Meow! It's Cat Thursday!

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats!

This week it is all about Lady Sugar Plum Von Buttonhead. She is our most temperamental cat. She looks mild mannered in these pictures, but don't touch her when she's not in the mood, cos her motto is "lick, lick, bite, bite, kill, kill." Yes, this sweet looking little kitteh, likes to draw blood! And believe me, I know it!

I Need A Break

Every day it feels like the same thing. Work, clean, cook. I don't often get any time for myself. Not even on the weekend. I'm lucky if I can get to the gym a few times each week. Last week was a strange exception, I'm not sure how that happened, but I think I went 4 times! Yikes!

But all I want are a few hours to myself. Hours where I don't have to worry about cooking dinner, grocery shopping, medications etc.

I know it is too much to ask for right now, but I need it.

I guess I want a vacation....

Or something...

A hotel room for me and my nook and a few other assorted books.

~sigh~

I know that won't be happening any time soon.

Random Stuff

~ Sometimes I don't have it in me to blog. I used to do the everyday posting thing, but I just can't anymore. My life is too depressing to do that.

~ Watched We Bought A Zoo and everyone should too. It is now on my list of favorite movies!

~ Finished a review for a band called Wild Wisteria. I really enjoyed their album Enigma Road. If you are brave, look them up! They are worth the listen!

~ Set up a twitter account for my book blog...Why? I don't really know.

~ Reading a book about King Edward III of England. Very interesting.

So what's up with you guys?

Song Of The Day

I've been really enjoying music a lot lately, though my iPod wouldn't attest to it. I watched Duets tonight and fell in love with John Legend and Jennifer Nettles. I love Jennifer to start with, but her partners in this show were fantastic.

John Legend has a voice like butter! I never really paid much attention to him over the years, but that will have to change now.

But since I was feeling the music today, I want to share the song that most fits the whole feel of today. No, its not another Zac Brown song..though I have to say, I've really been grooving on them. If you like James Taylor and Jimmy Buffett, you really need to check these guys out. Kind of scary combo, but there music is awesome!

Erasure - Too Darn Hot

Welcome Summer!

A little summer song to go with the sweltering heat we are getting right now.

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 unusual voices


1. Elvis Costello: Let's face it, his voice is not pretty by any standards, but I love it.


2. Gordon Lightfoot: His voice lies somewhere between folk and country. A beautiful Canadian twang.


3. John Lodge: Of the Moodies, John's voice is the most unique. Justin's voice is stunning, Ray had that lovely Celtic thing going on...even Pinder's voice had a tone that was familiar, not so with Lodgey. No one can sound like him...and no one can sing such strange stuff like Words You Say.....


4. Danny Elfman: Dark, brooding, moody and beautiful, that's my Danny. I miss him singing.


5. Martin Gore:  This man's voice is incredible...and gorgeous..and thudworthy!

Weekend To Do List

Weekends are the bane of my existence. I love them and I hate them. I get some extra time to get stuff done, but I never really get to relax. Weekends are all about running, and the holiday weekend is no different.

Things I need to do:

1. Laundry
2. Shopping/pick up pills for dad
3. Work on reviews due by the end of the month.
4. Return library books.
5. Get to church, lest the priest comes after my sorry, going to hell, self.
6. Get the geraniums to the cemetery.
7. Find shovel so those plants get in the ground.
8. Weed the garden.
9. Plant the tomatoes.
10. Collapse from exhaustion.

I'll probably do these in that order....

The Perfect Weekend

The perfect weekend would have:

1. No laundry to be done.
2. No grocery shopping
3. No music reviews to write
4. Sunny skies
5. Ample time to go to the YMCA to run and read.
6. A Starbucks hour.
7. A few good movies

Something Different

It's Tuesday night and guess what?

It's movie night!!!

Thank you Redbox!

They had a copy of The Woman In Black at my kiosk, so I grabbed it! I wanted to see the movie when it was out a few months ago, but getting out the house for the length of a film and the travel time is not an option for me, so thank god for DVDs!

I'm popping some corn.

I'm getting all cozy, and I'm watching a movie!

On a work night!

