Friday, December 30, 2011

Happy New Year 2012!

Tomorrow promises to be a very busy day for me. I will start it off early by watering a few hundred poinsettia plants that are very fragile and losing leaves just from looks at them. The day holds many other projects as well, therefore, I might not make it back to this blog to post my well wishes.

I have many hopes for 2012. One of my hopes is that your new year is a very happy one! Peace and love.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Do You Like Games?

I came up with this game a long time ago but I have found that I still play it. Have you ever found yourself waiting in a car for someone? Like they just had to run into the pharmacy to grab something or run into the grocery store to pick up something really quickly? Or maybe you are waiting on the wrong movie parking lot to meet someone at the movies? (That happened to Shelly and me.) Anyway, you find yourself trying to match a person to a vehicle. Like you see a man walking out and you try to figure out which car he will get in before he gets into one. It is fun to see how well you do. Will that lady be too cool to get into that old worn out truck? Or will that business attired man get into that van? It is fun to play. Try it out sometime if you haven't already.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Yes, I Am in Love!

I am in love…again. This time I am in love with Siku which means ice sea in Inuit, this five week old polar bear cub.



No, I do not advocate average, ordinary citizens owning wild animals in their homes. In fact, I am adamantly opposed to it. However, there are many species of animals that would not exist any longer on this planet if not for their presence in a zoo setting.


As I have said so many times here, it is my belief that all life is precious not just human life. Can you create a polar bear? Only God can create a polar bear and God must have a good reason for it. Every day I give thanks to God for creating cats so I could love them. I had no room in the inn when little Jacob appeared on the scene but I am so happy that he appeared! Yesterday, my mother expressed the same sentiment. She said “I am glad little Jake came up on your patio.” She knows he is good for me and that I have received hours of joy out of that little scamp.

There are only an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears remaining in the wild. The melting polar ice caps have severely cut into their hunting grounds which are threatening their existence. One of my new year’s resolutions will be to continue to reduce my carbon footprint and use less energy on behalf of Siku and others like him. I want future inhabitants of this planet to know how beautiful polar bears are not how beautiful they once were.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Merry Christmas


Just getting around to posting this Christmas Eve picture. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Run, Run Rudolph Before I Chase You

Probably everyone is well aware that music seems to set the tempo of my life. On most days, I listen to music for hours on end and if not, then, probably at least an hour those other days. I think you know where I am going with this. Christmas music. But before I get to that, there is something I need to get off my chest.



There is a Volkswagen commercial that plays the song “Rocket Man” by Elton John. It shows bunches of people wrecking the words to that song. Can I share with you that this really bothers me? That song is completely beautiful. Always has been. Always will be. Plus, it is not difficult to understand. EJ clearly sings “Burning out his fuse up here alone.” Now, I do admit I am a bit defensive when it comes to EJ because he can do no wrong in my mind. Okay, I vented. ‘Nuff said.


Christmas music. I love most of it. Notice I say ‘most’? There are some songs that grate on my nerves so badly that I cannot listen to them for a single, solitary second. My all time worst Christmas song if it really is a song at all in the strictest sense of the word is “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”. And again, someone has turned that train wreck into a commercial! Enough already!! Please stop the pain!


Have you ever heard the song “Run, Run Rudolph” by Check Berry. I can listen to Chuck’s version without too much discomfort but it does make me laugh. There is a version by Brian Adams that I cannot listen to because my laughing goes so out of control. He has changed the lyrics just enough to wig me out. You know when Chuck says “run, run, Rudolph whizzing like a shooting star”? Brian changes that to ‘run, run Rudolph whizzing like a rock star”. I can’t quit laughing. The image of Ozzy Osbourne whizzing on the Alamo comes immediately to mind! I know it is crazy nuts but I do not like the idea of Rudolph whizzing. Couldn’t they have said flying?


Just annoying is “Santa Baby” by anyone but most particularly Madonna.


Finally, I love the song “Last Christmas” by George Michael. Admittedly, George has his demons. He needs to deal with those but the man can really sing. I mean ‘really’ sing. I used to see him and his partner, Kenny quite often. Kenny still lives here. George does not. I might add that Kenny is super easy on the eyes too. I do not like to hear “Last Christmas” by anyone other than George most particularly young female country stars.


Am I officially Scrooge now? Probably. I am signing off for now while humming “Run, run Rudolph whizzing all over the place.”

