when I went up front to buy my elastic.
What is that? Why was I buying elastic? Well, I promised my Aunt Donna that I would make her some bookmarks and I want to make her one of the nifty ones using the elastic. Do you remember those? No? Here is a picture to refresh your memory.
I thought I had a picture of the bookmark in action but apparently I deleted it. Well, the bookmarks on the right are made of elastic and they work by stretching the elastic around the book. You put the elastic in the book to mark your page and then stretch both ends to the front and "button" the elastic around the colorful button to secure it in place. They work really well and also help keep the book open to the right page.
Anyway - I want to improve on the design a bit so I wanted to buy some black round, cord elastic. The fates are against me though. They never have the stuff when I am there. The little hook has the label "black cord elastic" hanging tantalizingly from it but, alas, the area is empty!
So I chose a really thin braided, flat elastic. We will see how that goes. My idea is to sew this elastic in a loop onto the wider elastic which goes inside the book and around to the front. The little look will go around the button and will keep me from having to cut a "buttonhole" into the wider elastic. I will let you know how it works out!
I am off to find something for breakfast that is slightly appealing. Nothing sounds too good to me at the moment. Then I might just take some more aspirin and go back to bed. Again. What a life!
Trisha
Voice Update: My voice is doing well. I did my massage FIVE times yesterday. There wasn't much else to do so I just massaged away! My throat is a bit more "crunchy" than I would like it to be (translation, my throat isn't as loose as I would like it to be and makes "lovely" crunching sounds to let me know.) but I am working on that.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
97.9
Yesterday was a big old bummer of a day. I slept pretty much all day and when I was awake I felt like going back to sleep. How exciting!
Luckily, a good dose of Tylenol and some more sleep last night knocked the rest of my fever out and this morning I am almost back to normal. My normal temp is a bit lower than average - it is 97.6 or so most days. This is why I have a hard time explaining to the doctor that 99.5 IS a temp for me worth being worried about. Anyway - it is normal again so . . . .
I have a question for all you bloggers out there. Do you look to see where all of your readers come from?
The little Feed-it box on my blog has intrigued me from the moment I put it on my site. Every day when I finish blogging and reading the blogs I am addicted to, I check the little box to see where people have come from lately. I even keep track of the cities, states, and countries.
Hubby says it gives me something to do. I personally think it is neat that so many different people from so many different places actually visit my humble little blog. True, many of them get to my blog by mistake. They search things on google which are totally unrelated to what I am blathering about and - voila! They end up on my blog! I sometimes wonder if they count as actual "readers" because I am sure they high tail it right off my blog as soon as they realize that my "naughty knees" are not exactly what they were looking for.However, they came so I count them!
Am I the only one with this obsession?
No walking or weights either yesterday or today. I plan on getting going tomorrow again with the routine.
Trisha
Voice Update: As I was asleep most of yesterday it is hard to really get a good "fix" on my voice level. I did do my massage twice yesterday and one time included the "thumper" massager. We will see what today brings!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
101.3
My temperature is 101.3. Not good.
You might be able to tell from that number that I am not feeling too well this morning.
Why is it that I can be so hot that my head feels like it is on fire (I have taken aspirin by the way) and my fingers can still feel like ice? I am calling Skor up onto my lap just so I can warm up my fingers in his fur!
The funny thing is that I felt fine yesterday and last night. It wasn't until I woke up at about 2:30 in the morning that I knew something was wrong. Hopefully it will be gone as quickly as it come on.
I'll talk to you all tomorrow then.
Trisha
Voice Update: Who knows. I haven't really talked at all today and don't know if I will.
Monday, January 12, 2009
To Follow or Not to Follow, Why is That the question?
As I walked this morning I was listening to my podcasts, as usual. I know, I know, I am totally addicted to podcasts but, with such wonderful content, how can you not become addicted?
Anyway, I was listening to Shot Cummings Audio - a podcast in which a guy - Kevin Cummings - relates stories from his experiences in short, six minute episodes. He has a wonderfully droll sense of humor and makes me laugh out loud - which is difficult to do. You can find his podcasts by going to his website.
Because I listen to a LOT of podcasts, I tend to have a backlog of them at any given time. This morning I listened to three different episodes of Short Cummings Audio and one really hit a nerve. He was talking about people who don't follow rules.
Hubby and I were just talking about that the other day!
People not following the rules is something that really bugs me. It never fails to amaze me that in our society, people who don't follow the rules are rewarded (often not intentionally) while those of us who doggedly follow the rules are left in the dust (or are inconvenienced).
One example is on airplanes. There is a clear rule that you are supposed to only have two carry-ons, one of which is a purse or other personal item. Have you seen the size of some of these "purses?" I think I could fit in some of them! What about the men who have the rolling carry-on and then the HUGE duffel bag? Is the bag really personal? The whole concept of "personal item" was intended to be for women and their purses and, in the interest of fairness, HAD to be extended to men but, come on!
Another example relating to airplanes is walking in the airport concourse. Weren't most people taught to walk to the right side of the hallway so others can walk on the other side? I don't know how that works in countries where they drive on the left side of the road but . . .
Why is it that I will be walking along on the right side of the hallway and someone coming the opposite direction will basically walk right into me even though there is LOTS of room toward the middle of the hallway? Hubby thinks it is because I become invisible in public places and, this might be true since I also have problems activating those motion-activated faucets and towel dispensers.
Related to airport hallway behavior is the person who pulls out of a side street and cuts me off despite the fact that there are NO CARS behind me! What is that all about?
My rant is almost over but I do have to wonder just what is it that parents are teaching their children these days? That as long as you get what YOU want, who cares about everyone else?
What is the world coming to?
Exercise update: I walked this morning and then did my weight routine TWICE! That is how you are supposed to do the routine but I couldn't handle that when I started! Today, I went for it and I think I will be feeling it for a while!
Trisha
Voice Update: One massage session yesterday -not the best but . . . not the worst. My voice is okay but more massage will make it better.

