My Little House Guest

If you follow along on instagram or twitter, you may have seen pictures of my house guest. This is how he came to stay with my little family:

I was lounging around in bed with Chris and scrolling through my instagram feed on Sunday after work. I saw a picture of a teesy little grey puff ball that @ashleyxrenee posted. She found the kitten in her basement while doing laundry. She brought him upstairs and made a little bed, but since it was Sunday all the shelters were closed. She couldn't keep him over night because she actually had to leave town in the wee hours Monday morning. I rolled over and stared at Chris. I had plenty of time to get my pouty face right because it took him a while to notice the holes I was staring into his face. I showed him the picture and of course he said, "awwww" (he always does). I told him what the situation was and he said, "poor kitty."

Photo by Ashley

I rolled back over and thought about it for a minute or two. What if that were me? What if I found a piece of precious but couldn't take care of it? I only live 10 minutes away; in 10 minutes I can help this kitten and give Ashley some peace of mind. Well, I don't necessarily believe in Karma, but I do believe that if you help someone else, someday someone will help you. (That's why I like to take the trash out at work. One day I'll be sick and I won't want to....). I rolled back over and asked Chris how he felt about us taking the kitty for the night, then taking it to a shelter or finding it a home. He looked at me and basically said, "your mind is made up, I can tell. There is no stopping you when it comes to baby animals." Damn right!

I left a comment on Ashley's picture that I could take the kitten. A few minutes later I was in the car. Ashley and the kitten were waiting outside with a very curious Gozer peeking out the window. This was also the first time I've met Ashley in person. She was so sweet to help this kitten! The kitten is palm sized, so our girly hands are just enough to hold onto him.

I took him home in the carrier and zipped out for kitten formula. I've got him on a feeding schedule and I'm going to hang onto him until he's eating solid food, maybe longer! I called around and Pinellas County animal services flat out said they would euthanize him. Not gonna happen! Keeping him any longer than a few nights wasn't part of the original plan, but at 2-3 weeks, Chris and I are the best thing for him.

He eats like a champ and already has a little tummy going. The photo above is from right after a bath. His fur was caked with dirt and blood, but he's squeaky clean now! I'm just so happy Ashley found this little guy. Ok, one more!

I'll do another post on his progress, but with real photos. Not iPhone and instgram photos. If you have ever nursed a kitten this young and have any advice I would greatly appreciate it!

11 more things.

Remember the post I did a week or two ago? The 11 things one? Well, I was tagged again by Lindsay from Shrimp Salad Circus. Rather than redo the whole thing I thought I would simply answer the 11 questions she tagged me for. Here we go!

1.   Coffee or tea? Green or black? Both please. I need them both. I like all tea and I really couldn't decide! I prefer my coffee black, but I do love soy caramel macchiatos. 

2.   Tell me about your pets. If you don't have any, tell me about your... plants? We have a zoo at my house. 2 cats, 3 ferrets, 2 veiled chameleons, 2 turtles, and 3 geckos. Did I miss anyone? Oh, Yes. We have a chihuahua named Trinket. I haven't really posted about her yet, but I do spam my friends on twitter with photos of her.

3.   What is your very first memory? I actually have a lot of childhood memories, but oddly enough I not sure if they are mine or something I imagined. I have a lot of mental blocks. I do remember eating strawberry ice cream in a room full of shelves and shelves of records at my Dad's friend's (Crash and Tony) place. From what I hear, I was too young to be able to remember that.

4.   If you could learn any language, which would you choose, and why? I should say Spanish because I live in Florida and it would be practical, but  I'm not practical. I'm going to say German, I love this language. I took German in middle school and I picked it up quickly. I only had the vocabulary of a 5 year old, but I still have the sentence structure (blah blah) down. My runner up would be Irish. I read a lot of Irish poetry a few years ago for school. I had the English translations, but the language is beautiful.