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Just Checking in on My Kids!

Remember my adoptive children? I have been very interested in their continued happiness and welfare. They appear to be enjoying their lives together. That makes me very happy. To say this young man was born with a silver spoon in his mouth is certainly an understatement. Still, it must be extremely difficult to lose one's mother at such a young and critical age and in such a visibley public, tragic and needless way. I want him to smile a lot! I want Katherine to smile a lot! I want a happy life for both of them.




Oh and let's not forget my other son! If he was really my son, I would call him Henry, of course, rather than Harry. William is charming, smooth and princely. Harry makes me smile. I love his easy way of talking and the mischievious twinkle in his eyes. They make a good looking bunch, don't they? I sure know how to adopt children!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Lemonade


I love lemonade. I think it is my favorite drink next to coffee.

I haven't said anything about my Jakester lately. You know Jake, my moon and stars. In case anyone is wondering, I still love him...lots!

As my mom is aging, I am learning so much about her. I suppose what she used to feel she needed to keep close to the vest, she does not anymore. She just spills the beans so to speak. She had four daughters but apparently she did not want ANY daughters or sons either in the beginning. We are not a prolific people. I see now it must be part of our DNA handed down from someone long in our pasts. We are one. Never reproducing or reproducing once. Then die. That is mostly the story of my family. We are shooting stars without spectators. Sparkle then die leaving nothing behind not even a memory.
 

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Help, I have fallen!

Something is wrong with me. I can't blog. I am stymied. I have nothing to say. My blog is lonely. It misses me.

Do you pay a lot of attention to the music in a movie? I do. The music in a movie can make it or break it for me. Recently, I saw a movie that I had eagerly been anticipating for months. I so wanted the music to be fabulous but knowing who was composing it had me worried. His other musical scores never impressed me that much. He did not improve his reputation with me this time either. I was so let down by this particular score. There was a scene in this movie that could have been  pure movie gold had it had the proper music with it but it didn't. In fact, it had no music at all in the scene! What a disappointment for me. Do you think other people think about silly stuff like this? I mean, obviously, some people do because they are paid to think of stuff like that.

I wonder if I will be able to blog again in the New Year? Maybe. I am not sure. You know these blogs do serve as a good diary if you ever need to go back to joggle your memory about what you were doing at a certain time in a certain year. Maybe that notion will inspire me to blog more frequently and perhaps more interestingly too!

Monday, December 12, 2011

A Celestial Bathroom

Look at my wee lad trying to sleep in the bathroom on a towel! He was looking for some peace and quiet. My lawn was getting an overhaul at this time causing a lot of loud noises that this little fellow was not used to hearing. He assessed this as being a quiet and private place for him. See how only one of his eyes reflects the light? That is because of the situation he was most likely born with. He can see though! That is what matters. He is my moon and stars. He is full of joie de vivre!

Friday, December 9, 2011

Queen Cynthia of House Grimalkin

Something awakened me unexpectedly this morning. (Probably a back hoe but that is an entire other story.) The memory of a dream pervaded all of my thoughts. So invasive the dream was that I could not even remember in which direction to stumble off to the bathroom. I stumbled around aimlessly possibly looking like a lost duck in a whirlwind to anyone that could have seen me. Not remembering where the bathroom was, I decided I would feed the cats instead. Oh yeah. Where is the cat food? Where are the cats? Who are the cats?




After finding the bathroom, the cats, the cat food, the coffee pot and the sofa, I decided to think about my dream. I dreamt I was “the” queen, “a” queen or “some” queen. I was one powerful queen too. I had all kinds of supernatural powers that I was inflicting on some of my staff that were not performing according to Hoyle. My staff would see me coming down my stairs and duck in the closest door just to avoid my wrath. (Not sure why I was so grumpy. Probably related to my car incident yesterday but again another story).



My most amazing trait, however, was that I designed my own extensive wardrobe. I was a clothing designer queen. I was off the hook with my mad skills! I had created some modern Elizabethan highly festooned ensembles. I must draw up some of these fading images before I quickly forget them all! You never know when I might need a royal frock, right? Right!