Its unbelievable!

I'm living on the edge!

What next? A beer? Wine? Partying til dawn?

LOL!

Mama and Baby

This is Itchy Too and one of the Ginger kittens.

Isn't this so freaking cute?

OMG!

I miss mass 2 weeks in a row and the priest calls to see if I'm alive.

That's kinda freaking me out.

In fact, that's all I can say, because it has freaked me out so much!

Saturday Insanity

~ Got two loads of laundry done.

~ Did small amounts of grocery shopping.

~ Kept an eye on the kittens.

~ Made dinner, which included Corn Balls. Check out my Wenches blog later for the recipe and photos. I'll try to have it posted tonight, if not tomorrow.

~ Rented One For The Money and New Year's Eve! It's a movie night in our household!

~ Actually visited some of the blogs on my f-list. I remember when I used to hit everyone's site in the morning. Now I'm lucky if I get places once a week. That is for the people that are still blogging. I guess blogging isn't as trendy now.

Damn You Redbox

I love renting DVDs from Redbox. It is cheap and the selection is usually pretty good, considering I'm usually on the lookout for movies that just made it to DVD.

We have a lot of Redbox kiosks in our area. Most of the major grocery store chains have one.

You are supposed to be able to reserve a copy of your movie online or on your smartphone, so you can pick it up later.

Ha!

Not if you want to rent a movie from the Giant Eagle in Monongahela.

It doesn't take reservations, which is why I'll be watching New Year's Eve tonight instead of One For The Money.

Here's hoping the Giant Eagle in Belle Vernon has it tomorrow, because I really want to see this damn movie.

I'm reserving Woman in White ASAP next week, because I'm not waiting to see Daniel Radcliffe looking hot. (God do I feel like a dirty ole lady now)

Cat Thursday

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! From The True Book Addict

This week I have something special and unexpected.

The reincarnation of a cat.

When I started working at Petite Sophisticate around 1999 we took in a tortoiseshell tabby, who we called Itchy.

Itchy passed away from breast cancer in 2008, but she wasn't ready to go..so it seems she sent us Miss Callie who brought us 4 beautiful kittens

Because we are crazy cat people all 4 stayed with us eventually, but Cocolocowheats went with a neighbor for a few months, but then they couldn't keep her.

This is Coco

It seemed that Itchy was trying to come back to us very quickly. But it was not to be. Coco passed away from a rare heart condition on Dec 26th 2009.

There have been many cats coming in and out of our lives. This spring two young female cats arrived on our porch.

Today one of those cats came in and gave birth to 5 kittens. It was her decision. She walked in the house and would not leave. We set up a kittening box and within an hour she had 2 babies. By lunch time 3 more.

Mom's name is Itchy. It may sound crazy, but when you look at her, you can definitely understand why we call her that. Our Itchy has come back to us in a roundabout way, because we firmly believe she loved us to much to be gone for long.

Stupidity Abounds

There's so much stupid in my life I can't take it!

It is bad enough that I have to listen to political ramblings several times a day. Hey, I like watching the news. It makes my blood boil though.

Then there's the stupidity of those around me.

God there's a lot of that.

Stuff that makes me wonder if people have all their brain cells.

Heck some of it makes me pretty darn sure there are no brain cells anywhere around these people.

And yet they still breath!

Oye!

All of this is enough to make my head explode.

What A Day

You know the 24 hours have been rough when I skip a day of blogging.

Anyone miss me?

I didn't think so.

To make matters more interesting my dad woke up with a COPD spell. So we had the paramedics at our house at 4 am.

At least he didn't have to go to the hospital.

Thankfully Dr. Wingrove ordered him a prescription of Cipro as well.

Anything to ward off the evil ER!

I love Doctor Ung, but seeing him once a month is a bit much! I'd much rather be reading!

Speaking of reading, I've been doing a great job of that lately I've read 72 books this year! Can I get a woot for that? I've read a lot of ebooks too and library books. I love my library. I wish I loved my car dealership that much.

Yeah, I'm waiting to see the verdict on why the seatbelt and airbag lights keep coming on.

Crazy times...I think I need a nap!

