important

Yesterday was spent driving around aimlessly as the skies continued with their unrelenting storms.  We went in to a furniture store in wilton manors which is where I found this pamphlet.  I think whoever designed this chose the absolute best image for the cover.  I know I want to shop for more mid-century modern furniture now.

We ended up driving down to Miami and walking around on south beach for a while.  It was really fun but I can't wait to go back when the weather is beautiful and there are more people out.  If nothing else at least I went and know how to get there now.  It's weird that two days ago I had still never been to Miami and now I've been both by boat and by car.

And I still haven't seen gloria estefan.  One day, I'm sure of it.

For now it's back to kitty and me all alone just yelling at each other.  Now that everything has settled down I guess I have to get back to my life.  Buzzkill.

Please feel free to call or email to distract me.  Thanks : )

on the good ship lollipop

My friend Toby came from new york for halloween weekend in ft. lauderdale, I'm sorry that my posting has been nonexistent.  If it's any consolation it's because I was doing things like spending the day on the boat pictured above, courtesy of friends of Toby.

I sent that picture to Meghan because I had heard it was snowing up north and I wanted somebody to be jealous, which she was.  I had to come clean though about the reality of the situation.  That picture has more camera tricks working for it than a barbara walters special.  This was more what a lot of the day was:

All of us huddled on the back deck watching the deluge.  It was a typical Florida day where the driving rain would start and stop at a moments notice so those of us foolhardy enough to keep going upstairs would then have to try and climb down the narrow slippery staircase as the waves and rain pelted us unmercifully.

Being inside had it's advantages too though.  Namely this handsome guy who, much to everyone's delight, shared the name Toby:

I also spent a good deal of my time inside perched on the edge of the couch so I could watch the horizon to keep from throwing up.  It's crazy how in the canals you notice how big the boat is by how little it is affected by other boats wake, but once you get out in to the ocean you're reminded of how insignificant you are as the waves toss you about.  One thing that was not tossed about by the waves however was this beautiful glass sculpture of a wave:

I spent most of my inside time here so I could see out the windows, but I would also watch that sculpture as the boat tipped from side to side and it never moved!!  Even when all of the drawers in the kitchen came flying out and everything crashed to the floor it still stayed right there.  That is craftsmanship right there.

But the trip wasn't all rain and roughness, there were grace periods, especially when we got down to Miami.

We even got to do one of my favorite nautical activities; making motorists wait.

As we cruised down the Intra Coastal and got deeper in to Miami proper I kept looking for the bad girls house but I never saw it.  I saw a couple that looked like it but I don't think it was it.  I also tried to be on the lookout for Rosie or Gloria but neither made an appearance.

We kind of just got to Miami when we had to turn and head back so I only got a glimpse of downtown proper.

Which was fine as the hosts of the afternoon had been more than generous already with their time and toys.  I just hope I get a chance to do it again.

Upon returning to Ft. Lauderdale there was little time to spare before we headed to a halloween party.  I felt bad that I wasn't dressed as anything but I was glad I went regardless.  I have seen more amazing houses in the past two days here than you'd believe.  And costumes!  So many good costumes, but I have no trouble naming my favorites.  Toby's friends Bill and Jed win the grand prize in my book:

Half of the amazingness of these costumes was how much joy it brought me when I would look at them and the other half was the joy on other people's faces when they would see them for the first time.  I mean really, I still can't get over how much I love these costumes.

Though I have to give credit to the runner up who was literally running around the party the whole night just being nice:

I want a doggy that I can dress up in costumes and have run around and smile at people.  And since that's pretty much all I've seen in Ft. Lauderdale the past two days I'd say I'm in the right place for it.

I'm not sure what's on the agenda for today.  It's overcast and rainy again, lame.  I guess it's time to wake up human Toby and figure it out.

Happy Halloween!  : )

this was new

I had to come back to Ft. Lauderdale to pay my rent among other things.  My grandfather offered to watch the detective but I was worried that he would do something terrible like run in front of his feet while he was walking or something so I decided to just take him with me.

