Sunday, August 26, 2012
Franklin the Turtle
Friday, August 24, 2012
New Job!
I got a new job!!! I can't tell you how excited I am for this change. It is bittersweet, though, because I have been at my current job for 5 years and I do like the people I work with. On the other hand though, how often do you get the chance to say "I've been at this job since the beginning when they were still building it"? It's so pretty and clean and new, and I think I'm really going to like my new boss.
My last day at my current job is in 4 days. Kinda crazy. And the "funny" thing is that I've almost been there five years TO THE DAY! I started there at the end of August five years ago.
Since Tuesday is my last day, Wednesday is going to be spent getting things ready for the new job (paperwork, drug screen, background check, etc.) and I will be cleaning and packing that day because THURSDAY WE'RE GOING TO DRAGONCON!!! I am soooo excited for that!
Lookie what I found in the garage last night:
His name is Jimmy. Tina believes he was there to steal our car. I kinda believe he may be trying to poison us. Either way, he's a criminal frog. Not sure if he's still in the garage, but I heard sirens today so it's possible they were lookin' for him.
Also, we have this fountain tower thing near our house. They only have the fountain turned on during the day, so someday I will have to go take pictures when the fountain is running. The other night on the way home, however, I took pictures of it at nighttime because it has lights around it, and I need to play/better understand how to take pictures with limited light.
My last day at my current job is in 4 days. Kinda crazy. And the "funny" thing is that I've almost been there five years TO THE DAY! I started there at the end of August five years ago.
Since Tuesday is my last day, Wednesday is going to be spent getting things ready for the new job (paperwork, drug screen, background check, etc.) and I will be cleaning and packing that day because THURSDAY WE'RE GOING TO DRAGONCON!!! I am soooo excited for that!
Lookie what I found in the garage last night:
His name is Jimmy. Tina believes he was there to steal our car. I kinda believe he may be trying to poison us. Either way, he's a criminal frog. Not sure if he's still in the garage, but I heard sirens today so it's possible they were lookin' for him.
Also, we have this fountain tower thing near our house. They only have the fountain turned on during the day, so someday I will have to go take pictures when the fountain is running. The other night on the way home, however, I took pictures of it at nighttime because it has lights around it, and I need to play/better understand how to take pictures with limited light.
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| The picture on the left was one I decided to take last minute as I was driving away. The car was completely stopped but it still looks blurry. I used a "gritty" edit to come up with the second picture, which I think kinda brings out the details of the tower. Let me know your thoughts on these pictures. |
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Great Weekend!
It seems like it's been awhile to actually have both Saturday and Sunday off of work and to spend with my hubby. It's been pretty nice. Saturday was our lazy day except for the morning when we went riding again on our new bicycles. It feels soooo good to feel the air on your face in the morning. Took Fred outside on Saturday. Apparently Saturday is a bad day to take your kitty outside on his leash... toooo many cars! I guess he can handle one every now and then, but it was really the only time since I've been taking him outside that he made a mad dash to get inside the house. Usually he may want to hide but on Saturday he just wanted inside and away from everything. We tried again a little later to go back outside and lasted a few minutes until another car drove by. Got a cool picture of him while we were outside...
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Cat on a Leash
It's not a cat on a hot tin roof, it's a cat on a leash. Because I'm the cat lady (yes with only one cat, you can still become the cat lady), I naturally give in to whatever my little Fred wants. He wants to go outside, sure let's go. But first, let's train you with a harness and leash so I can keep you forever and you won't run away.
Training a cat with a harness can be one of the funniest and almost heart-breaking things a "cat momma" will do. The first day we put the harness on him (which is the kind of harness that is shaped like an "H"...not sure what the technical name is), it was like we had just strapped a million pound weight on his back. He suddenly couldn't remember how to walk. He would try to walk a few feet (always leaning to the right) and then just fall on the ground and roll around, undoubtedly trying to get the foreign object off of him. This was the funny part.
After a while though it was kind of like he was running into things (I don't think on purpose) and that was the heart-breaking part. I wanted to run and take it off of him right away. But I knew if I could muster the courage to leave it on a little big longer, he might eventually give up and learn that it is something he has to get used to.
The first day we left it on about an hour and he did eventually calm down and lay down and sleep. Also the first day we put it on, if you've ever seen a jumping bean, that is exactly what our Fred looked like. He would jump straight up in the air. Maybe hoping it would fall off? It was the funniest thing.
The next day we put it on, he started off the same way as before, walking to the right, walking a few steps and then falling over. Also you should know that the harness wasn't too tight. It might sound like that or like it wasn't on the right way from reading this, but we made sure it was loose enough for him to maneuver around like normal; he just wasn't comfortable enough with it to try to maneuver like normal. We left it on him the entire night.
The biggest problem I found with him wearing it for long periods is that he wasn't eating all of his food in his bowl. He did eat some, but not all. Which is unlike him. So we would go a few days without him wearing it and then put it on again for a day.
Then came the big day to try to go outside with the leash hooked up to the harness. Amazing! He suddenly could walk perfectly fine because he was outside!
