I shouldn't be reading things like this!

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Those ambivalent to cats divert your eyes!

My beloved 18.5 year old cat Oakley passed away four weeks ago. I haven't written about it because I feel like whatever I say won't do him justice. But I feel like I need to say something. So at the risk of minimizing him, I'm not only going to blog about him, but I'm going to bullet point at least some of why he was so awesome. I realize that no one will probably find this interesting enough to read all of, but I'm going to indulge myself with this post! So here we go, guys!

1. He was the most polite cat I've ever met. He literally would wait his turn to eat. If another one of our cats was eating he would back up a few feet, sit down on his haunches and look around a bit, passing time while the other cat ate. When they were finished he would take his turn. It was kind of heartbreaking, but adorable. If he went outside and we didn't let him in right away he would just sit at the door and wait patiently, occasionally give a meow, but nothing to disturb anyone too much. Everyone else came first for Oakley.

2. In spite of his polite demeanor, he didn't take crap from no one; yet he still did it politely. He was the only cat I've ever known to slap on the hand---no claws. It really felt like a human was slapping me. He rarely did it, but if he was afraid (he was abused prior to my having him so he didn't like it when I raised my hand over his head which I never did intentionally!) I would get two quick slaps on the hand. Our house is a veritable way station for homeless cats, so there have been many a cat that has gone through here before finding their permanent home. Oakley welcomed them all, but if they ever got aggressive he let them know who was boss. Not by fighting, just his little quick slaps and they got the message.

3. He was also the only cat I've known who grew emotionally. Yes, that's ridiculous! But also true! Because of his early abuse he was borderline feral when I got him at 7 months. The last few years he really came into his own and became much less skittish. The last year or so he was like a regular cat. Brett had said when he met him that he wished for Oakley that he could feel safe (and have opposable thumbs. Why opposable thumbs? I think so he could play the piano, I'm not sure.). And he truly did seem like he felt safe and happy this last year. Opposable thumbs not withstanding.

I'm lucky to have known him all those years and I'm going to miss him for the rest of mine.

One thing about 2009.

I know a lot of people had a terrible year, or at least I keep hearing that everyone is eager for 2009 to be over. Maybe they say it every year and I just don't notice it as much. But 2009 was a pretty amazing year for me. It was the year I met Clyde. I know that is super sappy, but sometimes the truth is really sappy, people. That kid rejuvenated me and kind of brought me to life in a way I didn't even know I needed to be brought to life. And it makes me a little sad that the year he was born will be remembered as a bad year, but maybe it won't. Maybe time will go on and people will forget and it won't be part of the consciousness that 2009 sucked. I wish for everyone that 2009 made them feel how Clyde makes me feel, and how Curious George makes Clyde feel.



(And P.S. of course I love Harper just as much but I met her in 2006!)

Spectacle!

This is from the latest episode. I LOVE IT. It's Ron Sexsmith and Elvis doing a version of Everyday I Write the Book. Actually doing Ron Sexsmith's version of it. It's awwwwwwesome y'all. If you like that sort of thing. (Awesomeness.) But what has happened to my Elvis? Is he sick?? He's lost so much weight and it looks sickly, not healthy! I'm worried. Now go enjoy this.



I love this show. Elvis made me even like Bono. This sounds pretentious when I repeat it, but Bono was talking about seeing a band that had a very intimate show even in a large arena and he said, "Intimacy is the new punk rock. It's the thing that makes me stop in my tracks now." I love that! Intimacy is bold and scary whether it's in music or the rest of life. I like the idea of it being bad ass like punk rock. I still don't like U2 though! I'll hold on to that, don't worry!

I love that The Format is on here!

via A Collection of Thoughts

I'LL say!

I saw this movie a couple nights ago. Brett and I had a good laugh about how awful it would be, but how I was going to watch it anyway. Hahaha! Get outta here you, I said to Brett, I'm going to watch this bad movie, you! Well, joke's on me, kids! Not only did I like a lot of it, I LOVED parts of it. I would even watch those parts again? Yes, I would. They were funny parts! Who doesn't want to watch funny parts twice?? Fine. I know everyone thinks they have a good sense of humor but I can't argue with the facts. Turns out Housesitter wasn't an anomaly. I just can't be trusted in the humor department. Goodbye, I'm going to watch Seems Like Old Times for the 128th time!

Candy girl...you are my world.

I really want to make delicious treats for people for the holidays. So far I made peanut butter cookies with chocolate m-n-ms that I deemed not good enough to give out so I ate them all myself. Well, that's not fair. Harper and Brett had three. But I fancy myself a baker who rarely bakes so I decided I'm really going to do it! I'm going to make chocolate mint divinity! Let's do this, holidays! So I scanned through the recipe and then I read this (bolding my emphasis):

Cook over medium heat, without stirring, to 260 degree F, hard-ball stage. Mixture should boil at moderate, steady rate over entire surface. Reaching hard-ball stage should take about 15 minutes.

What the hell is hard ball stage?? Sorry hard-ball stage?? I'm out of my element(Donny)!!Is this some inside joke with bakers? They never expect us sugar fans to ever read the recipe and find them out?? But find out WHAT? How will I know if I've reached hard-ball stage if I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS???

Guys, we can all calm down. There was a small time lapse wherein I googled it. But here's the bad news. I'm only SLIGHTLY less confused! Apparently there's also soft-ball and firm-ball that goes along with hard-ball! But the difference between firm-ball and hard-ball is not as obvious as it seems! Candy making is a science, guys! I found that out on a website about the science of candy! Does this make it more fun or less? I DON'T KNOW!!

I may or may not be making candy treats for the holidays. Stay tuned.

She doth protest too much?

I know, I know, but I couldn't not post this. Proof of John Mayer not only being an enormous d-bag and bad comic, but also a racist! Who knew?

From the desk of Harper Levinger

"Daddy!! Come here and look at your son!"

Important things on my mind

Why is this Tiger Woods thing SUCH a big deal? I understand that people love to hear about affairs and it's all a big, fancy, impossible to look away from train wreck, and who doesn't love a bright shiny train wreck that involves a celebrity? My father. But aside from him, no one. That said, I don't understand why the mistresses are getting lawyers and why it seems like he's in legal trouble over all of this. And why it seems like they're treating this like he is the president. I mean yay, you found out Tiger Woods is a terrible womanizer! Let's talk about it for a week! And then it keeps going and my brain gets confused.

It turns out Eddie Vedder, Lisa Marie Presley, Dave Grohl, David Spade and one of the Dixie Chicks have daughters named Harper. When we picked the name we did it for a variety of reasons, one of which was that it be somewhat different without being pretentiously different. But when five celebrities name their kid that same sort of unusual name in the last year it makes me feel like it's both too pretentious and too normal! HOW DO I GO ON???? My resolve is heroic!

Merry Christmas?

Give her the gift even Santa can't give her? Ew.


Watch CBS Videos Online

So as it turns out...

James Franco is a dick. He did General Hospital as an exercise in "performance art." Barf. Arrogance. Disappointment. Etc.

At some point soon this is not going to be cute. Maybe now?

Me: Wait, what is a platypus?

Brett: You know what a platypus is.

Me: No I don't, that's why I'm asking.

Brett: It's a furry looking animal with a bill like a duck. Harper, do platypuses lay eggs or have babies?

Harper: Lay eggs.

Brett: That's right. Even though they are what?

Harper: Mammals.

Brett: That's right!

Me: Now you're just trying to make me look stupid.