Normally when he rides in the car he stays low and acts like he's nervous about looking out the windows, especially when we are moving.  Not this time though.  He would either sit right there in between the two seats or he would lay down in the area behind the seats where the top folds down in to.  I didn't mind it until he started shrieking in my ear.

Otherwise we made it down without incident.  I was welcomed home by this mess:

And none of it was for me.  Not even an electric bill.  Shouldn't I have gotten one of those by now?  I still have electricity.  I guess I'll just wait and see what happens.

As much as I love my grandfathers house it is nice to be at this apt.  It feels weird to think of it as my home since I only lived here for like 12 days, but I already felt like things were familiar.  I even got here without using my gps!

And even though the detective was disgruntled about being moved it didn't take him long to remember the things he liked about this apt either.

I love how for as big as that sink is it still isn't big enough to contain his ridiculous tail.

I'm pretty much unpacked, I have a few more things to do before my halloween house guest comes tomorrow!  I am looking forward to a change of pace.

I miss her

Thank you Jon for sending this to me and reminding me of how much I love New York.

"Hey, if I smell like broccoli, I'm proud to smell like broccoli"

just in time for halloween!

source

Please go and look at all the other costumes.  My morning has been made, thank you andrew for sending these to me.

come for a ride with me

It's been a long couple of days.  I have a feeling today will be the longest, we'll see.

Yesterday afternoon I could feel myself reaching the breaking point so I dropped the top and went for a drive.

I went the usual route, down longboat key, stopping at bradenton beach to watch the sunset.

I even took a video of the drive over one of my favorite bridges but it seems you all will not get to witness it as I can't seem to get it to upload to my blog.  It's probably for the best as I held the camera above the windshield to try and give the best view possible, not realizing that the sound of the wind was going to be deafening.

Next time I'll be better prepared.  And from the way things have been going, next time might be in a few hours so stay tuned.

why are their faces frozen in terror?

I saw this at Sam's club yesterday and was so confused.  Is this really the best picture they could have chosen?  I mean, it's photo paper, they literally could have used any photograph of anything and they decided to go with three children, each more frightened than the one before?

And they are all looking at different things.  I assumed it was a zombie apocalypse that had ruined that little girls birthday.

the vicious killer in action

I was sitting on the porch minding my own business when all hell broke loose.  I guess these two had been messing with each other for a while without me noticing and the detective finally went for the kill.  Of course he only succeeded in getting his claws stuck in the screen at which point I yelled at him and he gave me a dirty look.  The squirrel proceeded to climb to the top of the screen where he tormented the detective some more.

You can watch the detective's hunting prowess here:

Meghan once asked if she could borrow the detective to catch a mouse.  Yeah, good luck with that.

I'm so glad I found this

Jon said he was watching a movie with Nicholas Cage and some witches and I immediately thought of the Wicker Man.  Jon said that wasn't the movie he was talking about so I had to go searching for this clip.

We used to watch this all the time.  Nathanael loved this montage.

"Killing me won't bring back your God damned honey"

I am seriously laughing so hard I'm crying.

Shut up I totally called it

source

Omg I was looking through old posts and I came across this post that I did back in December.

The important part is the very last thing I said, "I hope she does her first interview after the birth with Barbara".

I know she's done interviews since the birth but I would just like to point out who got the first glimpse of dem babies.

And who called it.

Thank you

just a little baby

I saw him while I was on my run yesterday in one of the bigger lakes in the neighborhood.  I tried to get closer but we're still at the point where I am larger and scarier than him so he made haste in to the depths.  Give him a few more years and I would be telling a different story.

I love how adorable the little babies are.  I feel like growing up in Florida it was always drilled in to our heads that they are cute as babies but not when they grow up.  But I mean, come on, what were we to do when we had things like this to influence us:

source

Look at the little beach chair!  So cute.

And yet, the adult in me does recognize that Elvis has probably grown in to a bloodthirsty killer by now.

