Six Word Saturday

Describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does each week with their entries.

There IS no black and white

Each week (probably on Sunday or Monday), I use random.org to select a bunch of entries to visit. That way, everyone has equal chance. In addition, please visit the person ahead of you on the list (or visit everyone if you like!). That way everyone receives at least one visit!

All that's necessary to participate is to post your own six words. You can post an explanation if you wish but it's certainly not required. If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!). Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.

Please be sure to link either to your main page or (preferably) directly to the 6WS post. Links to blogs that do not contain a 6WS entry will be removed (sorry, just the button in the sidebar doesn't count as participating).

<a href="http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS"><img src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp35/showmyface/guts/6wsButton.jpg" /></a>

Political Evil

Last week, I actually answered the phone even though the caller id displayed a number I didn't recognize. Almost always a mistake. This time, they were conducting a survey regarding an local election and since I was avoiding my advertising assignment was taking a brief break, I agreed to participate.

The first question wanted to know my registered voting affiliation, Republican or Democrat. Nope! Independent.

Next she asked if I was familiar with the candidates running for whatever office in this here district. I said no. Hey, I'm not going to lie!

The next question(s) wanted me to say the first thing that comes to mind when she read me the names of the two candidates. Which, of course, I've slightly camouflaged here to protect the innocent my undisclosed location.

First up: Graydon Carson.
Response: Sounds like a stage name.

The opponent: Keith Pinion.
Response: Pinion makes me think of minion so maybe he's evil.

There was a definite pause at that point.

When she finally continued, I tried to be not quite so free-thinking in my honesty but lucky for us both most of the remaining questions required number answers. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the least likely and 10 being the most likely, how would I rate the following statements. Boring! And since I know nothing about either, I'll admit I answered almost every one of these with a 5.

The last bit used the same scale of 1 to 10 but my response was to indicate how that statement would influence my likeliness to vote for that candidate. There were a lot of these but I'll just share my two favorites, which came near the middle of the list, one right after the other:

1. Keith Pinion continued to strongly support (some corrupt political guy) even after he was charged and then admitted to his role in (some really evil plot to bring down the universe).
2. Graydon Carson loves trees.

Seriously. So I guess I was right in thinking that Pinion = minion and evil. And after a bit of post-call research, turns out it also means Republican. Draw your own conclusions. ;)

As you can see, my opinion really helped them a lot. I'm sure my valuable input will really help shape the campaign and conduct of the candidates in question.

P.S. I actually take my voting very seriously. Before voting in any election, I do some research and make an informed decision rather than casting votes based on just party affiliation or random word association. Because THAT only works when picking my NCAA tourney brackets.

Quality vs Quantity

Hopefully...

Folks, I'm burned out. I don't know if that's as painfully obvious to any of you as it is to me, but it's the truth.

I'm more and more losing my time and inspiration for much of anything creative. I thought if I kept pushing myself to post every day, it would keep me open to being attacked inspired but it's just not working out that way.

So, I'm giving me permission and just letting you all know that I'm going to be posting 2-3 times a week (plus 6WS) instead of posting every day like I have been. Don't think I've disappeared or run off with the circus because I miss a day. I'm probably just busy with my classes. Or huddling under my desk, humming "Love Shack" and gnawing on my thumb.

Thanks.

In-Flight Amenities

If you play along on Six Word Saturday, you may recall my entry from this week:

Infants are NOT an in-flight amenity

Screenshot from seatguru.com

Only, you know, bigger and with more colors. (Also, I feel it is important to note that I do not automatically hate babies on planes - but I certainly do NOT consider them to be an amenity.)

This was a reference to what Joe found on seatguru.com regarding his flight on Delta for Saturday morning. For the record, I think they were offering infant-related amenities as opposed to actual infants.

Not that Joe had an opportunity to get on the Delta flight because also an optional amenity was the idea of scheduling a flight crew. At least in Delta's mind. Eventually, this resulted in the cancellation of his flight that was to connect him to his OTHER flight that would take him to San Francisco to run the half marathon on Sunday. For added fun, he had to arrive in time to travel from the airport to the expo center to pick up his running packet before 5pm or they wouldn't allow him to run the next morning.

The condensed version ends with Delta putting Joe on an American Airlines flight that had to fly around some serious weather going into Chicago which almost delayed him and made him miss that connection. But he finally arrived in SFO, only a little worse for wear. He picked up his race packet and enjoyed his run super-early Sunday morning.