5.   What has been your most hideous fashion blunder? (Mine has to have been the fountain ponytail cascading down from the top of my head in middle school....) I looked hot in my white and neon orange, houndstooth printed stirrup pants. I only wore them with a lavender turtle neck. I wore this in 2nd grade. Like I said, hot.

6.   Pretend you're on tv. What song should play every time you enter the room? Anything by Lights. But if I had to pick:

7.   If you could hug any animal in the world, what would you choose? I hug every goat I see. I would really just love to have a real live bear hug though. A Panda would be cool.

8.   Tell me the best joke you know. I'm drawing a huge blank on this one. I love jokes but I am horrible at telling them o---oh! I know! Why did the chicken cross the road? Because Frank Perdue was chasing after him. (knee- slapper).

9.   How do you feel about celeb gossip magazines? I'm not into them. They aren't very credible. My favorite celebrities are the ones you don't see in those. Or they're in them for something awesome.

10.   Are you sick of the presidential campaigning yet?   Honestly, I've been so busy with school that I haven't really noticed them. I also haven't watched tv for about 2 months now.

11.   If you could go into business for yourself and not fail, what would you peddle? I would love to have a line of affordable pet stuff. There's so much out there, but it's ridiculously expensive! Doggy shirts, cat/dog/ferret bedding. Treats! Homemade treats! I just really love my critters and I know there are others out there who do too.

#FebPhotoSkill Days 15-21

3 weeks down! How's everyone hanging in? Anyone else doing the photo challenges? Have you posted? Link up, I wanna see!

15. Negative Space // 16. Positive Space // 17. High Contrast

18. Documentary No. 2 // 19. Freeze Action // 20. Black on Black // 21. White on White

Sundae Stroll

Happy Sunday (my favorite day). So on the blog today is a meme. Yep. A meme. I'm chugging away on homework and the weather is dreary, so no adventures today! I think the one and only meme I have posted on the blog was the ABC one, but sometimes I think these are helpful because it allows readers to learn more about the blogger, so here goes!


I was tagged by Megan from Surprise High Five.

There are six "rules"
1. Post these rules.
2. Post 11 random things about yourself.
3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post (i.e., Megan's for me).
4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5. Go to their blog and tell them you've tagged them.
6. No saying, "If you are reading this, you're tagged.

11 random things about me:
1. I was in Jrotc all 4 years of high school.
2. I've been known to talk, walk, and eat chocolate while asleep.
3. I prefer my coffee black.
4. I dye my hair red because it feels more natural.
5. I actually like warm beer better than cold. I'll order 2 Guinnesses (Guinnei?) and let the 2nd warm up.
6. I usually learn things the hard way.
7. I still confuse my left and right, there should be clear markers which is which. (ding! teensy tattoo idea)
8. I love pens.
9. After 14 years I still have the occasional craving for red meat.
10. My hair is stick straight. That kink from ponytails? Straightens itself in 5 minutes.
11. I was allergic to chocolate and pineapple when I was little.


Megan's questions for me:
1. Are you a cat or a dog person?
I'm kind of a bothy. I really love dogs, but.... I really love cats. I love ferrets too.
2. Who is your dream date?
It would be more like a get together, but I would love to have a drink (or black out) with the folks from Flogging Molly.
3. What is your favorite food?
Chocolatesushicheese <----(it counts).
4. What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a wildly successful author.
5. When was your first kiss?
It happened when I was 15, back in November 1999.
6. What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
My family tells me that leaving my unit to join another that I knew was deploying was the craziest. I bet there's a troopy who does that everyday. Personally, I still think swallowing that goldfish for a 12er was pretty cray.
7. What makes you mad?
Get me behind the wheel of a car and see what doesn't. No but really. Woman beaters. I wouldn't piss on one if they were burning in a ditch.
8. If you could only keep one article of clothing and had to replace the rest with new stuff (What Not to Wear style), what would you keep?
This one's a toughy. I'm not overly attached to the clothes I have these days. I guess my favorite black pj pants. We have history.
9. What is your guilty pleasure?
Reading zombie books. 
10. What is the best/worst present you have ever received?
Best? It's a tie. I got Cheetara when I earned my AA and I got Trinket for my birthday last year. Worst? Who the hell gets his girlfriend a fishing pole, then refuses to take her fishing... or even let her go fishing by herself?!?!??! He's an ex for a reason.
11. The Spice Girls decide they need you to join them on tour, what "spice" are you?
Well, I think I would be Teapot Spice or Crafty Spice..... Bookworm Spice? I'll only go on tour if I can have a body like Posh. 


