Here are my 10 Things of Thankful for this week:
1. The boys haven't pounded Ruby into the ground yet, and she probably deserves it, because she's getting very brave and sassy around them. Fletcher is a tail swisher; his tail is always in motion, from a little flick to a whip, and Ruby finds it irresistible. She sneaks over and gives it a little swing, gets braver and gives it a pat, then moves on to a full-on pounce, and he just looks at her as though she is just an annoying little sister. Pete still snarls and hisses on occasion, but he will stay in the same room as her, which she accepts as a challenge to poof up as big as she can and do a sideways, bouncy advance on him. Fortunately for her, she can also bounce away pretty quickly, and all is still well.
2. We have given Ruby the run of the house now, and she chooses to sleep with me at night. It's very sweet to have her snuggle up next to me (I have a fuzzy blanket that I throw over the top of the covers in cold weather that is an absolute cat magnet - I predict that by Christmas, I will have 3 cats on the blanket with me on a cold night, leaving little room for me). I have to lie very carefully, so I don't roll over and squish her. Very.
3. Aleve. I am thankful for it on many levels, but it's especially comforting when I have spent the night sleeping in one position, because I don't want to disturb the purring fuzzball next to me.
4. I left preschool one day this week, picked my husband up at his office, and drove us to a restaurant clear across town for lunch (big 5 mile trip!). As we were getting out of the car, I reached in the backseat to get my purse aaaaaand - no purse. Whooops! Seems I forgot to get it out of the cabinet where I keep it during school (at the requisite 5 feet off the ground, if there are any state health inspectors out there reading this), as I already had my arms full with stuff that I was taking home to work on over the weekend. I'm so thankful that I didn't get pulled over by one of the many police officers I passed on my way from point A to point B to point C.
5. For the purposes of clarification, let me state that I never HAVE been pulled over by the police.
6. Obviously, we switched drivers for the trip back from the restaurant. Then I had to resume driving with no license from my husband's office back to preschool to get my purse, which is a total of four blocks. And yes, I saw a police car on my way. And no, he didn't pull me over.
7. Even though all three kitties seem to be getting along together fairly well, I still come home from an absence worried that there will have been a re-enactment of "The Gingham Dog And The Calico Cat" in my house. I came home yesterday to find:
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| I call this "Still Life With Cats" |
8. I took my daughter and a friend to see the high school play last night. We went to eat first ("Welcome to Moe's!"), then to the 9/10 Center to see the play. They even let me sit with them! I love listening to them talk about all things school and boys.
9. The play, "You Can't Take It With You," in case you were dying to know, was excellent. The acting, the costumes, the set - oh, the set! It was beautiful! Lots of detail, completely in keeping with the WWII time period of the play, right down to the telephone, the typewriter, the snake. WHAAAAA??? Yes, there was a live snake in a glass cage on the set. And THANKS TO ME, that snake didn't escape, because I spent the entire play keeping at least one eye on it to make sure. YOU'RE WELCOME, FELLOW PLAY PATRONS, YOU'RE WELCOME!
10. It's Saturday. The weather is weird. Warmish. Terribly windy. Spitting a little rain. But my mommy is coming this morning to meet her new grandkitten and take me on a belated shopping expedition for my birthday. Time to move the kitten off my lap, get out of my jammies and get ready!
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Oh my! I laughed out loud about the kitten...she sounds like a little spitfire...kind of like someone with whom she may live? ;)
ReplyDeleteLOVE the picture of the three cats...too cute.
Congrats on not getting pulled over. Phew!
Have fun shopping with your mama! I know that's a treat for me and sounds like it is for you too!
I have GOT to get some video of Ruby confronting the boys. It is hilarious!
DeleteWho you calling a spitfire :)
Driving without my purse made me a nervous wreck!
We had a great shopping trip, thank you! A new winter coat and three sweaters and an infinity scarf - yay!
The cat picture is awesome - ours do that sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteI agree - Aleve (or whatever version of NSAID you prefer) is awesome.
Happy week!
I was so happy they were all in the same room and still alive!
DeleteAleve is certainly my favorite for aches and pains. Ibuprofen is my drug of choice for headaches. In case you wondered about my drug habits.
Thank you, and you have a great week, too!
I am so impressed you've never been pulled over. I really want a kitten now to keep me company although I wish they didn't need litter boxes.
ReplyDeleteThe litter box is the good thing about them! No taking them outside in all weather to do their thing. Keep the box scooped on a regular basis, and you won't smell a thing. And you can go off for a long weekend and leave them home with a big ol' bowl of food and water and know they'll be okay.
