Thursday, April 29, 2010

Showers and Flowers

About the only thing that I enjoy about the rain is how much bigger and brighter it makes the flowers. Since I have a recent obsession with flowers and all things outdoorsy and pretty, I thought I would share some of the pretty flowers I enjoy so much with you!





I love purple and I love the smell of lilacs, so obviously I have to bring some of them inside!



Unfortunately, sometimes freshly cut flowers come with visitors...



I'm proud to announce that I killed the spider all by myself, which is a huge deal for me. I'm such a big girl.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Eight Years of Hairballs, Hissing, and Happiness

I meant to get this post up long ago, but things have been so crazy! Truth is, sometimes Zion is so big and loud and always under my feet that sometimes I neglect to give these three credit.
I've had Chiller, Friskie, and Tiger for eight years and I can hardly believe it. (Have I really cleaned that much litter?)
So, from the beginning, Chiller and Friskie were the first two strays we found and as soon as I saw them they became my pets. (Much to my parents dismay.)



As you can see, this "dressing things that aren't people" thing has become a recurring theme for me.



Also, the two of them clearly got along with our first dog, Buddy, much better than they get along with Zion now. I don't think I could get any of my cats close enough to Zion to get them in the same frame. At least not without Zion getting smacked in the face by one of them.
Tiger was found about a month or so after Chiller and Friskie and he was never supposed to come in the house.





...obivously, he did. And he also grew into those ears!

So, to make this as organized as possible and to give each of them the credit they deserve, I'll explain why each of my cats has been such an important part of my life. And yes, I may very well be on my way to becoming some sort of crazy cat lady, but that's okay.
I'll start with Chiller. Chiller may be the one that gets the most attention from me, but that's mostly because he's a bit of a trouble maker...





Chiller's physical abuse continues still today and there are still nights where I have to get up at 2am to save another poor, innocent pet from his violent tendacies. I'm also pretty sure that he's been trying to figure out a way to kill Zion and myself for several years. If Stewie from Family Guy was a cat, he would be Chiller.
Chiller also has a continuing obsession with sinks that my mom just loves.





Despite his obvious hatred of everyone except himself, around 3 o'clock in the morning every night, I find him curling up next to me in bed and purring himself to sleep. So I guess maybe he likes me a little bit after all. But just know that if I ever die a mysterious, unexplained death, Chiller should be the first one that you suspect.



Friskie is the very opposite of Chiller. He's constantly crying for attention and trying to look cute so that he gets it.





Friskie will stare at you for as long as it takes to get you to pet him. He will also meow at the top of his lungs at 4am because he is down in the basement and he needs you to carry him up the steps. Despite his laziness, he is the biggest cuddler in the world, and I probably couldn't fall asleep without him.
Last but not least is Tiger and despite how skinny he was when I found him, I have proudly managed to fatten him up.





Tiger will literally eat anything you give him, which is a rare quality in a cat. He will also brave a confrontation with Zion if it means he'll get a treat. And despite the fact that I subject him to monthly baths, he still seems to love me. Of course, as far as I know, he could very well be planning my death with Chiller.
So, for better or worse, we are a household of multiple cats. And through it all (including dead goldfish, hairballs on my bed, and vomit on my dresser) I've loved them, and I think they might like me a little, too.



Sunday, April 18, 2010

150,000 Miles



The Friday before this past one, the Grand Prix hit 150,000 miles. This was quite the milestone, especially since none of us expected it to make it that far.
Anyway, the point of all this is that number one, I am now at 150,148 miles. Which means in the last week, I've driven almost 150 miles! I never realized how much time I spend in the Grand Prix until now. Also, for someone that has driven 150 miles in the last week, I really don't feel like I've gone anywhere...
Number two, I decided a few months ago that whenever my car hit 150,000 miles, I would start seriously considering buying a new car. I've said for years that I'm going to buy a new car, but I've never taken the time to seriously pursue it. Now I've managed to save about $1,500 for a downpayment, and I guess it's time.
At this point in time, I'm really like the Chevy Aveo, but that changes every day. Anyway, I'll keep drivng the Grand Prix until something else goes wrong and then I'll go part with my hard earned money. Unfortuately, 150,000 miles is usually the beginning of the end for a car so that will probably be sooner rather than later. I'll keep you posted!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Have A Heart

If you have a weak stomach or a dislike for internal organs, you can stop reading. I won't take it personally.
Tuesday in Anatomy, we disected a heart. Don't worry, its not human! It's the heart of a very unfortunate sheep.











That is the right atrium! If that doesn't excite you, I understand.
And now since I made you see all that, I'll leave you with this picture of the beautiful flowers I get to see every day at work!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Easter... A Week Late

I apologize for the delay in my posting about my happy Easter... things have been so hectic! I scheduled my entrance exams for nursing school for April 30th, so its been nothing but study, study, study!
Anyway, this Easter I was quite domestic. Saturday, I had the get out the chocolate preztel kit I found at WalMart one day, and thus began my most recent project:














Of course, they never look as great as they do on the box, but I was still pretty proud of myself!
After that was the traditional, key part of Easter.. egg dying.








Which also led to dyed fingers...





...and Andrea getting her hair to do amazing things.



After that there was cookies...



...and cupcakes!



After all of this domestication I felt very accomplished and ready for Easter. And the next day there were baskets...



...and cookies and cupcakes and chocolate preztels, and a Happy Easter for everyone!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Zion Turns Three/Twenty-One

Today my little puppy turns three years old! I guess in dog years he can legally drink now, but to me he's still a baby. A baby that turned out pretty cute despite the fact that when he was born he looked like a furry, tri-colored rat.

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Zion is the furry rat in the front with the spot on his head.
Whenever my parents and sister decided to get Zion I was firmly against it, even as they showed me pictures like these:







I continued to be against getting another dog for months. I was deadset on the idea that they were trying to replace our first dog, and I didn't want to replace him. When he died I swore I would never have another dog, because no other dog could ever measure up to him.
But when they brought Zion home, I totally changed my mind. Even though he still hasn't replaced my first dog, he has managed to fill the hole in my heart from the loss of my first dog in many ways.
Mostly because he's so darn stupid and cute that I can't help but laugh at him.







And because I never get sick of watching him in "attack" mode.



And because I've never found another dog that has allowed me to do things like this to him and still love me:





And even through all the messes and destruction



He continues to be loved and spoiled beyond belief and I can't imagine our lives without him.