Alright, here's what I wanna know:
1. What was your first car?
2. How do you like you coffee?
3. Who is your favorite cartoon (Disney, Universal, etc) character?
4. Do you have a favorite musical? What is it?
5. What is your go to scent for everyday?
6. If you had the power to end one reality show right now, who would get the ax?
7. What are you most proud of yourself for?
8. How do you blow off steam after a long and/or frustrating day?
9. What is one thing (or a few) that you try to keep off of your blog?
10. You know that one drink that made you so sick that you don't even want to see it ever again? What is it?
11. What is the one food that you can sit down and eat anytime of the day, the one meal/dish you are always in the mood for?


I'm tagging Velma, Rachel, and Heather.


Anyhoo, that's it! I hope everyone has a great Sunday!

Fat Cat Lady

I always thought I was my biggest critic, but after seeing pictures from a few months ago (before losing a few pounds) I learned that cats are my biggest critic. My cats judge me all the time, I can see it in their fuzzy, judgmental faces. Marie's face definitely doesn't make me feel any better.

I'm pretty sure she's laughing at my belly. I was going to say mid-section, but let's face it.... that's a belly. Well, I'll see that hooker this weekend and we'll see how much progress I've made.

Really, the point of this post is to say that-- look at my belly! But really, I've cut back on all the food I put in my mouth lately and I look (and feel) much better. I haven't been riding, but at least I have been eating better. Water. I've been drinking my weight in water and if nothing else, it's helped my complexion. Pictures like this motivate me to work harder at taking better care of myself, but what motivates you?

Fat cats and wombats,

Happy New Year!

It's been quite some time since I've been around here! Let's play catch-up:

Last semester was quite hectic as was the beginning of winter break. I worked a ton and crocheted my fingers off trying to finish a christmas present for Chris's brother. I decided over the summer that I was going to crochet a 1-up mushroom blanket for him.

I made a friend over the summer and then parted ways with her a few weeks ago. I'm not going to go into too many details but we basically had different priorities and ways of treating others. She is a terribly needy person and to be frank, she stressed me out.

I start my last semester in a week! I'm only taking 9 credits because that's all I need to graduate!!!!!!!

Chris and I welcomed a baby girl into our family in early October.... Her name is Trinket and she is a short-hair Chihuahua. She was given to us by one of Chris's co-workers. She is smaller than the cats but they get on famously.

Anything else??? Oh, Chris and I did a bit (a lot) of rearranging around the house. Maybe when it's settled down I might post a mini tour of our little house.

Chris and I spent New Year's Eve at Epcot. We had way too much fun dancing and not so much fun trying to squeeze through the hoards of other people from one country to the next.

I don't plan on taking such a big break from blogging in the future, but I almost didn't come back. I feel like a lot of bloggers are just fluff. It's hard to figure out who's in it for the creative release and who's just in it for the money. Yep, I said it. Sure, it would be great to have a ton of sponsors and blog full time but I would rather my little bit of the internet be more than just fluff so from here on out I don't wanna read someone else's fluff and you won't find the fluff here. If I like something I will share it, but I will not write about something because I want others to think I'm cool.

Speaking of cool, Who likes Shabby Apple? I received an email today about a sale for 20% off. I forgot I was an affiliate! It's clearly been awhile... Check out the side bar for the button.

Anyhoo, the blog is getting a much needed makeover, so bear with me. How was everyone's holiday? I'll try to post some real photos next time. I hate having to post IG ones because I really do know how to work a real camera!