It seems every time we fly lately, there's an issue. Usually an issue that stresses me out completely and I'm pretty sure we're going to miss our connecting flight and we're totally going to die now arrive later than planned.

So as I write this on Sunday night for posting on Monday morning, the idea is that Joe will be flying the red-eye back, on Delta, to make an East coast connection to our undisclosed location, arriving here around 9am. I'm going to bed hoping that I don't have to write a P.S. to this post that involves punching Delta in the face.

P.S. Don't worry - it's a good news P.S. because Joe had an uneventful flight from SFO to the east coast, made his connection without issue, and will be landing back at our undisclosed location in about an hour. Yay!

Six Word Saturday

Describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does each week with their entries.

Infants are NOT an in-flight amenity

Screenshot from seatguru.com

Each week (probably on Sunday or Monday), I use random.org to select a bunch of entries to visit. That way, everyone has equal chance. In addition, please visit the person ahead of you on the list (or visit everyone if you like!). That way everyone receives at least one visit!

All that's necessary to participate is to post your own six words. You can post an explanation if you wish but it's certainly not required. If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!). Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.

Please be sure to link either to your main page or (preferably) directly to the 6WS post. Links to blogs that do not contain a 6WS entry will be removed (sorry, just the button in the sidebar doesn't count as participating).

<a href="http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS"><img src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp35/showmyface/guts/6wsButton.jpg" /></a>

The Worst Possible Thing

I did it yesterday. The worst possible thing. The thing I had avoided for almost 9 years.

Yep, I cried in front of my boss.

A few years back, I had a narrow miss when I had to leave the room abruptly but this time I was trapped and I couldn't stop myself. And I'm not talking tears in the corners of my eyes. I mean the lower lip quiver, tears streaming, sobbing and can't speak cry. The ugly cry.

This situation was similar to last time - I was angry. SO angry and trying desperately to hold it in because I knew it was best to keep my mouth shut but instead I ended up bawling like a girl. I really don't know which is worse - expressing the angry or losing control of the cry.

The leave I mentioned yesterday is still on though it's somehow turning into a situation that means working here three days a week is going to be more stressful and horrible than working here five days a week.

Numb is the best word for how I'm feeling right now. Still some angry. And a lot of frustration because even when things seem to go my way, they don't end up going my way.

I'm Leaving!

Not exactly. I mean, I'm not going anywhere.

But my job did approve for me to take a three month reduction in hours this Fall so I can handle my school workload! Can I get a woohoo or a booyah?

I really didn't think Human Resources would go for it but they were an easy sell once my boss signed off. That left just upper management. But then my drama llama boss kinda lost his mind a week ago and packed his toys office and said he was leaving, never coming back. The last week has been incredibly stressful as I've waited to see what would happen and tried to weigh what I should do in case I couldn't take that leave. Could I still handle the full schedule?

Doesn't matter now. I'm approved. I'll work only 24 hours a week on a schedule to be determined with my boss. The other two days (plus nights, weekends, lunch hours, etc) will be used for online courses.

I'm hoping this relieves some of the strain I've been feeling lately. I believe that completing this grad certificate is definitely a move in the right direction for me. Finally the pieces are falling in place to support it.

Speaking of support - thank you to all of you amazing people who have been leaving me such encouraging comments and sending such amazing emails. This blog is always going to be up and down because that's just who I seem to be. But I'm hoping we see a lot more "up" for the next few months.

P.S. I wrote all THAT last night. Of course this morning I walk in and get a completely different story from my boss. Because he's a spineless lying jerkface. Screw me.

Death by Carpet

As promised yesterday, I'm going to tell you today about how carpet replacement in my house has caused multiple panic attacks and now I think I'm going to die.

It's not that I'm emotionally attached to the carpets. I also don't have fears that they are going to kill me in my sleep. But the carpets are low-quality and have passed their expiration date. Also, Tonya has not been kind. So in case we decide to sell the house or have company over, we decided to have the offending floor covering replaced.

I was fine until the lady came last Wednesday to measure. As we walked room to room, she would point out the things the installation crew would be willing to move. This consists of the large furniture items. She also pointed out specifically things like bookcases that needed to be emptied, the closet in Joe's office that kinda attacked her as she opened the door, etc.

That's when panic started to set in. After she left, I messaged Joe, hoping my husband could talk me down before I spiraled out of control with freaking out:

me: Your office is going to be a nightmare!
Joe: There's a lot of stuff in there but it'll be okay.
me: The one good thing about the office is that the desk is on wheels so they can wheel that right out with the computer and stuff still on it.
Joe: It's too wide to fit through the door.
me: Excuse me?
Joe: I assembled it in the room. It's too wide to fit through the door.