Thursday, December 8, 2011

Love At First Sight

A fiction book I was recently reading asked a compelling question. Do you believe in love at first sight? My first response was “I hardly believe in love at all much less love at first sight!” Then, after I thought about it awhile, I realize I do believe in love on some level. However, love is very complex and often what we think is love is not. At times, we mistake guilt for love. Other times we mistake obligation for love. True love is probably an extremely rare thing. You know what I mean…loving someone/something “just because”, knowing you would never get anything back from them in return. There was nothing in it for you except the opportunity to love them not because of anything they ever could or would give back. It is complicated when you really think about it, isn’t it? The answer to the original question is, no, I definitely do not believe in love at first sight. A funnier question is what difference does it make what I think? It is not like I am the Oracle of Delphi. Blogging is silly sometimes that way. Mostly I do it because it gives me the opportunity to make one of these little pictures.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

So What About Nigel?

The name of this blog is Nigel's Mom. Then, why am I always blogging about the Jakester, Ollie and Henri Laurent with rarely a mention of the Nige?

Honestly, Nigel and I have an odd relationship. I must admit the harsh truth. I do not think Nigel likes me. There, I said it. Believe me, he knows how to yank my chain. He is super smart. He seems to regard me with disdain. He knows Jake and Ollie are extremely smitten with me. I see him looking at them like "You silly saps! You are falling for exactly all of the things she wants you to fall for!"

Henri loves me but not with as much fervor as Ollie and Jake. Those two cannot contain their exuberance when we start to play. Nigel will segregate himself from us, watching us from afar giving us looks of disapproval as if humans and cats should never fraternize.

Nigel resorts to vandalism. I have mentioned here before and provided evidence of his mischief. His latest antic was this. Last night, when I got home, I saw him pilfering my purse. He was looking inside it for something to 'lift'. He found my lanyard and was trying to sneak off with it but I caught him and hastily stuffed it into the bottom of my purse again, then, put away my purse. I did not put it away securely enough though.

This morning, I found my lanyard all chewed up. I should have known he was up to something last night when he got right behind me while I was watching television and proceeded to cough, spit, hack, gag and act like a deisel truck was stuck in his throat. I kept turning around looking at him at which time he would glare right back at me as if he was saying 'Save my life, woman! What is wrong with you? Can't you see I need the heimlich maneuver?" Little did I know it was because he was destroying my property.

He looks sweet but he is acting.


Destroyed property

Monday, December 5, 2011

Design Style

What is your design style? When it comes to home interiors, I love modern. I like the sleekness, the clean lines, the no frills aspect of modern. The more pared down, the more it appeals to me. I love for window coverings to be as simple as possible. I do not like a luxuriously draped window. Fabric hanging about that can catch dust does not appeal to me. I am similar when it comes to clothing. I do not like ruffles, lace or embellishments. I do not like for my clothing to have a lot of needless fabric. I like for it to be sleek. If I was going to buy another house which I am not sure I ever will again, I would get a mid century modern house. I love the lines of those even if they are a simple ranch design. Even galley kitchens appeal to me. I like straight, clean lines. Someday when I move, I doubt I will buy. I am kind of tired being tied to the money pit. I want to be able to leave something easily when I grow bored with it but all that remains to be seen for the time being. We will see what feels right when the time comes.

These houses in Dallas are the types of houses that I like. However, every city has a large section of 1950's houses because most of our American cities are so young.

Be safe. Be happy!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Jake's Window and Jukebox

My little boy is growing up. It is time for his neutering. I say that in a soft, low voice as not to scare him. However, he does not know what a neutering is. I dread it however. It frightens me because I know they will have to sedate him. His little body is so small. It just takes a wee amount of medicine to knock one down of that weight. He will not have to be under for long fortunately. The surgery will be done in a matter of minutes almost seconds. Another reason I dread it is because he will be frightened.


I wish little boy could stay little and we did not have to do this but time marches on. Marches? Why do they say time marches? Some people say time rolls like a river. I envision time as a circle spinning around like a vinyl record on one of those old record players. The record has bumps, dings and scratches in its surface. When we come back around, we keep feeling the same bumps and scratches. Those are the times you are reminded of something but you do not know why. Why do I keep thinking of the mall when I was 16 years old? Am I traveling over that area of ‘my record’ again? Only God knows things like that. The Creator of it all. We know nothing and are incapable of understanding, therefore, we must trust. We see through a glass darkly.

