This and that for May...
I haven't posted for a while. I was sick with that respiratory flu for a couple of months. On top of that I've been working a lot of unpaid overtime at work.
Two days in March, I was on jury duty. I was selected for a criminal case Monday morning with twelve other
jurors. Monday afternoon the lawyers presented all of their evidence and witnesses, so we got the case to decide Tuesday morning. To me the case seemed pretty cut and dry, and I thought we'd agree on a verict before lunch, but it took us until 9 pm Tuesday night. So I didn't leave downtown St. Paul until close to 11 pm. A long day, but at least I didn't have to spend the whole week on jury duty.
The weather has really sucked so far this spring. It's felt more like the late fall. I finally was able to open the patio door on Sunday. Although it only got into the high 60s. The boys rejoiced.
John: Fox, please try not to climb the screen door. If you do mommy will shut the glass door then none of us will be able to sit in the fresh air.
Fox: Sorry, Johnny, but sometimes the urge to climb the screen is just too irresitable.
Pumpkin head just has a hard time staying out of trouble.
Fox: Mommy, what you call trouble I call adventure.
I still can't get a good picture of Alex. He refuses to keep his eyes open, and he has such pretty eyes.
Alex: If you bought a better camera that doesn't blind me with such a bright flash then I might just consider leaving my eyes open.
Walter had to go to the vet, he had a very bad bladder infection. The vet put him on two weeks of antibotics. I had to give him one of these long blue pills every morning, but at least he was very good about taking them.
Walter: Pills? I thought you said they were kitty candy?
The boys have been getting along outstandingly well.
Aren't they cute?
This and that....
I tried to post some photos, but I've been getting an error message. I think I might be out of server space. I might try transferring to blog to another server that has more space when I get the time.
My mom's birthday is Friday, she would have been 80 this year. We're going to visit her grave on Friday, then go out to dinner afterwards. My father turns 80 on Sunday, so we're planning a birthday party for him.
The cats have been a welcome distraction through all that has gone on over the last 2 years. They each have totally different personalities.
Walter is the strong silent type, he has a very soft meow. He never begs for kitty treats, instead he prefers being hugged and enjoys playing fetch with his toy mice. When I feed them, Walter usually waits until after the other cats have had their turns. He's just not addicted to food as much as the other boys. He's the alpha cat in the house, so if he'd wanted to, he could have first go at the food bowls. I don't think I'll ever have to worry about a weight problem with him.
Fox is the trouble-maker. I think
Orange Boys are the Denice of Menaces of cats. He'll shamelessly beg for kitty-treats. If he doesn't get his way, he'll knock pictures off walls and books off shelves. He has a loud meow that demands attention. His saving grace, is he's the most lovable of cats. More affectionate than his brothers, he loves cuddling in bed at night and receive hugs during the day.
Alex loves his brothers, and is always seeking their attention. He loves to cuddle with them, even though they might not feel the same affection. Alex is usually the first cat in bed at night and is usually stays there the whole night. I'm not sure if he's insecure, but he seems to require more attention than his brothers. He has a high-pitched squeaky meow that tears at one's heart. I try to hug him, but he seems not to want the attention from anyone other than his brothers. I hope that changes in time, since he is such a handsome cat.
John enjoys to eat -- probably too much for such a small cat. I think, once he's full grown, he'll become the alpha male cat in the household. Like Walter, he likes to play fetch with his toy mice. He also likes to sit on my lap and stretch out on his back for tummy rubs. He sticks close to Fox, since Fox usually knows how to coax kitty treats out of me. He also loves Alex and will cuddle up in bed with him, or get on his back and bite the back of his nape in a domineering manner. John also likes wrestling with Fox and playing chase with Walter. Most of all John likes to eat, so I'm going to have to watch his weight once his no longer a kitty.
It will be interesting to see how their personalities change in the coming years. I read somewhere that cats aren't completely bounded to their human companions until they reach 5-years-old.
Kitty Candy!
At least its good for their teeth, since they like the crunchy variety.
Walter: Sigh... I really would like some kitty treats to eat. I've been a very good boy. I haven't peed outside the litter box in over six months. That should count for extra kitty treats for me.
Fox: I should get more! I've never peed outside the litter box.
Jo: Okay, enough! I can't take the pouting!
Fox: SUCKER! I'll have to remember to pout more often. I do have the perfect adorable face for it.