That's when the anxiety quit knocking on my door and set up camp in my brain. How are we going to get all of this done before they install? How will we finish it when Joe's going away the weekend before they come? And OMG THE DESK DOESN'T FIT THROUGH THE DOOR!!!

But we made great progress over the weekend. We managed to clear the spare room, master bedroom, and living room of everything that can be moved ahead of time. He even made great progress in the office!

When we finally quit for the day on Saturday, collapsing around some take-out and beer, we talked about how much we had accomplished:

me: There's not that much left, is there?
Joe: Nope, almost done! And it's a good thing because I don't know how much more the bonus room (think family room over the garage) can take. I have to figure out where to move the server to in there to distribute the weight.
me: Huh?
Joe: The server weighs around 150 pounds. I'm trying to equally distribute the weight rather than load up just one side of the room.
me: Is that something to be concerned about?
Joe: (senses my preparation to jump off the ledge again) No, not at all. I'm sure it's fine.
me: Then why did you just mention it?
Joe: No idea. I've thought about it now and it's fine!

So now I'm terrified of going into our bonus room because I've convinced myself that any extra weight is going to collapse the entire room into the garage which will crush our cars and start a fire and we will all die. I won't even go in there to watch tv now until the carpet is installed, which won't be until the 30th.

And that's how carpet replacement causes me anxiety and makes me think we're all going to die.

P.S. Is this how normal people think? I'm pretty sure it's not.

Time Travel

I was going to post today about how carpet replacement in our house has brought on multiple anxiety attacks but that's kinda long and this post is already late. Maybe tomorrow.

Instead, I'll tell you something you didn't know about me. Specifically, that I am capable of time travel.

Yeah, that's right. Time travel.

Here's how I know this:



See that? I posted that tweet ONE MINUTE FROM NOW. I'm posting from the future.

Don't you wish you were as cool as me? If you even think about answering "yes" to that, come back tomorrow to peek inside my head and see what's up with this whole carpet installation trauma.

Dread

I want a job that doesn't leave me dreading Monday mornings.

I want a boss who is not a drama llama, does not resign quarterly, and who can go away from the office without me dreading his return.

I never want to be the coworker or employee that leaves others dreading my return from absences.

Mostly, I just want to put these things on record so I can remember why I'm working so hard to make things different.

Six Word Saturday

Describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does each week with their entries.

Overwhelmed by too much to do

Each week (probably on Sunday or Monday), I use random.org to select a bunch of entries to visit. That way, everyone has equal chance. In addition, please visit the person ahead of you on the list (or visit everyone if you like!). That way everyone receives at least one visit!

All that's necessary to participate is to post your own six words. You can post an explanation if you wish but it's certainly not required. If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!). Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.

Please be sure to link either to your main page or (preferably) directly to the 6WS post. Links to blogs that do not contain a 6WS entry will be removed (sorry, just the button in the sidebar doesn't count as participating).

<a href="http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS"><img src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp35/showmyface/guts/6wsButton.jpg" /></a>

A Tale of Two Cities

Another late trip post...

On our trip to Barcelona, Joe managed to hook me up with the most awesome of anxiety-quelling gifts - global data on my faithful companion, Gwen.

We spent a few hours on a lovely clear day at Park Güell. This place was so visually stimulating that it's hard to explain. Barcelona's resident artist, Antoni Gaudi, created the area originally to be a housing development for the rich and famous. Gaudi designed elaborate gardens and crazy structures that are amazing to view. Some are stunning in their beauty and some are downright absurd - we couldn't decide if they looked more like Candyland, Wonka creations, or Smurf dwellings.

The park is on a steep hill overlooking the city and the further into the park you climb, the more astounding the view becomes. It was so astounding that I was inspired to share it with my family back home. I pulled out Gwen and sent a photo similar to this:



The reply? "Don't most people go on vacation to get away from big nasty cities?"

It had never occurred to me that they would see it that way (and by "they" you know I mean my mother). I saw an amazing view that stretched to include a lush park, included Gaudi's home (building in left forefront of the photo), the city below, mountains, and the sea. To me, the city represents all of these people and opportunities and lives that are very different from my own - which is exciting! To my family, the city represents icky foreigners, people who don't speak English, crowds, pollution, and crime.