DeleteI noticed the cats and kitten all have their backs to each other. at least they have their own spots. Does David or the kids ever get to hold Ruby or has she claimed you as her one and only?
ReplyDeleteShe mostly claims me, but the others will do in a pinch.
DeleteRuby was actually on the seat cushion of the love seat when I came in; she popped up over the top when I asked the boys what they had done with her.
Hooray!!! My image posted this time!!!
ReplyDeleteWait! What image?! What did I mess up?
DeleteI do so love your little Ruby, who could resist her? My three also each have their preferred napping spots, and become very unhappy if another encroaches. If I add a new blanket or cushion everyone has to try it out! I love your trip to have lunch with your husband, and join you in being thankful that you weren't stopped. I become a very paranoid driver when followed by cars with lights on top. I'm sure they do this to old ladies just for their amusement! :-) The play sounded great... until you got to the snake part! My daughter once brought home the science class snake for the summer... yikes! The best part is that you get to spend the day with your Mom, I wish my daughter lived close enough to do that! You are blessed!!
ReplyDeleteBoth of the boys have special spots that are their very own. It will be interesting to see if Ruby heeds this unwritten rule between them. My guess is she won't.
DeleteI think police drive behind people on purpose all the time just to make them paranoid. I think it's what breaks up the monotony of their day.
It was a little snake, but it was still a snake! Thankfully, no one in my family likes snakes, so the worst thing we had come home from school was the class hermit crab, which stunk but was otherwise harmless.
Had fun with my mom! She's not walking very well, but she seems to be driving fine, so as long as we stop every now and then to rest, she's good for a couple of hours of shopping.
We too are having some weird weather today and it was 62 degrees and pretty warm out. Not complaining though after having had 30 and snow showers earlier in the week. So wish the warm weather would stay and winter would not come now, but I know this not to be the case and will just enjoy it while I can. Have a great rest of the weekend now, Dyanne!! :)
ReplyDeleteToday is warm and windy, too. A little crisp and cool with no wind would be great - sweaters and boots weather. You had SNOW already? Yikes!
DeleteI am so in love with that gorgeous bundle of fur you call Ruby!
ReplyDeleteHow can Pete and Fletcher resist her?
Hope you had a great time shopping with your Mum :)
She is such a love, Katy! The boys do seem to be able to resist her, though! Although Fletcher is weakening. Or at least becoming slightly tolerant.
DeleteAnd thanks, I did have a great time!
I would never put Ruby down. She is just as precious as they come! Poor cats. Make sure you don't neglect them too much.
ReplyDeleteHow many policeman can there possibly be in your little town? Don't you know all of them? They are probably scared to pull you over!
Your daughter let you sit with you!? Lucky! My daughter is at the high school play tonight with a friend. Bummer. I wasn't able to go to any of the shows.
Hope you had a good time with your mom!
Where do you think Ruby is right now? Yes, in my lap. It's better than a newborn, even, and I do love newborns, because there are no diapers and she feeds herself.
DeleteMost of my life is centered around a 1 square mile area that is also the center of town and a higher crime area. Quite a lot of shabby apartments and rentals and where a lot of the drug activity is, so it's pretty well policed. And I saw them ALL when I didn't have my purse!
I asked before I sat with the girls, and they said I could sit with them. And they didn't even say it begrudgingly!
We had a great shopping trip! Thanks!
Again, Ruby is such a sweet little kitten, I'd love to cuddle that little furry-ball ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you weren't pulled over, that would have been something. A reasonable cop would have just given you a warning, but for some reason, cops are rarely reasonable.. I was pulled over so often just for driving while daring to be a German woman.. Grrrrr..
Hope you have a great weekend, Dyanne!
I have a story about being without my license that I need to write a post about.
DeleteThat little fur ball is so sweet! She's either going full-tilt or crashed. Right now, she's crashed next to me!
Hope you're enjoying your weekend, too, Stephanie! Thanks!
Do you have vehicular inspections there? I got stopped this week for having a July sticker on my car...I am a pro at this unfortunately... But usually I don't get a warning...lucked out this time. Love still life with cats! Very artistic!
ReplyDeleteYes, we have inspections. We forgot to renew our plates one time and drove for months with them expired and never got pulled over. I can't imagine how we got away with that! We were so shocked when my father in law pointed it out to us when he walked past our car in a parking lot!