Speaking of bloodthirsty killers, here's a picture of that nice nice guy:

Similarly waiting in the shadows for just the right moment to strike.  And by strike I mean lay down.

An early morning visitor

I heard something larger and slower than a squirrel crashing through the brush beyond the back yard and wondered what it could be.  I was not expecting to see this handsome little guy poking around the orange trees.

He didn't want to come over to me and the grass was still too wet for me to want to go over to him so I just watched him while he walked around the backyard at his leisure, made some poops, and then continued on his way.

I hope I can look forward to more pop ins from him in the future.

It's nice to spend the morning so peacefully, I have a big day ahead of me today.  My grandfather is coming home!  I am excited but also nervous to see how things go.

I spent all day yesterday getting things in order around the house.  I'm probably not going to be driving my car for a while so I washed it and waxed it yesterday to what I think you'll agree is a mirror-like finish:

You could put on your make up in that door!

It's also become winter in the past few days and since I only brought t-shirts and shorts up in September I decided to pick up a few fall essentials.  I ended up basically getting items that were as close as I could get to my favorite things Jon wears.

I was trying to take a picture of the result to show him when that greedy camera hog had to get in on the action:

It made me realize though that I really don't have very many pictures of me and kitty together which makes me sad.  I guess the problem is just that it's hard to finagle him in to a position for a picture so I usually just end up chasing him around with my phone.  But, I'm always up for a challenge, so you can look forward to more pictures of us together in the future. .

Hopefully.

For now though, I've got to go get my grandfather!

yoga perfect

We had a saying in class for whenever somebody was feeling frustrated about not being able to do something: "It's called yoga practice, not yoga perfect"

Yesterday I thought about that saying while I was doing my warm up and looking at how ridiculous that guy is that he has to sprawl himself out like that.  What I realized was that even though it's yoga practice, this scenario is my yoga perfect.

To not only have a scene that's beautiful and tranquil, but to have it be a fond nostalgic place from my childhood makes it so unique.  So different than doing it in my bedroom or some random studio.

And then having that special guy around to be in the way and scream in my face and bite my hand while I'm supporting myself in side plank.  I wouldn't want it any other way.

I can't stop watching

I haven't even gotten over the last video and they are already coming out with another one?!  I appreciate that kind of a production schedule, it's how all the greats do it.  Just keep cranking out the masterpieces and we will keep coming back for more.

I really like this video, I can't get over how AMAZING all three of them look when upside down.  I know what I look like when I'm upside down and it's nothing like that.

It's more like this:



That's why I leave the music video making to the professionals.

More videos please, thank you!

he works hard and he plays hard

Apparently the detective is still taking cases even while he is on vacation.  I guess it's true what he always says, "crime doesn't take a vacation".

It's at least nice to know that he can find some time for a little r&r.  He was helping me play wii but just got too tuckered out.

the other one

She had seen this post I did about Ben the other day and was sad that she slept right through the photo shoot.  She made sure to position herself in the most adorable way ever so I would see her on my way out though.

That is the exact same face she made the entire time, from the moment I saw her.  I was walking past the room they hang out in and glanced in, not expecting to find somebody staring right back at me.  Apparently she was on guard duty as no amount of picture taking or reaching my hand out to pet her would distract her from her job of staring straight ahead of her and remaining perfectly still like a statue.

When I got home I asked the detective what he thought about visiting people and making them feel better.  His answer?

"Oh, no thank you"

it's that kind of a neighborhood

I don't know how long I'll survive living in my grandfathers neighborhood.  I was jogging and came across this scene.

Not only did they feel the need to split the sidewalk around a tree but then they also had to put in a sign to direct traffic.  And you can tell it's a heavily trafficked area.

This is the same neighborhood where my brother once got a ticket for parking his truck in my grandfather's driveway overnight.  Apparently work vehicles are to be kept out of sight.

Living here is a far cry from my old apartment overlooking the parking lot where the garbage trucks are kept.

we both found what we were looking for

After I dropped my grandfather off I was walking to my car when I spotted this handsome guy sitting all alone in an empty room just desperate for somebody to give him some nice pets.  I had to oblige.