Sometimes I wonder how I was raised in that kind of environment and yet see things so differently.

Guess What?!?!

Chicken Butt!!!

Hahahahaha.

Why was that so funny as a kid?

Better question - why is that so funny to me now? I must be experiencing one of those rare "good moods" I've heard so much about. That or sleep deprivation.

What completely silly thing made you laugh as a child?

Creative Income Generation

You're welcome. For what? I deleted about six paragraphs of whining that you didn't really want to read. Even though it's my blog and I can write anything I want. BANANA MOTORCYCLES! KANGAROO MOSQUITOES!!! See?

Anyways, I would like to go back to school because my job sucks. This is to escape my crazy Drama Llama boss and some breathing-down-my-neck upper-level management and to maybe preserve a bit of my sanity. Like there's any left. At one point I thought I could quit my job for the Fall and go take classes full-time. Except Joe says there are these stupid things called money and bills and adult responsibilities. So scratch that.

Still, I thought about my ability to handle full-time work and a full classload. I expect it will go something like this:

• Cate starts classes
• Cate is excited for one week
• Cate is struggling to keep up with assignments
• Work starts putting on crazy stress
• Cate realizes she's talking about herself in the third-person again
• Someone says "could care less"
• Cate ends up rocking back and forth in a corner singing "Every Breath You Take" and eating cat hair

I'm assuming at that point, I might have to quit the job.

Joe estimates we could survive for 3 months if I gave up eating somehow managed to bring in at least 50% of my current salary. I immediately set out thinking of other ways to make money. Here are my ideas so far:

• Sell organs (research market values)
• Pimp Tonya
• Yardsale for my slightly-drooled-on stuffed animal collection
• ???

I'll admit, it's not a very good list - yet.

Actually, selling organs might be a good one. See, I still have my appendix, tonsils, and spleen. And since people are always having those things removed (my mother had her appendix out just last month!), there's probably a big market for them. Right? Right?

Okay, yeah, I'm still working on it.

I'm Not Here

And it's just as well because Monday was supposed to be awesome and instead it was a pile o' poo, all of which was generated by the Drama Llama.

Today, I am passing forward the good guest-blogging karma from my trip to Spain with a little guest entry over at Tortuga's Turtle Droppings.

The best part is that I can't remember at all what I wrote about so it will be a surprise to everyone!

Another Funny

Because I'm feeling anything BUT funny today and because I take advice from furry cartoon creatures (If you can't say something nice...), I'm going to pass along another funny site today.

You're welcome.

This one brought to you courtesy of Melinda, who blogs at Days Like This and tweets as @mstacer.

Hyperbole and a Half - recent entries include a dumb dog eager to please and a flowchart/explanation of why the author will never be an adult. Entires are illustrated and occasional language/adult humor is used.

So go enjoy that while I conquer Monday and get my groove back.

Six Word Saturday

Describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does each week with their entries.

Think good thoughts for the vet
(annual kitty exams are this morning)

Each week (probably on Sunday or Monday), I use random.org to select a bunch of entries to visit. That way, everyone has equal chance. In addition, please visit the person ahead of you on the list (or visit everyone if you like!). That way everyone receives at least one visit!

All that's necessary to participate is to post your own six words. You can post an explanation if you wish but it's certainly not required. If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!). Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.

Please be sure to link either to your main page or (preferably) directly to the 6WS post. Links to blogs that do not contain a 6WS entry will be removed (sorry, just the button in the sidebar doesn't count as participating).

<a href="http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS"><img src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp35/showmyface/guts/6wsButton.jpg" /></a>

Another Thing To Make Me Feel Old

Over the weekend, a guy I babysat a few times decided to drink and drive. He wrapped his car around a tree and at only 18, ended it all.

And it makes me angry. Angry that he's gone so young. Angry that he threw it all away. Angry that he could've also killed someone else. Angry that the obituary says "automobile accident" instead of telling the truth.

But then, obituaries seldom tell the truth. They're full of "sudden illnesses" and "died at home" and "was taken too soon". Nobody ever dies from alcohol poisoning or drug overdoses or suicide. It always has to be prettied up and made acceptable. SomeMonkey pointed out that obituaries are for families, not for information, which is a good point.

Keep it simple, don't tell too much. Son of these people, grandson of those people, predeceased by that one. Member of the debate team, dedicated runner. Planned to attend this school in the Fall. Missed by friends and family. Smith Funeral Home Sunday at 1pm.