Fill in the Blanks Monday

1.   My favorite color is Pink!

2.  My travel destination of choice is somewhere new. I'd love to explore England, mostly for the literary world's hot spots.

3.  My favorite  food is chocolatecheesesushi

4.  My happy place is anywhere it is warm, cozy and I have access to tea or a glass of wine. I guess the answer is home.

5.  My favorite saying is "Here kitty, kitty, kitty!" I love my cats. I say the same thing when I call for my ferrets, I did it even before I had the cats.

6.  My dirty little secret is that "I don't have a dirty little secret." Isn't the point of a secret not to tell? Why broadcast something like that over the internet? 

7.  Something friends might say about me is that I am such a recluse! I need not be afraid to hang out more.

Prompts by Laura

Wordless Wednesday

The week so far...

Is is me, or is this week flying?! Chris had a short day at work on Monday so we went to Mazzaro's for lunch. It's a little Italian market with a deli and a bakery.

We had lunch and then went to the International Mall in Tampa. We picked up these pretty ladies at UO.

Later on in the evening we went for a little bike ride and picked up chow at Publix. Mmmm sushi! Look how goofy Chris is! Haha silly...

I also got a google+ invite this week!

Did you see the giveaway I have over at My Girl Thursday? Enter for your chance to be a  proud new mama of these:

There has also been a lot of cat-craziness going on around here! How is your week going?

I heart Cinque

This is the patch I wore for most of the time while I was in the army....

Looks familiar....

My fur babies ---2

This post is a continuation from a previous one about my zoo.....

.....A few days after I graduated with my AA we were in the pet store and I fell for a little grey and tan kitten. I loved her from the minute I layed eyes on her. No sooner had I made the biggest puppy eyes at Chris, she was out of the cage and in my arms. It took about a week to name her, such a psychotic personality! I ended up naming her Cheetara. This little girl talks all the time. Meow, meow to herself, the wall, me, the refrigerator...everything! Cheetara haa a twitter account... @CheetaraMarie check her out! She doesn't have as much time to tweet as much as she used to. Also, when she learned that twitter didn't actually involve any real birds she lost interest.

A few months later we figured out that Cheetara was a "Mama's girl" and Chris, the cat-lover started feeling left out. I suggested that he go look at kitties while I was in an evening class and we'd go from there. I got a phone call that night about a little black kitten without a tail. I got out of class early that night and we raced back to the pet store to see the kitten together. I could tell Chris was smitten, but since we didn't have the cat carrier with us, the kitty had to spend one more night in the store. The next morning I woke up early, on my day off school! to go get the little kitty. I got to spend the entire day with him until Chris came home from work (he was so jealous and excited all at the same time). In the end, the kitten was names Cinque, after a car. Chris insists that Cinque, or Chinky, is made of carbon fiber (the sleek black fur) and is a racing machine. Cinque is also a manx so when he runs it's more of a hop!

Both cats get along great with the ferrets. We let them play with each other as soon as we brought them home (well, kind of. Both of the cats were sick when we adopted them, so when they were better they met the ferts). All of them have a healthy respect for the vacuum cleaner, except Sashimi. Everyone runs from the vacuum, Shimi war dances and zig-zags at it. Crazy girl!

That's it for the fuzzies! Lizards and turtles next!

Cats hate water. Ask me how I know.

I bathed all the animals with fur in the house today... ahahaha 2 of my 3 ferrets swim like otters in the bathtub and both of the cats hate my guts more and more each minute they are in the tub. The ferrets got their baths first and they dry pretty quick but I managed to snap pics of the drenched and angry kitties.

This is Cheetara, she went first...

This is Cinque, he went next. He's easier to rinse because he does not have a tail.



I really don't like bathing the cats. They make it so miserable! I really can't understand why domestic cats are such chickens and wild cats swim all day. I think this time was the first time I have EVER bathed an animal and walked away unscathed. No scratches, bruises or bruised tail bones (don't ask).