I really like that his whiskers are all white, it's such a funny accent to his face.

Ben isn't quite as big a ham for the camera as the detective but his mannerisms were similar.  He did the ridiculous stretching and digging his claws in to the carpet, but stayed more active than the detective does.  I have tons of pictures that are just a big blur of cat because he decided he needed to get up and walk around a little bit before sitting down again.

He is clearly starved for attention.  Food not so much, but attention, yes.

Some of the nicest guys I've ever seen

Thank you Craig for sending this to me.  You can imagine how much it pleased me.

I would appreciate a translation from one of you francophiles, but even without knowing what they were talking about this video was A+.  It's just some nice guys hanging out and being friendly.

I really really want to do this.  I feel like that woman is clearly basing her life choices off Cameron Diaz' character in Charlie's Angels, and I am often mistaken for Cameron Diaz as well, so it would make sense that I could do this too.  She was laughing, she was having a good time, it didn't look too scary or hard.

Jonathan, I know what I want to do for my birthday this year!

me in every relationship

I don't know what made me think of it but I was doing some self loathing while looking at past flames facebook pages and this scene from Tommy Boy came in to my mind.

Watching it right now only reconfirms what I already felt, that it's the most apt description of me when I really like somebody.

The worst part is that I'm totally aware that I'm doing it the entire time too.

That's why it's just going to be kitty and me, together forever.

I turned in to the parking lot when suddenly...

For my entire drive to the grocery store it was just an ordinary evening sky, it wasn't until I pulled in that the sky revealed it's hidden bounty.  I'm always amazed that the sky can work like that, be completely different in different sections.  Maybe I had just gotten used to the NYC sky which is whatever you can see between the buildings.  I have forgotten how much sky you can really see when you're somewhere big and flat with nothing obstructing your view.

Last night's sunset was arrestingly beautiful, causing the parking lot to become an obstacle course of slack jawed pedestrians gazing up at the heavens as they milled in the general directions of their cars.  My initial thought was, 'wwmd' (what would maria do) but nature's beauty was able to calm me and I managed to navigate the parking lot without causing any casualties.

It's good to know that if I can't make it to the beach to watch the sunset I can just camp out in the Publix parking lot.  They should include that in their advertising.

I've had this stuck in my head for days

Specifically, "I'll hug your body tighter than my favorite jeans"

I love how much Jack McBrayer reminds me of Jonathan in this video, especially his reaction in the beginning when she first opens the door.

They say the best way to get a song out of your head is to listen to it all the way through.  I already watched the video once this morning, but it's still there.  I guess I will have to watch it again...

the scariest movie I ever saw

source

In the back of my mind I keep reminding myself that it's almost Halloween and I really should be prepared for wherever I am and whatever I'm doing.  I mean, even if I'm here I need to get candy to pass out or the neighborhood children will surely give my Grandfather's house an egging like no other.  

Thinking about Halloween led me to thinking about my favorite Halloween movies and how none of them are actually scary.  The only "horror" movies I will watch are old ones that are more campy and funny, and I probably like them because I never watched them as a kid so I don't have memories of being scared of them.

So in this train of thought I started trying to think of a movie that really did scare the crap out of me as a kid.  Without hesitation, Fire in the Sky is the first movie that comes to mind.  I've only seen this movie once and it was when I was maybe 7 years old.  I don't remember too much but judging by every image that came up when I google searched it the memories I do have are pretty accurate.

I definitely remember knowing that the movie was based on a true story, that made a huge impact on me as a little kid.  Basically it's the story of a guy who gets abducted by aliens, told really really graphically.  I don't want to give too much away in case you feel like checking this out on Netflix but the entire scene that picture above is from is horrifying.  I also distinctly remember the part with his motorcycle keys floating out and then something about rooms full of bodies.  And then them finding him naked at the gas station, of course I remember that part.

