C Yucks it Up Part V

Caption: Maybe I should go crap in that potted plant.
Which, thankfully, our cats do NOT do.

C's Big Day Off IV

Here C alters the captions for the plumper cats to make it look as if Allister is not a lard ass.

The overweight caption has been altered to New Ideal Body Weight.

C could work for ADM or something? He's a really good spin doctor!

Holiday Cheer

Things are starting to unravel a little here at HomeEckWreck. Just like every other year, I thought I had things under control and was well organized. And now with Christmas just about a week away, I'm feeling less than in control. It's not horrific. Just a little messy. Here's the to do:

1. Get slides scanned so this box can be returned. Pick up another.
2. Office Holiday Happy Hour.
3. Place bet on who will act like the biggest tool at the office holiday happy hour.
4. Make dishes for holiday pot luck
5. Shop for two difficult to buy for folks
6. Company Friday night (at least)
7. Visit local family
8. Look presentable 97% of the time. (That is a whole 'nother list)
9. Wrap gifts
10. Round up prostitutes and take them to the policeman's ball. (Joking. That was a line from one of C's video games years ago and I always think of it when I'm making a list).
11. Clean, clean, clean
12. The plants need watered
13. Enjoy myself if it KILLS me. hahaha!

As I said, this is manageable. But it doesn't leave much time for my most recent addiction: The Sony eReader. C is like the best husband EVER and he got me the eReader for Valentines Day (we think) last year. But at the time, I still had a lot of traditional books (i.e., paper) to read. I tucked the eReader away and on Monday finally picked it up again.

I can't tell you how much I love this thing. First of all, I downloaded 6 books (all pretty recently published) Monday evening with just a wee bit of help from C (technical and in the form of Mastercard). Some of the titles are 60% off the cost of the traditional book! Plus, if you have a library card, you can "borrow" books. I'm checking that out next time.

The first time download might have taken 20 minutes - including setting up an account and all that disclaimer junk. I took my little eReader to the spare room and didn't budge for hours. Possibly the best part? It has this amazing light "cover sheet" for reading in darker conditions. I can read at all hours of the night in bed 'cause the light doesn't bother C.

The first book I read cover to cover on the eReader was Beverly Hills Adjacent. After I finished it, I thought I didn't love it. And I still don't love it. However, I didn't exactly want to put it down either. It has some humor, a bit of a heated romance/love triangle. . .I think it's a great beach read. Maybe just a tad fluffier than I've been reading lately - so it was an adjustment for me? I wonder if it will end up a movie? It seems to me it could be the basis for a screenplay.

Next up? Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. I'll keep you posted.

If you'll excuse me, the eReader looks lonely. . .

C's Big Day Off Part III

Cat drinking out of a "people" glass presumably containing milk. (Which btw, cats don't need. Stands to reason that's why Allister gets C's left over cereal milk several times a week)

Caption: I guess a bowl or saucer would be too fricken much to ask for. . .

C Yucks it Up II

Notice this cat on Page 2 looks a little like our orange tabbies Dexter and Edison.

Caption: Once their "little" fluffy guy is on the scale. I put my two paws up there and it's another 12 weeks of dieting for him.

C Yucks it Up on His Day Off

C was clearly quite productive on his day off. . .I arrive home to find this little gem waiting for me on the desk. Our cat Allister is now tipping the scales in excess of 17 pounds. The Vet is concerned and apparently gave us some literature regarding feline weight management.

C decided to make the reading a little more "interesting."

The caption on the cover? Please don't make me diet. I love you both so much.

That's right. . .yuck it up chuckles. Your "little" fluffy buddy might not be so snuggly when he's STARVING and CRANKY!!!!!

Happy Stinkin Holidays!

Where's that damned egg nog?!

Enough Already

Recipie tags for the muffin mixes. This like all my other projects has snnowballed out of control and is taking much longer than anticipated.

Holiday "Baking"

For several years, I've been getting the support staff at my office little holiday gifts. Sometimes wine or 6 packs. Sometimes different items for each individual. This year however, resources are not so vast. So everyone is going to get a muffin mix they can whip up whenever they like. It's prob a little lame compared to previous years but it's the thought that counts!

Philo-so-fizing. . .

Spoke to my Father last evening. He was describing a method of driving piles (I'm not even sure that is the correct spelling). . .He was describing a construction process whereby piers/posts are driven into the ground - into bedrock frequently. These posts are tasked with holding up the integrity of all the other infrastructure.