Happy Mother's Day

To any mother out there, I wish you a great mother's day!



This is my mom and my grandma in 2007, at gram's 100th birthday party at Hoss' in Belle Vernon. Miss you lots Gram!

The Pros and Cons Of Saturday

The Pros

1. Got the kitchen cleaned. (As clean as a kitchen in our house ever will be)

2. Vacuumed!

3. Got to the YMCA and ran on the elliptical for 35 minutes

4. Went to the library and actually only took out one book!!

5. Got dinner at Don Patron's in Belle Vernon.

6. Half off Frappachinos at Starbucks!

The Cons

1. Only 5 hours of sleep, thanks to all the cleaning.

2. None of the Redbox kiosks in my area had Joyful Noise.

3. Still didn't make it to Goodwill with all the bags in my truck.

4. The airbag light and the seat belt light are both on in my car, which means a call to the dealer on Monday, which likely means by by money I don't have.

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 artists/musicians you wish hadn't died young

1. Davy Jones
2. John Lennon
3. George Harrison
4. Freddie Mercury
5. Jim Morrison

None of my answers come as a surprise, right? And can I say, Davy Jones being dead is still one of the most disturbing things....Dammit, he was my first celebrity crush.

Cat Thursday

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy!

Want to play along, go to The True Book Addict for all the details

My pic this week is Miss Callie partaking of the Meow Mix buffet. That hole in the bag? Yeah...the cats did that.

That's Plum looking on in innocence...Yeah right! She's just waiting for Callie to finish so she can dive in.

No More Daydream Believing

I find that I simply can't listen to Daydream Believer now that Davy Jones has died. Every time I hear that song, I just feel unbelievably sad.

Daydream Believer was Davy Jones.

I think of all the songs he's done with and without the Monkees, that is his finest moment. A number one hit and a fantastic song. A true classic.

Sure there's Little Bit Me, Little Bit You, Valerie, I Wanna Be Free and I'll Love You Forever, but Daydream Believer...that was Davy.

Pickle still has that song in fairly heavy rotation.

I can't listen. I have to turn the station when it comes on.

It really breaks my heart to hear it.

I couldn't listen to George Harrison for the longest time after he died. Maybe some day I'll be able to love Daydream Believer again, but for now, Sleepy Jean is going to bed.

Let's Talk About Insurance

They are crucifying President Obama over the Affordable Healthcare Law aka Obamacare. Why? Because there's a clause that would penalize a person for not buying health insurance.

Hmmm.

They say that is unconstitutional.

We can't force people to buy insurance.

Uh...erm...

Ok...

But you can do that when it comes to cars, right? If you own and operate a motor vehicle, you have to have insurance.

If you own a business, you have to carry Worker's Compensation insurance. If you don't and an employee gets hurt or killed, you can and probably will go to jail or get a big ass fine.

So how are these insurances can be required, but not health care. OK...

I won't pretend to understand, because nothing makes sense to me anymore.

I won't even get started on people who say that don't want government interfering with their lives but they don't mind them passing anti-abortion laws..

BAM!

That, my friends, was the sound of my head exploding.

Random Thoughts

~ While reading today I uncovered two strange Amish dishes, Creamed Celery and Pretzel Soup. Hmmm Not sure how I feel about either of them, but I'm willing to try the soup if I can find a recipe.

~ If I review a song, I make $10.00 per review, if I do an album it is $15.00. There's something wrong there, but I'll gladly do a bunch of song reviews!

~ Speaking of music, why is just about everything out these days crap? Am I getting old, or is music getting lame? Where is Elvis Costello when you need him?

~ Peter Noone & Gary Puckett in Uniontown in Nov. Damn that's wrong. There's no way I'm buying tickets for a show in Nov, in May. No way!

~ The night shift people at McDonald's can whip up a better coffee then the people on the day shift. Isn't that strange?

~ 2 Broke Girls finale = Awesome, In Plain Sight series finale = Suck!

~ I must see Dark Shadows! Who wants to baby sit mom and dad?

The Daily Rants

It is Sunday so my rants will be of a religious nature.