Do you ever feel like some doors were just never open for you? Like no matter how hard you tried to accomplish a thing, it was always impossible for you to reach that goal? It just wasn’t playing on your ‘record player’. Like in a dream, you ran, ran, ran never gaining on that thing or you caught it in your hand but it crumbled? I used to have a friend that told me all that kind of talk was codswallop. He said you can do anything you put your mind to doing if you want it badly enough. I said “Really? I want to be a Super Bowl quarterback. What do you say to that? I am going to really put my mind to it too!” That song is definitely not playing on my record player. By the way, I was also lying. I do not really want to be a Super Bowl quarterback.

Unless there is an unseen pothole looming up ahead in the road, “The Neutering Song” is the next tune about to drop down in Jacob’s jukebox.


Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The Same Old, Same Old only Cooler


I did not think it ever would but it finally did cool down here. Recently, it has been in the lower 30's at night. That is great! I am an ice queen! I love it to be frosty cold. I have not turned on the heater in the house or car yet. I suppose if it gets down in the 20's, eventually, I may turn on the heater. I do not worry about myself because I know I will never get too cold but I do worry about these fur balls. However, they know what to do when they are cold. Find a comfy, snuggly blanket and pile up in front the television! That way mom won't have anywhere to sit and she might walk by some cat food then spontaneously decide to put some out for a snack. I think Little Jake is acclimating to living in the house quite well. Here he is snuggled up with his best friend, Henri. These two can tear a house down when they set their minds to it.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Cats and Water DO NOT MIX



The little Jacob although wild and rambunctious is somewhat reserved when it comes to venturing into virgin territory. For weeks, he has been interested in the bathtub. He saw Henry and Olliver jump into it and jump back out seemingly unscathed. Therefore, he recently got his nerve up to jump up to the side of the bathtub and look down into it. He did that for several days surveying the lay of the land after I would exit the bathtub from a bath. He found the remaining water remnants mesmerizing. Cats like to look at water. They like to play in small quantities of water. They do not like to be immersed in water. Come to think of it, cats must be Episcopalians.

After many days of jumping into the tub after my exit then using the slick surface to practice his skating skills, Jacob let down his guard. This morning, he jumped into the tub while it was still at least one quarter full. Surprised is not strong enough of a word to describe its effect on him. Shocked would be a better choice. He flailed, swam, rolled, scrambled then lept from the tub in a split seconds time. It took him at least an hour to dry himself.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Cats and Flies Do Not Mix

When you have a boatload of cats and a fly gets into the house, bad things happen. Let the evidence speak for itself.


Monday, November 14, 2011

Skanky Bites the Dust

Remember Old Aunt Windy and Skanky Possum? (Old Mother Westwind Knock Off) Well, if you can, hang on to that thought.

This morning as I was leaving for work, I looked up into my side yard as I was backing out of my drive way and saw a sight that caused my heart to skip a beat. I saw a dead animal in my yard. I feared it was Puff Daddy, a beautiful young feral Ragdoll. The animal I saw was his coloration and all I could see was its back. I slammed on the brakes and drove back into the driveway. I got out of my car, ran to the side yard but as I approached, I could see this.


Is this poor old Skanky? What do you suppose happened to him? He did appear to have a broken tail but no other significant wounds. Do cats kill possums? I have seen them kill squirrels with one swift break of the neck. This is the third dead possum I have found in my yard this year. He is not 'playing possum' either. When I picked him up to dispose of his body, he was stiffer than a board. I know rigor sets in pretty fast. I estimated him to be dead just over night. Poor old skanky thing. Finding these dead animals is just one of the unpleasant tasks of running a 'nature preserve'.

Monday, November 7, 2011

In an Autumnal Haze



I haven't been blogging much lately. Why not? I guess I have nothing to say. That isn't it. I have plenty to say but nothing I want to say in a public forum. I just have been quietly thinking as I often do.





Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Dermatologically Challenged Henri

I have been busy lately with my "movie thing". You can't really take pictures in a movie theatre. Well, you can but it would be frowned upon and you might get tossed out.

In the mean time, little Henri's skin ailment is clearing up.  He is allergic to chicken. From now on, only venison  for little Henri.