When we drive these posts into the ground, we need to know when we have driven the posts far "enough." How do we know when we hit far "enough"? Something on the driving mechanism "gives."

Hmmmm. . .The bedrock doesn't give, the post doesn't give. The driving mechanism gives.

(Please if this is inaccurate from an engineering standpoint, because I misunderstood Pops, do NOT correct me I'm working on something here. . .).

Something gives. And that something is the driving mechanism. That led my little brain into some kind of management, leadership, living well thought process.

If you want to be a driving force. The driving force. You must be able to give. If you want life to go a little more smoothly; If you desire less stress or confrontation in your life; you must give.

Some folks and situations are like bedrock - immovable, impenetrable. They just won't give. It's hard being "that guy."

Endeavor to be the driving mechanism. Endeavor to "give." Endeavor to check your stubbornness, ego, and prejudices. Give. The driving mechanism gives. If you want to be a driving force, you must give.

As Victor Frankel so eloquently stated: "When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves."

Spot on. When we hit unyielding bedrock, it behooves us to give.

All Scanning n No Egg Nog

Makes d a dull girl. So I'm having a second glass. Figure it may also provide a certain amount of "warmth.". Got cold here fast.

Would like to gas off about how significant and special I find this scanning process but I suddenly feel very chill.

Ahhhhh Egg Nog. . .

New Toy

My parents have all these slides and they're just trapped in boxes not able to be enjoyed or mocked. . .

I ordered this little slide and negative scanner. You can put all your pics to digital. I've been playing with it a bit this evening. I need to get away from it actually. I'm so excited to see the next slide, I could sit here all night!

Anyway, it's little labor intensive but the gadget is pretty simple and was easy to install. . .Did it all by myself without cursing or even a hint of frustration.

Found this pick of my Father and his Father and their dog. So much fun!

If I find any truly heinous attire, etc., I'll be sure to post.

Good night, happy Friday, and GO NAVY!!!!!

WTF of the Day.

These items turned up in the kitchen area at my office today: 1 box of instant Jello pudding, some "barely used" witch hazel, and a box of elderberry immune system support tablets.

I guess some one cleaned out their pantry and their medicine cabinet last night?

So the pudding is name brand and chocolate and presumably fit for consumption but what on earth would make someone think anyone would want an opened bottle of witch hazel or an odd herbal remedy?!

Tweet? Tweet?

I decided I wanted to try Twitter. This was not forced upon me by the multitudes that mock me for not participating in other social networking sites. But sooner or later it was bound to happen.

The nice thing about Twitter, I'm just Homeeckwreck there too. Still pretty anonymous. Plus, how fun will it be to rant in 140 characters or less?

You know what amazes me about Blogger and Twitter and similar sites? How freaking user friendly they are. I remember in College, for a Geology class of all things, I had to build a web site. Yeah, it was graded. . .for a Geology class. I know WTF? Anyway, I'm not an IT wizard. It took me forever and at least a case of Yuengling Lager's worth of assistance from a few friends to get that sucker functioning.

And fast forward about 12 years, and in the course of about 15 minutes I set up a Twitter account, uploaded a photo, added a Twitter widget to my Blog, AND set my Blackberry up for mobile tweeting. (Tweeting. . .is that the correct term?)

So you can "tweet" me if you'd like. I would definitely like. As I said, I'm @homeeckwreck there too.

Rescue Cats Rule #19

Adoption fee: $0.00
Neutering: $400
Night in the pet ICU: $200
ER help for testicular "issues": $700
All inclusive. . .

Eddie knows how to roll. . .

We love him!!!

U iz Crazy Lazer Pointer Chik?

Allister's Blue Steel. . .

gIT OFF THE zINc (sink) b%^*(TCHES!

Bugs! #10

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."
- Confucius

This is a good pic to double click.

Bugs! #15

When I let the dogs in the yard earlier today I looked to my left and noticed these small bugs on a weed(?) in the planter. They are super small. I think they might be aphids?

It's very cold here compared to the weather we've been experiencing. In fact, this morning is the first time we had to turn on the heat. I wonder where the aphids winter? I wonder why they wouldn't just dig in the dirt instead of clinging to a weed in the cold air?

If you enlarge the pic by double clicking on it, you can really make out some delicate details on the bug to the far right. I think this truly tested the auto adjustments on my camera. I hope the bugs stick around awhile so I can practice some manual adjustments in the daylight.