1. I have a dream that one day people of the USA will be able to worship freely without someone ramming their beliefs down our throats, and that those beliefs will be kept out of our laws. I'm so sick of Christian values affecting things like abortion (I wouldn't do it myself, but it is a woman's right) and Gay marriage (Really, gays are ruining the sanctity of marriage? I thought it was all the billions not respecting their vows?)

2. If church choirs would actually make a joyful noise unto the Lord rather than a GODAWFUL SOUND. Our Music Ministry is headed by a girl fresh out of college, who thinks her middle aged crew of caterwaulers are sopranos!

Guess what chicky! They aren't! And even if they were...YOU DON'T WANT THEM SINGING THAT HIGH!

3. While we're discussing singing out of range, stop changing the sung prayers to versions that are too high for the choir/cantor and congregation to sing a long with.

4. Note to Father Jerry: Golf stories in relationship to the gospels = sleeping congregation when it comes to your homily. M'kay.

I'll never get that hour of my life back....

The Library Police Got Me!

OMG!

I checked out a few books today and I wanted to make sure my other books were due around the 12th of the month, so I wouldn't be late.

I was informed that they only allowed patrons to have 6 items out at a time.

I had 9.

WTF!

I got yelled at by the volunteer, because I had a few extra items.

I remember a time when I'd carry out nine at a time.

Geeze. What is the world coming to!

The Library Police Got Me!

OMG!

I checked out a few books today and I wanted to make sure my other books were due around the 12th of the month, so I wouldn't be late.

I was informed that they only allowed patrons to have 6 items out at a time.

I had 9.

WTF!

I got yelled at by the volunteer, because I had a few extra items.

I remember a time when I'd carry out nine at a time.

Geeze. What is the world coming to!

Bees

Have I mentioned the bees...in and out of the house. Exterminator told me if they do the job we'd have to leave the house for at least a day. How in the hell do you do that with a blind woman and a man on 24/7 oxygen? Oh and they may have to rip the wall apart? Just kill me now and put me out of my misery.

I found them at about 5 o'clock. We killed a bunch of them...

More came back.

I called beekeepers..

I called exterminators

I even called 911.

This is so not funny.

I'm so sick of bad stuff happening to us all the damn time and not being able to do a damn thing about it.

Fucking bees.

Something That Annoys The Hell Out Of Me

Most of you know that I have a book blog where I share reviews and thoughts on books. The book blogging community is often a very scary place to be.

So many people take blogging too seriously.

There are people that host meme type posts about how you should blog.

Tips for blogging.

I think the problem is that too many people try to make money from their blogs or somehow get famous blogging.

Oye to the vey!

Blog because you want to. Blog because it is fun. Blog because you have something to say,  but don't follow any other num nuts rules about how you should do it.

No More Iced Coffee For Me

This is a tale of woe, my friends, a tale of woe.

It started out with a lovely cup of International Delights Iced Mocha. I had it poured over ice and ready to take to work with me.

I was having lid issues, but I thought they were resolved.

I get to the car and the lid pops off and the coffee went all over my seat.

Cue madness!

My car now smells like iced mocha and I spent the day in wet, coffee covered pants.

Not fun. Not fun indeed.

I had to take my cat to the vet today, and we decided to have Wendy's for supper.

I bought another iced coffee.

Guess where it ended up?

On the living room floor, thanks to mom!

I'm done with iced coffee.

I love it, but it has no love for me.  Thus ends my shitty day.

I Have A Cozy Addiction

In the last few months my favorite reading material has changed.

Sure I still love a great romance, but somehow since Christmas, I've developed an addiction to cozy mysteries. I don't know if its the recipes and tips that most of these books include or the quirky characters and their pets, but whatever, I devour them like candy.

Right now two of my favorite authors are Leslie Meier and Joanne Fluke. (Joanne has the best cozy cookie recipes in her books)

Even the covers are cozy.

I like my reads light and fluffy, much like my tv programing. Give me a cozy mystery and a cup of iced mocha and I'm a happy girl!

I'm reading the Sugar Cookie Murder right now.

So what are you reading? And what is your favorite type of book?