Month: September 2008

My Garden, Photography

Bee and Sedum

Shelly

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This bumblebee really, really, really likes sedum. Even repeatedly bumping the plant with my camera strap didn’t disturb him.

I’m pretty sure that my mom originally told me that the sedum she has is bright red, but then she decided that she also had some pinky-colored plants, as well. Since she didn’t see where, exactly, I took this start from, she didn’t know which color I had. I’d say those are pinky, which is not at all the same thing as bright red, but I’m not complaining. The color is light and delicate and very pretty. Andalsoplustoo, this means that there is still red sedum to be raided at my mom’s house. Ahem. We’re practicing looking on the bright side, see?

Photography

A Visitor

Shelly

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Miss PossumPants is about a million years old. She’s lived here for years, and was apparently hit by a bike or car, because she has some serious mobility problems. She’s also got cataracts in both eyes and appears to be deaf as a post. I wouldn’t have known that she was out on my patio, except that Harriet and the cat suddenly got Very Interested in the live action nature TV. When I went to look at what the uproar was about, I saw Miss PossumPants with her nose plastered against the outside of the patio door. I don’t know what the hell she thought she was doing, but it was pretty funny.

I tried to shoo her away, but she was either unimpressed or unaware of my presence. She decided to have a nice, leisurely drink from the upturned rim of a big flower pot, so I went and got my little camera.

Pets, Photography

Watching TV

Shelly

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Harriet’s surgery is next week. I’m assuming the best, but just in case, I’m spending lots of time just hanging out with her. I would really hate to regret not having done so. Tonight, hanging out means watching CSI re-runs with a lap full of dog. Every time I get up, Harriet sits up straight, with her best “We are not amused” expression.

Crankypantsing

Other People’s Crankypantsing

Shelly

I left work early, onna counta suffering from drug-induced brain deadedness. Anyway, one of my upstairs neighbors was leaving with his Lab puppy (who, by the way, is not looking so very puppyish anymore) as I was coming in. We did the “HowareyouI’mfinehowareyou” routine, and he said that he was having a crappy day, because he was off work and BORED. Bored?! WTF is that?! I think I was bored once, in 1975[1].

He said that he works so much that when he has a day off, he doesn’t know what to do with himself. Dude, get a hobby! Or learn to appreciate the fine art of ass-sitting[2].

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1. My mom’s cure for bored children was to put them to work, so I quickly learned that being bored would never, ever be to my benefit.
2. I ran into a high school classmate a couple of years after graduation. After catching up for a few minutes, he commented that one thing he missed about being a teenager was not having sufficient time to sit on his ass and do nothing. Amen, Pedro.

Crankypantsing

Postal

Shelly

I sent a package via USPS Priority Mail on August 22nd. Priority packages are supposed to be delivered in two days. And because I also got delivery confirmation for the package, I know that it has not yet–ten days out–been delivered.

We are not amused.

Also unamusing is having a big ol’ allergy attack from eating raw green peppers. I used to get them all the time from pretty much all raw fruits and veggies, but haven’t had a problem the last few years. Aside from hives and asthma, I’m pretty sure I coughed up a lung, and my voice is gone. But those are just minor details. I live on raw green peppers! What the hell am I going to bring for a crunchy snack tomorrow?! If I’m reacting (again dammit!) to green peppers, then celery is out. So are apples. Carrots might be okay. Edamame? (Not so crunchy, but green, at least.) Cucumbers? Grrr!

If anyone needs me, I’ll be in Benadryl-induced coma.

Uncategorized

Gifts

Shelly

One of my cat sitting clients brought me back a couple of gifts from Costa Rica: a little pad of banana paper (it’s screaming to be made into a miniature book) and a bottle of Lizano salsa. I’m not a big fan of pouring chili-based sauces all over my food, but I’ll give it a try.

And a couple of nights ago, across-the-hall neighbor brought me a cupcake. Not just any cupcake, either. It was a work of art, with a veritable Everest of frosting that actually tasted good. Mmm. Now I’m craving frosted cupcakes so badly that even homemade brownies aren’t going to cut it.