Anger's one of the 12 stages, right? Or is it only 7 stages? Not being one to process traditionally, I have no idea. I wouldn't even say I'm grieving. We weren't close and I haven't even seen him in 14 years. But I'm still human and a needless loss of life like this brings on the angry.

P.S. Sorry if this post is a bit confusing or raw or whatever. I tried not to post it but I felt like I had to for whatever reason. And it's my blog.

A Substitution

The post I wrote for today turned out very angry and possibly even offensive. And while I may edit and post it at another time, I don't feel comfortable posting it today.

So instead, I post for you a substitution. It's a link from Artistikem that she posted on twitter.

Cat Versus Human

Here's a sample of what you'll find:


So go check out the funny blog - it's Tonya-approved.

P.S. Yeah - it's a bit wide for my blog. And I hate it when people post things that are too wide like that. But I think you get the point.

This Ends With Me Feeling Lame Regardless

I have a little situation. By which I do NOT mean "it's a huge situation and I'm freaking out and HALP!!!!". I mean, it's a small inconsequential kind of thing. But still, I wonder if there's a way to handle it that doesn't leave me feeling like a jerkface.

My brother's birthday was last weekend and I was too lazy busy with classwork to get him a card. Instead, I did the next best totally over-the-top sister thing and sent him a book from his Amazon wish list. I figured the book was $10, free 2-day shipping (love Prime!), and more practical than hauling my busy self around town to pick up a $4 card plus postage and it wouldn't get there until after his birthday due to the holiday.

Anyways.

The book was delivered on Friday. And left on his front porch according to UPS. I tried to call him on his birthday but no answer. Here we are on Wednesday and I haven't heard from him. And here's where the "now I end up looking like a jerkface so what do I do" part.

Option A: I call or email him and say "Hey, hope you had a swell birthday, umm, did you get the gift I sent?" This means I'm a jerk because it sounds like I'm fishing for a pat on the back and I'm calling out the birthday boy for being rude and not acknowledging the gift.

Option B: I don't bring it up and just hope he got it instead of the neighbor. It was only $10 so it's not like I'm out a whole lot. And I don't make my brother feel like a slacker. But then I'll always wonder if he got it...

See? Told you it was trivial. But I never know how to handle that because I want to make sure the gift was received (what if it was a larger gift?) but I also don't want to be fishing for thank yous or making the recipient feel bad.

I think the only option really is to buy gifts just for me. I always tell myself thank you. I'm awesome like that.

Refreshed

Isn't it awesome when you have a long weekend away from the job you hate? After a bit of a break, the world seems brighter. You may even return to work on that first day back thinking things aren't so bad!

And then, before you even sit your bag down at your desk, the Drama Llama (boss) rushes in because "OMG Ron was supposed to send us an email about the launch tomorrow and he didn't and OMG and now what are we going to do and I'm going to have to write it up myself and how can we launch without that email and I'm going to fire him and OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!"

Dammit.

P.S. The email that needs written up consists of 4 lines. We aren't launching until tomorrow so there's plenty of time. Ron will be in today, at which point he'll probably have the email (though, I do agree that he said he would send it on Friday). In the meantime, I've written it myself. Maybe now we can settle down this particular OMGOMGOMGOMG drama. Please?

Happy July 5th!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Even Canadians.

Seriously, what's with Canadians? It's like they have to be first all the time. They have Thanksgiving before us, they have Canada Day before our Independence Day. And then they do that whole "Boxing Day" which sounds way more exciting than it really is (seriously, if this girl ever celebrates something called Boxing Day, it's going to involve punching people in the face!).

And since my migraines seem to be declaring their independence from leaving me the hell alone, that's all I've got for you this morning. A rant about Canadians. Even though I <3 Canadians and their hockey and beer and Princess Andy's.

Come back tomorrow and maybe I'll have a more interesting rant about Germans post.

Six Word Saturday

Describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does each week with their entries.

Have a SAFE and FUN weekend!

Each week (probably on Sunday or Monday), I use random.org to select a bunch of entries to visit. That way, everyone has equal chance. In addition, please visit the person ahead of you on the list (or visit everyone if you like!). That way everyone receives at least one visit!

All that's necessary to participate is to post your own six words. You can post an explanation if you wish but it's certainly not required. If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!). Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.

Please be sure to link either to your main page or (preferably) directly to the 6WS post. Links to blogs that do not contain a 6WS entry will be removed (sorry, just the button in the sidebar doesn't count as participating).

