A Drinking Game

A little preview of the fun to come. Fun for you, fun for me. Some now, some later. Ready?



What's this? THIS is the glass barrel I bought Joe for a special occasion about a year ago. Inside, wine corks from all the bottles we've had at home, and a few that have made their way back from evenings out.

Here's where the game comes in. In this post, you guess how long it will take us to fill up that barrel. For reference, we started around August 1st of 2009. Closest guess wins something. I haven't actually determined a prize yet.

And then, once it is full, I'm going to take guesses about how many corks are actually in the barrel. I'm not going to give you any kind of tally at this point, mostly because the barrel lives on top of the kitchen cabinets where I can't reach it. Joe had to drag it down so we could empty the wine case drawer into it again and I took a picture while I had the chance. And of course that closest guess will ALSO get a prize.

So fun for you, now (guessing the date) and later (guessing the number) and fun for me, now (drinking some wine) and later (drinking some more wine).

I'm going to post the picture in my sidebar and take guesses on the date right up until it actually happens.

P.S. I'm thinking about giving slumped (melted) wine bottles as prizes. I know not everyone's into wine but slumped glass is really pretty. Also, it can be used for many things, including a spoon rest, cheese board, decoration, etc. I've seen these done with and without labels and made from wine, liquor, and even soda bottles. (The example at right is from BPR Designs on Etsy - it's one of the best photos I found.)

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.

Is summer over yet?  Soon?  Please?!?!?

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>

Murdering Cats

I can't believe how strongly some of you feel about murdering cats. Everyone's so sure to clarify that they, personally, have NEVER murdered a cat.

Obviously, none of you have tried to work at home in the company of Tonya.

As previously reported on this here blog, I've been working my tushie off both on classes and on this ridiculous project for the office. The work project is so insane that the boss has actually allowed me to work from home additional days each week to decrease the number of interruptions that he insists on causing.

Instead, I have the distraction of one not-so-small fluffy cat named Tonya. As I work downstairs, I hear her throughout the day jumping on and off the dresser upstairs. It sounds a bit like the world is ending and meteors are bursting through the ceiling. Then, there's the meowing. She's in mourning (I'll let her fill you in on that next week) and cries constantly. Meowwwwwwwww. MEOwwwwwwwwwww. MEOWWWWW!!!

Because I came into the office yesterday and she wasn't able to stalk me during my waking hours, she made sure to get revenge by barfing on the (new) bedroom carpet around 4am. I don't think it's a coincidence that she chose my side of the bed.

So, yes, while on first glance "murdering cats" may seem like a harsh action, you must understand where I was coming from when the words spilled forth from my fingers. I invite any of you to spend a day at House O' Cate, Location Undisclosed with this particular cat and tell me the idea wouldn't at least cross your mind.

P.S. I never wanted this to be a cat blog.

P.P.S. Thought cornering the market on a "murdering cat" blog might be kind of cool.

P.P.P.S. No, she's not mourning the passing of Rusty. He's fine. It's just that he spends his days curled up either on the sofa or the back porch being good.

PETA.P.S Back off. No cats were harmed in the writing of this post (or any other). No cats will EVER be harmed on my watch. However, meat will be eaten. Not cat meat.

Cate Inserts Witty Title Here

Cate's busy trying to work. She seems to think that productivity is in direct proportion to number of monitors, but I think she's taken it a bit far.  She tells me she currently has 4 laptops, an external monitor, and a tv to use as a monitor on her desk.

This is where I had inserted a photo that I stole from Cate of her setup, but then she made me take it out. Suffice to say, lots of monitors. Tons, even.

No, seriously Cate, that qualifies as "excessive".

So I'm like, "they are so going to think you really died this time, I'm gonna write something for you." And then she said, "I really don't want your crap showing up on my blog, but okay."

The only thing I was lacking was a topic- I think it's the thing that keeps most of us bloggers from posting every day. So I foisted that responsibility onto her, and she immediately came back with- and this is true- "murdering cats". This could just be because of that video that has gone viral (a term I had to actually explain to my computer programming husband) of that psycho b##ch* dumping the cat in the bin, but more likely it's because Tonya is causing chaos while Cate is trying to work from home. Probably because Cate stole Tonya's television for use as a monitor. Still, Tonya can't possibly be slowing things down as much as Cate's Drama Llama boss does.

So... murdering cats. I don't know too much on the subject.

The Bloggess says you can make mittens out of kittens. Possibly she is taking a slightly different stance since her dog died several days ago (which, by the way, is the sad thing that Cate sent me with the inappropriate emoticon).

My cat died a couple of years ago, but I did not murder him. I cannot stress that enough. True, we do not know what the actual cause was. But what kind of mother would leave the murdered family pet to be discovered by the children? Not even I am that bad a parent. No, seriously.

When I was little, we kept our pet bunnies out on the porch in a hutch. The neighbor dogs came over in the middle of the night and ripped them apart. I know that's not cats, but that absolutely qualifies as murder. Especially to a four year old.

And... I'm out. That's all the pet-slaughter I can wrap even my perverse brain around.

What a disgusting topic. Blame Cate.

*I censored myself! That's just for Cate because she doesn't swear. Here, anyway.

Note from Cate: This post submitted by SomeMonkey. She's totally saving my blogging arse (since I don't do that swearing thing here) lately. And all of my other collective arses as well. Also, I think I was supposed to actually insert a witty title. But I'm just THAT busy. Except, then she wasted even MORE of my work time by making me edit. Seriously, woman.

Exhausticate

Main Entry: ex·haust·i·cate
Pronunciation: \ig-'zȯst-ə-ˌkāt\
Function: verb

1: to tire Cate extremely or completely
2: to drain Cate of strength or energy, wear out, or fatigue greatly
3: to deprive Cate wholly of useful or essential properties

Definition #3 is my personal favorite. Yes, I'm completely exhausticated. Sometimes this is worse than migraine mumbles and I do stupid brilliant things like this:

SomeMonkey (after reading something sad I sent her): oh man. that's awful
me: yeah :)
me: omg worst typo EVER
SomeMonkey: snort
me: i meant :(

After traveling to see family and attend a reunion, I came home last Monday, did laundry, packed Joe's bags and sent him off before 5am the next morning for husband work training and then spent a day and a half cramming for a final exam. I then took the actual exam, stayed up too late on Thursday waiting for Joe to arrive back home, and jumped right into another weekend and another brand new class.

At least my typo was good for something:

SomeMonkey: well, it kept me from crying, so i vote it best typo ever
me: i WIN!

That's what a good friend does - takes your foot out of your mouth for you and laughs at it. Or something.

Anyways, there's been far too much exhaustication lately, which is why posts have been sparse. I need a week-long nap.

P.S. Just so you know, exhaustication isn't actually in the dictionary but I was determined to create a correct pronunciation guide. For when, you know, the masses want to use my word. How did I manage this amazing feat, you may ask? I combined pronunciations of two words. Exhaust and fornicate. Yeah. SomeMonkey assures me that this is the good kind of exhaustication so I guess it all works out.