DeleteI thought that picture was terribly artsy.
(I know about dogs, but not about cats).. admittedly a kitten such as yours is near-psychotically cute… very akin to puppies in that manner. My question about kittens is are they more painful to play with than full grown cats? I speak from experience with dogs that when they are puppies, for reasons beyond me, their first set of teeth are like fricken needles…lol so any play time with the very young canine results in cuts on the hands and wrists and arms and such.
ReplyDelete(and you thought I couldn't relate in a normal, middle of the road manner to a gratitude blog post)
seriously?? never pulled over? …damn
We are of the often unpopular declawed cat club. Our cats are indoors only and only the front claws are done. And they still manage to do everything they did before they were declawed, except they can't destroy furniture (or people). So for that reason, the kitten is much more painful to play with, as she has needle sharp claws and teeth. She only uses the teeth when she's playing, but she climbs us like a tree when she wants to be held, and she doesn't give any regard as to whether you are wearing clothes or not. Yowchie!
DeleteAnd congratulations on a nice, normal comment!
I'm a safety driver.
Ruby is so adorable! I am glad the other 2 have sort of accepted her in the house.
ReplyDeleteHave an awesome week Dianne!
Thanks, Natalia! I don't know if "accepted" is the right word, but we're getting there :)
DeleteYep, the weather has been weird over in Singapore too! Hello to Ruby, am glad that she is getting along with her other animal friends!
ReplyDeleteI don't like weird weather. I just want it to be what the season says it's supposed to be. Is that too much to ask?!
DeleteRuby says hi. I rubbed her tummy for you.
I have done the exact same with my purse, too. Thankfully, I never got pulled over either. Though, for the record, I have gotten pulled over for speeding. Multiple times. In my youth. I am so much more responsible now.
ReplyDeleteYour living room is so beautiful and cozy-looking. I love the touch of fall with the leaves.
Also, I like you background stripes on your blog. :)
Funny how having kids makes us drive so much better! I used to drive pretty fast, but I didn't get caught (I'm a ninja!).
DeleteThank you! Mid-afternoon is the perfect time to be in my living room, with the sun coming in the windows like that (it faces south).
The bloggy stripes are thanks to following the directions on the Blogger tutorial when I set the thing up! I couldn't begin to tell you how I did it and couldn't change it if I wanted to!
How is it that you have NEVER been pulled over??
ReplyDeleteI'm a ninja, I tell you! Or just plain lucky.
DeleteI'm slowly but surely winning you over to the kitty side....
ReplyDeleteIt may vary state to state, but in Missouri, you have to have your license with you. A few years back, you only had to have one, but it didn't absolutely have to be on your person, although they preferred that you did. And in this day of computers, there really is no need to have one on you, since they can look it up in a flash, but compliant, I shall be.
Oh, no, that snake didn't bother me at all....
I hope she bought you something fabulous!
ReplyDeleteShe did! She did!
DeleteI am definitely going to have to get some Aleve and I don't even have a kitten. Tee hee.
ReplyDeleteThe snake totally freaked me out and I was thousands of miles away. Good thing you were there so the others could watch safely. ;)
Aleve is my friend.
DeleteThere are a lot of people who should be grateful I kept an eye on that snake.
Oh wow, I can't believe the high school play was 'You Can't Take it With You'! Four years ago, I was teaching at a high school that did an annual staff play and that was the play they chose that year. I played Essie ... I guess they all agreed I was childish enough and a hopeless dancer! LOL It was so much fun though and will always be one of my favourite memories of teaching at that school. Thanks for reminding me of that happy time :) Your cats and kitty are gorgeous too. My baby girl would love a kitten I think, but she'd probably terrorise it!
ReplyDeleteEssie would be such fun to play! The kids in this play were really talented, plus there's a new drama teacher, fresh out of college, with lots of great ideas and enthusiasm.
DeleteHaving a kitten is seriously like having a toddler on speed.
Very sweet looking kitten. Love the photo of them in the chairs. Ah, a high school play. I was in Drama Class in high school and we put on plays at the school, the mall, out of town, and sometimes mimed along the street. It was so much fun too. Wow, never been pulled over. That is awesome. Your insurance rates should be way low. :) The cops around here are pretty laid back about things like that. Usually, when I've been pulled over, they always take my license to their car to run a check anyway. So, I've been pulled over without having a license on me and just gave the officer my social security number and he ran that through. Though I don't have a license at this time, and I indeed miss not being able to get up and go when I want. In the process now of correcting this situation. Happy Belated Birthday.