Walter: You do know that giving us these kitty treats will cut down on our dental bills.
Jo: Walter, paying for your yearly teeth cleanings would probably be less expensive!
John: Mmm... kitty candy is the best.
Alex: I can't believe I ate the whole thing! Time for a nap!
February News
Do you know how hard it is to change your sleeping position with four cats snuggled up against you on three sides? But I shouldn't complain; it's -9 below zero this morning and the added warmth is better than an electric blanket!
My appointment to get my taxes done is Friday. I know I'll have to pay in this year, since the contract place I worked for two months at the beginning of the year didn't withhold taxes. :p
Other than getting a letter from the IRS, getting one that has Jury anywhere on the evelope is almost as bad. I have jury duty in March. This will be the second time I've had to serve. Some people have never gotten a summons, since it is a random selection process.
I have the hardest time trying to take Alex's photo, since he always closes his eyes when the flash goes off. You can see that by the last photograph. He usually has such large eyes, but in photos they appear all squinty ore completely closed.
I've been spoiling the boys with cat treats. I should probably cut back, since they are starting to refuse to eat their regular food and becoming shameless beggers.
Alex: I'm pretty sure mommy hid our kitty treats on the shelves in her office.
Walter: Have you found anything?
Fox: My nose tells me the treats are near.
Walter: Your nose has been known to be wrong.
(Jo: Shh... don't tell the boys but the treats are hidden in the black boxes above Fox's head.)
John: When you find the kitty candy, toss the bag down here to me!
Fox: All of this searching is exhausting work. I think I'll take a break while Walter continues to look for the loot.
Alex: I bet she hid it out in the garage.
This and that....
I've been busy with the new year. Spending more time over at my Dad's during the weekend, and working long hours during the week. I went over to my Dad's on Sunday to make him and my brothers some Thai red curry and pork. It turned out pretty good. I brought along my ricer, and picked up some Naan bread at Target. Naan is an Indian bread, I like using it whenever I make a curry dish. Since Target sells freshly baked naan in their bakery department, it makes it so convenient.
The next dish I want to make is Morrocan lamb stew.
Friday, my older sister went in for a brain scan. For the last three months, she's been having a lot of headaches, dizzy spells, and her blood pressure is through the roof. So, she's afraid she might have a brain tumor, she should find out the results today.
I have to head off to work ... more later.
Happy New Years!
Yesterday, I was over at my dad's cooking the New Years Day dinner with my sister. Most of the family showed up. My mom always did the cooking, and usually didn't like anyone in the kitchen helping her.
I took over cooking the roast. My dad had bought an 8 pound pork loin roast that I had to cut in half to get it to fit the roasting pan. It wasn't a thick cut of meat, just long, so I figured it would take 1 1/2 to cook. I had used the Napa Valley Pork and Lamb spice rub on it before putting it in the oven. My dad said my mom would have cooked it for at least 3 hours. She usually over-cooked meats, but my dad was worried that I didn't know what I was doing. So we compromised, by placing a meat thermometer in the roast and agreed that when it got to 170 degrees the roast was done. It hit 170 after 1 hour and thirty-five minutes. It was perfect, nice and juicy without being dried from over-cooking.
After my sister and brother-in-law under-cooked the Thanksgiving turkey, it was nice to have one success.
My brother had bought me a Thai cooking kit for Christmas. I think I'll make Thai curry dinner for my family at my house, although my one sister will not show up since she worried about cat hair in the food.
Walter has been teaching Alex to misbehave.
Walter: Alex, I believe mommy hung this here for us to play with.
I have another problem with Walter. Lately, he's been trying to have sex with Fox or at least been going through the motions. He'll get on Fox's back and grab the scruff of his neck in his mouth. I don't think he's hurting Fox, but I usually separate them before it can go any further. Although I don't know how much further a neutered male cat can go to having sex with another neutered male cat. I have noticed a similar behavior in John toward Alex.
Walter: What did I do?
How can I get mad at such a sweet boy?
I better get going to work!
Dinner time!
Fox and Alex
Walter: Turn off the light, I'm trying to sleep.
Fox: This blanket is really comfortable.
Alex: I think I'll join Fox on his blanket.
Fox: Walter, you don't smell like yourself.
Fox: The little rat fooled me.
Alex: Hug me closer.
Walter: Fox, you're such a pushover.
John: I wonder what's happening in the bedroom?