The more I think about this stupid movie the more freaked out I'm getting.  The worst part is that I don't remember this movie being terribly campy, and judging by the images I found I don't think it was.  However, I feel it might do me a world of good to re-watch it now as an adult.  Especially after having seen so many episodes of "Ancient Aliens", maybe I'll be able to rationalize it all better.

But I don't know if I even want to.  I would kind of like to just forget all about this horrible horrible movie, but I know that I will never be able to.  Why won't the lambs stop crying?!

Kim and Ariel

There are some pretty amazing things in my Grandparents house, remnants of my Grandmother's decorating throughout the decades.  Of all things I think my favorite are these hand towels in the guest bathroom.

Every time I look at them I think how they are obviously of Kim and Ariel.  That one above is Kim with her messy up-do held together with a perfectly matching head scarf.  And on the other side of the towel rack is Ariel:

Right down to the skin so ghostly pale it barely shows up at all.  And I think we can all agree that if Kim and Ariel were ever to play tennis they would most definitely do it in heels.

Can you guys please please go as my grandparent's guest bathroom hand towels for Halloween?!?!

there are worse places to get stuck

Drawbridge was open so I had to sit here and wait for it.

Can you imagine?!

good morning Charlie

I was visiting my grandfather the other day when we got a visit from Charlie!  Yes Charlie is just as fluffy and nice in person as he looks in his photographs.  And he gives great side eye.

I also appreciate my grandfather sticking out his tongue for the photograph.  I'm amazed at how willing he is to take a photograph even when he's in a hospital bed.  I guess when you've been around for 90 years you don't get concerned with how you look all too often.

But my grandfather is up on his feet, brushing his teeth and combing his hair.  It's very exciting!  He is looking forward to being able to futz around the house and do the things he used to do.  I hope we can facilitate that.

Yet another reason to get a nice doggy like Charlie who can be his best friend and hang out with him and make sure that he's ok.  I have to run an errand down near the animal shelter today.  Maybe, just maybe...

their names should be Handsome and Nice

The woman at the front desk explained to me that the nice little one has to eat his food up on the highest part of the palm tree because the other one is on a special diet and is too fat to jump up there.  She said they used to put the food on the second tier but the fat one would reach up and knock the bowl down and then eat all the food as fast as he could.

I LOVE THEM.

This was the first time I saw them when it was just us and they both came up to me and just stood there for a few moments while I pet them and told them how nice they were and then they walked away.

I was looking at the stats on my blog yesterday and saw that somebody had been looking at this post I did last year about the detective and weezie being best friends.  Being reminded of those good times and then seeing these two best friends hanging out made me feel even more that the detective needs some companionship.

The real question is, cat or dog...

a windy minute

It's a dark and stormy weekend here in the sunshine state.  I spent the better part of yesterday sitting on the lanai and watching the wind.  It was really intense!

Every once in a while when the wind would blow in a certain way I would hear this faint hooting noise that always sounded like it was coming from right behind me.  Something about the tone of it, and how perverted it sounded, made me think it was Jonathan playing a trick on me.  Like he had flown down, found his way to the house, and was creeping around and hooting because he likes scaring people.

It was actually a watering can that was sitting on the window sill between the kitchen and the lanai.  When the wind blew just right it would go in the top and out the spout and make the hooting noise.  It also explains why I always felt like it was coming from right behind me, the window sill is in almost the center of the house so no matter what room I was in it would basically be behind me.

After I put it away I was kind of sad, the hooting had become so comforting.  Every time I heard it I would burst out laughing.  It looks like another stormy day today, maybe I'll set it back up and see what happens.

I forgot it's nice in the daytime too

I went to visit my grandfather yesterday but he was in therapy when I got there.  I decided to leave him to work and I went downtown to get a juice before heading out to the beach.  I was hoping to maybe be able to swim but the water is already too cold for a wuss puss like me.

But it was really nice to just walk on the beach anyways.  I love the beach on cloudy days, it becomes so much more dynamic.  The shadows change the color so much, especially on the water.  And it's nice to get caught under a cloud for the few minutes of shade it offers.  The water may be too cold already but it's still in the low 90's during the day here.