This is the front porch area:
The first day Fred and I walked to about where Ben and I are in the picture above. Of course, first he had to check out the bushes that are between Ben in the picture and the house. Once we got to that corner of the sidewalk, Fred wanted to go behind the bushes that are in the front of the house and I wouldn't allow it. Once he started to get fussy because I wouldn't let him go behind the bushes, then we came inside.
The next day we went outside, Fred was feeling more comfortable and we even walked in front of the garage (nothing to hide from there!) and to the side of the house where he smelled and munched on the grass. He wasn't afraid when a car would pass by, which was interesting. He did very well. Also in the training, treats and positive praise are exactly what animals need. When we put the harness on him, we would give him a treat. When we came inside, we would give him a treat. We don't give him treats all the time, so he definitely knows when something is a treat.
Ben took him outside in the back yard (which is partially fenced in and is a corner lot; there is a road in the back and on the side). That day, Ben learned just how easily Fred can slip out of his harness if he needs to. Fred wasn't harmed, but Ben said he got spooked when there was a car on the side road and on the back road and he started freaking out and just about the time Ben picked him up, he noticed Fred was almost out of his harness.
Today I took Fred outside again. At first, I put the harness on him and he went and laid down like he was going to take a nap. But once I unlocked and slightly opened the front door, he was at my feet in an instant! I put the leash on and we headed out. This time I attempted taking a few pictures. It was definitely difficult trying to make sure he was not going to get wrapped up in the bushes, along with making sure he wasn't getting spooked by anything, along with holding the leash, and trying to take pictures. Next time I take pictures I will wait until Ben and I can go out together with Fred because this was definitely a challenge.
Here is my favorite picture:
He is trying to nibble on a piece of grass, but I really like how it's almost like 3D, like you could touch his whiskers.
Another favorite of mine just because of the detail of the flower and because in the background you can see Fred again checking out the plant is:
which honestly probably is a better picture. But if the blurriness of it makes you sick then keep scrolling down because I have picture overload of my furry little Fred.
Training a cat with a harness can be one of the funniest and almost heart-breaking things a "cat momma" will do. The first day we put the harness on him (which is the kind of harness that is shaped like an "H"...not sure what the technical name is), it was like we had just strapped a million pound weight on his back. He suddenly couldn't remember how to walk. He would try to walk a few feet (always leaning to the right) and then just fall on the ground and roll around, undoubtedly trying to get the foreign object off of him. This was the funny part.
After a while though it was kind of like he was running into things (I don't think on purpose) and that was the heart-breaking part. I wanted to run and take it off of him right away. But I knew if I could muster the courage to leave it on a little big longer, he might eventually give up and learn that it is something he has to get used to.
The first day we left it on about an hour and he did eventually calm down and lay down and sleep. Also the first day we put it on, if you've ever seen a jumping bean, that is exactly what our Fred looked like. He would jump straight up in the air. Maybe hoping it would fall off? It was the funniest thing.
The next day we put it on, he started off the same way as before, walking to the right, walking a few steps and then falling over. Also you should know that the harness wasn't too tight. It might sound like that or like it wasn't on the right way from reading this, but we made sure it was loose enough for him to maneuver around like normal; he just wasn't comfortable enough with it to try to maneuver like normal. We left it on him the entire night.
The biggest problem I found with him wearing it for long periods is that he wasn't eating all of his food in his bowl. He did eat some, but not all. Which is unlike him. So we would go a few days without him wearing it and then put it on again for a day.
Then came the big day to try to go outside with the leash hooked up to the harness. Amazing! He suddenly could walk perfectly fine because he was outside!
This is the front porch area:
The next day we went outside, Fred was feeling more comfortable and we even walked in front of the garage (nothing to hide from there!) and to the side of the house where he smelled and munched on the grass. He wasn't afraid when a car would pass by, which was interesting. He did very well. Also in the training, treats and positive praise are exactly what animals need. When we put the harness on him, we would give him a treat. When we came inside, we would give him a treat. We don't give him treats all the time, so he definitely knows when something is a treat.
Ben took him outside in the back yard (which is partially fenced in and is a corner lot; there is a road in the back and on the side). That day, Ben learned just how easily Fred can slip out of his harness if he needs to. Fred wasn't harmed, but Ben said he got spooked when there was a car on the side road and on the back road and he started freaking out and just about the time Ben picked him up, he noticed Fred was almost out of his harness.
Today I took Fred outside again. At first, I put the harness on him and he went and laid down like he was going to take a nap. But once I unlocked and slightly opened the front door, he was at my feet in an instant! I put the leash on and we headed out. This time I attempted taking a few pictures. It was definitely difficult trying to make sure he was not going to get wrapped up in the bushes, along with making sure he wasn't getting spooked by anything, along with holding the leash, and trying to take pictures. Next time I take pictures I will wait until Ben and I can go out together with Fred because this was definitely a challenge.
Here is my favorite picture:
He is trying to nibble on a piece of grass, but I really like how it's almost like 3D, like you could touch his whiskers.