<a href="http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS"><img src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp35/showmyface/guts/6wsButton.jpg" /></a>

5 Reasons I Love Barcelona

Here's a really overdue post about our trip to Spain back in April. Rather than write 286 posts about why I loved Barcelona, I'm just going to do one nice list for you.

1. Diversity: I've never seen such a random bunch of people. Within five minutes of stepping onto La Rambla (a busy pedestrian mall full of tourists, locals, street entertainers and vendors), I had seen several families, a gay couple, a dude dressed up as a giant robot, and a woman wearing a tutu. I had also overheard at least seven different languages.

2. Plentiful wine: We saw a sign early on that said "Save water, drink wine" and laughed. Little did we know at the time that this was not a joke but a way of life. No matter what time of day, it is just assumed that you will be ordering at least one bottle of wine with your meal. Even better, the wines are affordable and delicious! Unlike the good ole USofA where restaurants mark up wine by 1834%, bottles of regional and local wines started around the equivalent of roughly $10. Yes, that's per BOTTLE, not glass. And they were amazing.

3. Jamón serrano and Chorizo: How did I go the first 30-some years of my life without making the acquaintance of these brilliant meats? Jamón serrano (mountain ham) is a dry-cured ham. It's served raw and in very thin slices. Think prosciutto but more delectable. And Spanish chorizo is a smoky lovely red sausage that gets most of its flavor and color from paprika. It comes in both hot and mild and is served both cold or cooked. My favorite way to eat chorizo? Who cares - just get it in my belly! The food in general was very good. Tapas-style (small plates meant to share) is an awesome way to eat!

4. Ed: 'Nuff said.

5. La Boqueria: Check this place out!. If you click to the map and then the shop map (they won't let me link directly there), you'll get a feel for just how huge this place is. It's what I think of as a Farmers' Market, but on crack (it's also beautiful). It dates all the way back to the 13th century and they sell fresh meats, fruits, veggies, sausages, eggs, seafood, candies, wine, cheeses... Anything delicious and local and fresh, they sell it at the market. It made me wish we weren't staying in a hotel because I wanted to take everything with me so I could cook it. (TMC - you would've LOVED this place!)

So there, just 5 of the reasons I love Barcelona. I could've made a list of 100 or more but then you'd all get bored. Plus, I probably lost most of you around #4 when you clicked back on the post about Ed and your drool short-circuited your keyboard so you couldn't return.

It's hard to pick a favorite city without adding a lot of qualifiers because we've been to some amazing places. Each one has its own unique charms and experiences. But the casual atmosphere, daunting architecture, and incredible foods definitely put Barcelona in a class of its own.

First Fursday: Stuff I Eat

Our long-haired human completely failed to let us have our post last month. The nerve! So I left her a friendly reminder on her Mental Health Day last week. AKA I barfed at the foot of the stairs. You're welcome.

Oh yeah, Tonya here, like there was any doubt.

Last week, short-haired human brought home some French fries and I've become obsessed. Yeah, I know they say people food isn't good for cats. But just who are they anyways? They certainly haven't talked with my belly because I say French fries are awesome! I love all kinds of potatoes, actually. Especially mashed potatoes because usually if the humans give me a taste of mashed potatoes, I can take an accidental chunk out of their finger at the same time. Haha, it's so fun to watch them pull their hand away and yell!

I also like tuna fishes, pureed pumpkin, and whipped cream. Oh, and honey ham. Not smoked ham, mind you. That stuff is nasty. Only honey ham.

Rusty refuses to eat any of those things with the exception of a bite of fresh fish now and then. He likes to stick to his plain old crunchies and doesn't even eat the treats the humans give us!  What a moron.

Recently, I decided I've had enough of those "gourmet crunchies". $40 a bag? Whatever. Like that means anything to me. If the humans would go to that work place more often instead of this whole "weekend" thing, maybe they'd have more money to care for me in the manner I demand deserve. Still, I thought I should keep them on their toes and refuse the gourmet crunchies. Short-haired human was so desperate that he broke out the "emergency" crunchies this morning just to see if I'd eat them. Usually I turn my nose up at them but today I decided I'd go ahead and chomp them down. So awesome to keep the humans guessing!

Next month, I'll probably let Rusty take over this post, despite his habit of sucking. Still, it's been awhile since he's had a chance and I could use a rest. It's hard when all of the work falls on me. A girl needs her beauty sleep!



P.S. A quick note from long-haired human but the kitties are rarely given table scraps despite the begging. Much to Tonya's dismay.