Which is why now is the perfect time to come visit!

: )

I feel so betrayed

source

And not just because somebody surreptitiously took my photograph to use for their stock images database either.

I was making coffee this morning (yes, I even use a french press just like that) when I noticed on my almost empty package of grounds that I had unwittingly purchased decaf coffee.  WHY?!  Why would they even have it on the same shelf with the regular coffee?  How can they expect someone who, most likely, hasn't had their coffee yet, to differentiate between regular and decaf?!  Impossible.

This definitely accounts for my grogginess the past few days.  When normally I can only drink one cup of coffee in the morning I was having seconds and thirds, yet I would still be yawning all morning and even took a nap in the afternoon a couple times.  It all makes so much sense now.

So the question is should I just take advantage of this and try to keep weening myself off of caffein?  I know I've felt great in the past when I've done it, but I just don't think now is the time for that kind of ambition, although the worst is behind me.

I was going to say that I wish I'd never noticed it was decaf in the first place but that's not true.  I'm glad to have an explanation for why I've felt extra tired lately and if I hadn't known I would have gone right back to regular coffee and been freaked out by why it was affecting me so strongly.  I guess I'm just bummed because now the placebo affect is gone and I just can't enjoy this cup of coffee this morning.  I know it's exactly the same as the coffee I enjoyed yesterday morning, but now I know the truth.  The horrible horrible truth.

I think I'm going to have to go get coffee on the outside.

who would you rather?

source

The timing of my life this past month has been such that the only shows I watch on television are Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, with the occasional episode of Ancient Aliens when I can't fall asleep.

But consistently it's been Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, and each night as I watch Wheel of Fortune I find myself wondering who I would get along better with, Pat or Vanna.  Instinctively I'm drawn to Vanna, can you blame me?  She's so sparkly!  But the more I've watched it recently the more I've realized that Pat Sajak is secretly awesome.  Kind of like how Bob Saget is so much cooler than his roles as Danny Tanner or host of America's Funniest Home Video's might let on.  Pat's in a similar boat, I think his biggest job is biting his tongue to keep from saying the things he wishes he could say during the half hour he hosts "America's Game".

If I ever got on Wheel of Fortune (dream come true) my #1 goal would be to win, not so I can play the bonus puzzle, but so I could get that extra time to banter with Pat at the end.  Plus winning is the only way you get to talk with Vanna at all as she isn't released from her word puzzle prison until the ending credits.  And that, that is what I yearn for, to stand in between the two of them and have (what I can only imagine would be) the most wonderful of conversations.

Before you ask yes I have applied to be a contestant numerous times, still waiting for the call.

how I knew it would be ok

My Grandfather was able to be transferred to a great facility today and we are all extremely grateful.  It will give him some more time to recuperate while we figure out what our plan is going to be for the future.

I actually went to visit it yesterday which is when I saw this sign and realized that even I would like to stay at this place if it means visits from these two handsome guys.  I really like the description of them "wandering around in the Administrative offices", I feel like that's exactly I would describe cat behavior.  I would also accept "creeping" in place of "wandering".

I actually saw both of them when I was there yesterday but they were far too busy with their administrative duties to be bothered with me and I was ok with that.  I look forward to more opportunities to interact with them when I go to visit my grandfather.

And it wasn't until he checked in to his room this afternoon that I even knew about this third handsome guy that is apparently a fixture at this place as well:

I like that he is so happy and fluffy and nice and just wearing a sensible dress shirt and tie.  They mean business at the Pines, of that much we can be certain.  I wish the name weren't so reminiscent of Shady Pines but that's the least of my concerns right now.  Just glad that my grandfather will continue to be taken care of in the best way possible.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JONATHAN!

I wish I could be there with you to give you something special but I can't so you will just have to be satisfied with this.

and this:



and these:

and this:




and this:



If you were here I'd say we should play that stupid mario game that you like to sing along to for a well rounded day of things you love.

Happy Birthday!!  Can't wait to see you soon : )