Henri at last vet visit

Little Jake Just Because

Henri Looking Good Yesterday



Thursday, October 27, 2011

20 Forthlin Road


 The other night I saw a movie about John Lennon. It was called “Nowhere Boy”. I have been on a Beatle high ever since. I love being on a Beatle high. Don’t you think it is wonderful to have a passion? Like for me, one of mine is The Beatles. I have many passions. But yeah, back to The Beatles, I love ‘em. Can’t get enough of ‘em. I can talk about them for hours. Fortunately for me, I was born into a pack of Beatle lovers so we have lots of people to share our passion. That is a beautiful thing.

A few years ago, we packed our bags and flew off to Liverpool. That is how passionate we are about ‘our boys’. Well, we didn’t exactly fly to Liverpool. We flew to London first, then, took a train trip up to Liverpool. The city’s name, Liverpool, sounds ugly doesn’t it? I expected a disagreeable place. That does not describe the city at all. In fact, it is an attractive seaside city planted amid gentle, green rolling hills. It is a port city with an abundance of shipping and transportation bustle. And did I mention there is magic in the air?

This magic to which I refer is difficult to explain yet it hits you right in the face like a blast from a fired up amplifier. It is not a subtle thing. To see the city, to breathe the air fresh off the sea, to know this is the birthplace of John, Paul, George and Ringo during World War II, there is no denying that something abides called destiny, kismet, fate or whatever you wish to call it. Do you believe in coincidence? I do not.

We took a tour called The Beatle Experience that left from the Liverpool waterfront at the Albert Dock. There we met many others like us of similar passion. There were a few Americans but lots of British, French, and Germans.

I had often read prior to our trip that The Beatles had financially impoverished childhoods. They did not really. George and Ringo had it rougher than John and Paul but none were what I would call living in poverty. As youths, George and Ringo lived in what are called ‘two up, two down’ small flats with their families. Their quarters were cramped but not unfortunate. John at Mendips and Paul at 20 Forthlin Road had larger, more comfortable homes. Both John and Paul went to an architecturally mesmerizing private school and wore “Harry Potteresque” type uniforms.

Probably the most interesting thing that happened to me while on this tour occurred at 20 Forthlin Road, Paul’s childhood home. The house is open for tours. As we were leaving through the front door, a big cat ran up to me from the yard. He ran up to ME. It is a small thing but what are the odds? Out of all of those people, that cat wanted ME. Do you believe in coincidence? I do not. It is a beautiful thing.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

With a Little Help from my Friends

Jacob has his own doll and he likes it. Lately, he has been playing with his doll quite a bit. His doll is Sylvester. Sylvester looks like Jake a little but Jake is cuter, of course. :)

I do not usually get large segments of time to do house work so I play 'catch as catch can' when it comes to house work. However, I always make a point of doing it. It just doesn't get done all at the same time. Okay, last night, I was vacuuming.

I talk a lot to my kitten boys. We have long chats. Anyone with pets understands this. These conversations are often funny. I should record our conversations. Last night, in between jaunts of vacumming, I was telling them how I really would appreciate it if they would help more around the house. I even suggested to Jake that maybe he could get a 'modeling' job since he is so darn beautiful. Of course, Nigel, Ollie, and Henry immediately got jealous so I had to convince them they were model quality too and could in fact go with him when auditioning for commercials and what not. Henry said he could drive as we had been out in the car a lot together lately. He thinks he has the driving thing down.

So what is all of this leading to? This morning as I was walking past the vacuum where I left it last night, someone (Jake) had propped up Sy against it. I am pretty sure Jake told him to 'get to vacuuming' because no way in heck is a 'real cat' going to work but 'mom needs help around here'.


When I walked back past it about 30 minutes later, it looked like this.



I guess Sy passed out from exhaustion already.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Lights, Camera, Action!

I have mentioned more than a few times that we are avid readers and we have a deep love of movies especially ones based on books. Do you find it immensely intriguing how you can love the same book genre or movie genre as one person yet completely dislike another genre they like?  For example, one sister and I have total fascination for one book genre while my other sister rolls her eyes at us when we get to talking in animated tones about them. Yet that same sister and I have the love of another genre between us that we can completely relate to with each other. One of my sisters and I have a big month coming up in November. Every week promises to bring some fun our way with our books and movies. The beauty of it is we can use it to celebrate our birthdays too. I even plan to win a prize!!! The last time we went to one of these big festivals, she and I were the only two people in the ENTIRE theatre who knew the answers to the prize questions. We both have been studying in anticipation of this years prize. Wish us luck!!!



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