Another favorite of mine just because of the detail of the flower and because in the background you can see Fred again checking out the plant is:
For Ben's benefit, I cropped the picture so now it looks like this:
 |
| it is a small palm tree but it looks funny him looking at it that way |
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| relaxed on the front porch |
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| Giving the Whisker Lickin treats props for making my kitty happy |
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| we've made it to the front door...will we make it inside? |
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| Almost inside! |
 | ||
| Nah, I think I will just lay here between the inside and outside. | "Mommm!! I don't wanna go in!" |
Had to actually pick him up to go inside. He was not a happy camper. But he ate the treats anyway.
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| whatchulookinat |
Friday, August 3, 2012
Colorful Cookie Collage!
Who loves cookies??? Who loves colorful cookies??? Who loves colorful cookie collages???
Date night!
We had a very fun date night last night. Dinner, a movie, and ice cream, my kind of night!
First we went to Kobe's Japanese Steakhouse...
Then we went to see The Watch. I am sooo happy that Richard Ayoade is in it! We watch him on The IT Crowd on Netflix. Here's our after-movie picture. The moon was super big and bright last night!
Then for the ice cream. We went through the drive thru at Burger King and found these fellas hanging around waiting for some food.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Life As We Know It
Hola readers. I've had a lot on my mind lately. Mostly good exciting things. 28 days until Dragon*Con!! Super stoked about that! Halloween in September! I'm not planning to dress up but I do have a new camera that I plan to wear out by taking a bajillion pictures of people in costume!
We had our first housewarming party at the beginning of July. It was a lot of fun. I say first because, well, I wasn't sure how awkward it would be to have divorced parents at the same party in a small house. And it's just easier to plan smaller parties when I'm not used to having/hosting parties in the first place.
Then about a week or so after the housewarming party, my best friend in the whole world came to visit me and go to a couple of concerts. She was only here for two days but I can't seem to stop reliving those two days.
We went to see Tyler Hilton and Dion Roy and it was AMAZING! We leveled up; we've seen Tyler Hilton four times now! If you haven't heard of him, check out his new CD Forget the Storm. It's amazing! Dion Roy is also amazing and has a new CD called Into the Day. I'm mostly in love with how Dion is so attentive to his fans and how he interacts with them on a daily basis. Pretty cool to see a famous person be so down to earth. I don't know why but I'm always amazed at that. Famous people are regular people too! haha.
So I've had those two days in repeat in my head for the past few weeks. I miss my friend. Not that we went to concerts all the time or anything but we have definitely had great times at the concerts we did attend. And I guess this was just kinda bringing it all back when we used to do fun stuff like that. We still have fun when we're together but we don't get to see each other as much (being 600 miles apart and all) and this past concert was just a reminder (and addition to!) the memories we have together. Our lives have changed so much since high school and we still remain very close friends. I don't think many people can say that and I'm very lucky to have her in my life.
Ok now that the tearfest and friendly mushiness is over, my next mind-grabber is...Dragon*Con again! I'm sooo excited!
I guess that concludes today's blog. I need to start taking more pictures and having a new blog every week on one of my days off to vent and let out my creative side. It's 1 am, so that means it's my day off, and this counts as my first *weekly* blog. Haha let's see how long I can keep that going. Probably my stipulation will be "if my two days off are not consecutive then the blog can wait until the next week that I have two consecutive days off". But maybe. Maybe I can keep it going even if they're not consecutive. Here's to hope! (that last sentence sounds weird but it is meant to sound like giving a toast)
We had our first housewarming party at the beginning of July. It was a lot of fun. I say first because, well, I wasn't sure how awkward it would be to have divorced parents at the same party in a small house. And it's just easier to plan smaller parties when I'm not used to having/hosting parties in the first place.
Then about a week or so after the housewarming party, my best friend in the whole world came to visit me and go to a couple of concerts. She was only here for two days but I can't seem to stop reliving those two days.
 |
| Tyler Hilton |
So I've had those two days in repeat in my head for the past few weeks. I miss my friend. Not that we went to concerts all the time or anything but we have definitely had great times at the concerts we did attend. And I guess this was just kinda bringing it all back when we used to do fun stuff like that. We still have fun when we're together but we don't get to see each other as much (being 600 miles apart and all) and this past concert was just a reminder (and addition to!) the memories we have together. Our lives have changed so much since high school and we still remain very close friends. I don't think many people can say that and I'm very lucky to have her in my life.
Ok now that the tearfest and friendly mushiness is over, my next mind-grabber is...Dragon*Con again! I'm sooo excited!
I guess that concludes today's blog. I need to start taking more pictures and having a new blog every week on one of my days off to vent and let out my creative side. It's 1 am, so that means it's my day off, and this counts as my first *weekly* blog. Haha let's see how long I can keep that going. Probably my stipulation will be "if my two days off are not consecutive then the blog can wait until the next week that I have two consecutive days off". But maybe. Maybe I can keep it going even if they're not consecutive. Here's to hope! (that last sentence sounds weird but it is meant to sound like giving a toast)
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