On a lighter note, how a dog wags her tail is an indication of her state of mind. Miss Brown is displaying a right-pointing proto-kidney bean. Which means she’s very, very happy.
Category: Pets
Pandora’s Box
Lest anyone think that Harriet was the only one who enjoyed the package from Canadia, Pandora would like to demonstrate just one of the ways in which a cat can show her appreciation of boxes.
Miss Brown’s Easter Basket
Miss Brown received a care package from her Auntie Darla in Canadia. I was a meanypants and didn’t let her open it until Easter. I could have made her wait until her birthday next week, but I’m not that mean.
And, so, I give you The Devil and Miss Brown, a play in one act.
It’s Here!
What’s in the boxxxxxxx?!
Cannot blink my glowy eyes of dqqm. Cannot take glowy eyes of dqqm off rawhide.
Chewing…
Still chewing…
Meanwhile, Bad Cuz has a date with the camera. His little devil horns are seriously cute.
Bad Cuz is joined by Mr. Hockey Ball.
Bad Cuz and Mr. Hockey Ball are joined by Cookies.
Miss Brown spies Bad Cuz on the dining room table.
Miss Brown approaches for a closer look.
Miss Brown seizes the moment and absconds with Bad Cuz.
Miss Brown repairs to her boudoir with the dashing Bad Cuz.
Department of Complaints Department
It’s supposed to get up to 78F today, with storms late in the afternoon. Tonight, the low is supposed to be 28F. It was a little chilly last night (I’m guessing it was about 50F when I got up). Too cool for a fan, but too warm not to have it on. Unfortunate, because the fan provides white noise, which masks some of the weird, random sounds that come from upstairs during the night.
Which brings me to my complaint o’ the day. Why, oh why, is it necessary for Mr. Upstairs to practice scales at 4am? Up-up-up-up-up, down-down-down-down-down. I usually get up at 4:30, so I didn’t appreciate being waked up a half hour early by him plunking on the keyboard. And stomping in time with the, um, “music.” That went on until I left at 5:45.
He’s also added an early evening session of step aerobics to his routine, of which I approve in theory (exercise is good!) but cannot abide in practice (step aerobics is noisy!).
I’m going to have to complain to the management folks. I don’t want to. Really, really, really, I don’t. I have a feeling that the guy has bigger issues than just being an asshole, and it’s probably not fair to expect him to have any concept of what constitutes socially acceptable behavior. But, damnit, he’s driving me to tears!
In other crazy neighbor news, a new tenant moved into the apartment above the Bumpases. He’s got a cute little white Pit Bull, but she’s an obnoxious pain in the ass. He left her out on the balcony most of the day on Sunday, and she bark-bark-barked at every little thing. And when I took Harriet out for her afternoon potty break, she snarled and growled and flung herself at the balcony railing, trying to get to Harriet. Not good. She’s up on the third floor, and I’d hate to see her fall. I also think she’s awfully young to be exhibiting that level of dog aggression, even for a Pit Bull. They usually don’t get snarky until they’re a year or two old, and this girl is maybe 4-5 months old.
Coffee Table
Gerry’s coffee table: Before
Gerry’s coffee table: In progress
Gerry’s coffee table: Finished (19 x 40 inches)
Harriet napping behind me on the couch while I work (yes, that’s her back foot tucked under her chin)
I spent the afternoon and evening collaging a coffee table I got from Gerry when he moved. It’s a nice size, and is good and sturdy. But, even though it’s oak, it had a sorry sort of paint job and the corners were a little chewed up. So I did what I always do, and decoupaged the living hell out of it. I probably won’t paint it for awhile yet, because I’m still pondering colors. I’m seriously tempted to tart it up with metallic jewel tones. I’ve also got several furniture painting projects in line before this one (including repainting the other work bench coffee table, which has been banged around and chipped up), so the new coffee table will have to wait its turn.
And More Dog Blogging
“Hello, human! Why are you on the floor?”
I was sitting on the floor, trying to get a picture of the cat. Harriet suddenly decided she had to be rightinmyface. It’s a crappy picture–blurry and washed out–but sometimes that’s the best you can do when you’re working with pig-headed models.
I used the yellow Holga SSFS filter for this one, but it turned out awfully dark. The bright yellow sunshine is kind of cool, though, I think. I’m still playing around with the filters and trying to get a feel for them. The prismatic ones are hugely entertaining, but quirky to work with. I think I’ll have better results outside, so I’m going to try that next.
Saturday Dogblogging
Miss Brown was given custody of Mr. Chicken this morning. It was a momentous occasion–will she, or will she not, chomp off his itty bitty drumsticks? I’m pleased to say that it took her awhile to get down to business. First, there was much ridiculous prancing around with Mr. Chicken hanging out the side of her mouth. Then, there was licking and nuzzling and the requisite resting-of-the-chin-on-the-chicken. And then there was the chewing. Hoo boy! It took her awhile, but she did indeed disarticulate Mr. Chicken’s right leg. At that point, I took him away from her.
Even though she didn’t get to play with him for very long, the time spent was of a most excellent quality.
Speaking of Spring
We’ve had a few days where the temperature was warm enough to open the windows. Yesterday was not one of them! It was too warm. Saturday and Sunday were beautiful, though. I opened all the windows, and Harriet installed herself in the bedroom window, where she could stand on the bed and rest her chin on the sill. Pandora chose the studio window, where she could keep an eye on the parking lot and all the comings and goings.
The space she’s wedged herself into really isn’t big enough for all of her to fit, but she doesn’t seem to mind.
Genealogy Progress
I spent this evening trying to throw together something resembling a website for my grandma’s family’s genealogical information. It’s pretty sparse, as yet, and not all the sections are functional, but it’s progress of a sort.
I’m not entirely happy with the output of the main index file, but the individual pages are alright. I see that I’ll need to go in and edit some of the notes, because they exported unattached to their events. It might be nice to know which census is being referred to, for example. I’ve only been working with this program for a few days so far, and it’s got a bit of a learning curve, so I’m finding a few surprises along the way. All in all, I really like it, though. It isn’t pretty, but it’s flexible and powerful.
Also, letters. I’d like to get good scans of the originals and the envelopes at some point, but for now, all I have are kind of crappy photocopies, so I can only put up transcripts.
Alsotoo! Please to be meeting the actual, for real, totally legit, Hound of the Baskervilles!1!!!
Thawing Out
Pandora basking by the space heater
The new furnace was installed today, and it is working beautifully. I’m looking forward to actually sleeping tonight, instead of listening to Mr. Upstairs, who is–even as I type–dropping free weights on the floor above my head. Really, I can’t think of a single nice thing to say about the guy right now, so I’ll just leave it at that.
red paper boat 