ReplyDelete'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''I was in drama in high school, too.sssssssssssssssssjj
DeleteOkay, Ruby just walked across the keyboard. I'm leaving her message. She must have had something she needed to say to you, Donetta!
I'm hoping if I had gotten pulled over, they would have realized it was an oversight not to have the license with me. Glad I didn't have to put that to the test!
Okay wait. You've NEVER been pulled over by a policeman? Wow. WOW. At one point, in my younger days, I got five speeding tickets in like four months or something. Sheesh. Your cats are adorable!!
ReplyDeleteI never said I didn't speed; I just didn't get caught....
DeleteI love your Stil Life with Cats" Ruby peeking over the loveseat--priceless!
ReplyDeleteI have done that too (left my purse at home--it's an 8 mile drive to work/the high school/church) and once you realize you are driving without it ya freak out a little!
I love that picture, too! Wish the boys weren't so dark, since they didn't show up against the dark furniture very well.
DeleteI always, always, always carry a purse. I don't even see how I could forget it, ever. But it happens. And the panic sets in.
What an adorable little kitten!! The irony of your Still Life With Cats cracked me up! Tiniest on the largest piece of furniture, Biggest on the smallest piece! Ha! I loved it!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on never having been pulled over...Unfortunately, I can't say the same. :-(
We love us some Moe's, well, by "we", I mean Emma and I love us some Moe's. The males in our household don't seem to appreciate it like we do.
Hope you have a great week!
I suspect Ruby bullied the boys off the loveseat, but it's just a guess.
DeleteMy Emma and I are the Moe's fans, too! I'm a Billy Barou with black beans, chicken and queso on top.
Wait wait wait... were you going to pay for dinner, but then had no purse? Did you still eat? Was this a tactic to get out of treating the hubs to food? I'm so confused haha :) I'm skeptical about the never being pulled over bit, though...
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a lot of great family time this past week. I'm glad the play was so good! The title made me think of "Death" though... you know... not being able to take it with you when you die. Maybe it was about death somewhat? I mean WWII? Yeah... Sounds great, though, and I'm sure your watchful eye is appreciated by many who would have been dismayed at having been slain by a snake at a play!
That cat picture is cute... they all seem to have their own designated areas. Do Fletcher and Pete not cuddle or play much either?
Not to point anything out... but totally am... you better move your tush to responding to the late shower uppers, Sucka! I'm watching you in the same "stink eye" manner Pete watches Ruby...
The Cryton Chronicles & Dreams in the Shade of Ink
Oh, silly Jak, I never intended to PAY for lunch; I just drove because it was more convenient.
DeleteThat snake would have killed someone, for sure.
Fletcher has hated Pete since the day we brought him home when Fletch was 2. Once in a blue moon, we do catch them cuddling on the couch. They occasionally play chase games, but as with children, it usually deteriorates into a fight.
Am I behind? Crap!
How is it that you can drive without a license in hand and not get pulled over? I can't seem to drive anywhere one mile over the speed limit without a squad of cars on my tail. Well, that's a slight exaggeration, but I don't seem to get any police sympathy if they do pull me over. I'm knocking on wood right now because it has been 3 years since my last ticket and I don't want any more.
ReplyDeleteI sure miss sleeping with an animal. Our dog died a year and a half ago. I loved him sleeping in our bed and your story reminded me of how wonderful that is. Minus the Aleve, I mean.
Great list.
I have a much better story about my license that I need to write a post about. I have a friend who is the city judge, so if I got a ticket, I think my chances are pretty good that I could get out of it. I'd rather not take the chance, however.
DeleteYou need a new pet. I highly recommend a kitten. If you want good sleep, however, I recommend a full grown cat, as the kitten has springs for feet.
KITTTTIIIIIIEEEEEEEEES! Ok, that's outta my system. I know, I'm so juvenile, but I love kitties. You know this. And I can contain it until I get to your blog with all your cute photos and "still life" pictures where they sit in places that MAKE NO SENSE CUZ THEY'RE KITTIES AND THEY CAN. <<>>
ReplyDeleteAlso thankful for OTC pain meds. I take Advil quite frequently for the average ache and pain. Right there with ya, sistah.
LURRRRVE MY KITTEHHHHHHHS!!!
DeleteYou really need to follow me on Instagram, Beth. That's where most of my kitty pics go.
I carry ibuprofen in my purse. Like a girl scout, I am always prepared.