catiecake.

Dear Kittens,

1. Why does Seamus use his brain piercing meow on me when he wants out? Also, why does he need to go in and out and in and out so much? Stay put, Kitty!

2. I am wearing these pima cotton pajamas from J. Jill right now and they are the softest pajamas in the entire world. The only bummer is that the pants are very, very long. I guess I should start wearing high heels with my pajamas so they don't drag on the floor.

3. THANKSGIVING! We're deep frying our turkey again. This works out so great for us because we have a tiny oven and a tiny kitchen. With deep frying the turkey it means the whole cooking process goes super fast. I am a fan of this.

4. Andy had to go into work for a couple hours and then we're going to lunch and to run some errands. I shop at a small Italian market and the aisles of this store are very narrow. I love doing holiday shopping there because most people are in a good mood and it's all very festive and cozy in there. Listen, sometimes people are in bad moods, but I still love it.

5. Several years ago I hand knit a bunch of scarves and now I think I want to get rid of them. I never wear them and while most of them are nice scarves, they are entirely too warm for the sort of weather we get around here. I am on a purging cycle like you would not believe. I want to get rid of EVERYTHING.

6. My dog is really cute. He's a pale wheat color and he's got a giant button nose and he's fluffy. Also, we had friends visiting yesterday. They've got 2 little girls and on of the girls is a total natural at dog training. she's FIVE. She lead Murray around on the leash for the whole afternoon having him do various commands. AND HE OBEYED HER! He was completely exhausted after they left.

7. I should probably shower and what not so I am ready for my lunch date with my husband.

8. I decided this year that I am going to only have paper or felt ornaments on my tree. Usually our tree is a sight sensation of silver glass ornaments, but I have no idea what Murray's level of interest will be in the tree and I would rather not lose any of my ornaments due to puppy fail. I'm really looking forward to making new decorations and having a cute, homespun type tree.

Love, Catie

Kittens,

Typepad has started this new feature that makes posting short tidbits very easy. So, maybe I post more tiny little deals.



Like right now I will tell you about the new products I'm using that I love.

1. Aveeno Intensive Relief Hand Cream. Not greasy, stays on through washings and moisturizes like nothing else.



2. Lipstock Cream. www.lipstockist.com This stuff is amazing. I'm not sure if it's too shiny for most men, but it's super hydrating, not sticky or waxy and it leaves my lips feeling great even after just one application.



3. Jane Iredale Eyegloss in Mauve Silk. This color is great for just about every eyecolor. It wears nicely and it's the perfect amount of sparkle without being glittery.



Love,

Catie

It's Good To Be King

Dear Kittens,

1. I'm finding it very difficult to negotiate the human social scene at dog parks. The first dog park I went to was in the desert and everyone was super friendly and the dogs were all awesome and it was great. Then I started going to dog parks around here and man alive, it's been a whole other scene. Or maybe it's me. I mean, it could totally be me. I think it might be me because I've been to a few different parks in the area and I'm getting the same vibe from all of them. Maybe my problem is that I am not a dog park person. My dog is 100% a dog park dog, though.

2. A little bit more on this, I am not a socially awkward person. I'm friendly and able to have conversations with complete strangers without issue. But at the dog park, I'm a bit stymied. Is this what it's like for parents when they go to the park with their kids? You've got this one, very generic thing in common aaaand that's it. Anything  beyond a couple a few minutes and the conversation just sort of dies out. Except, there is this core group of people who seem to know each other well and they stand around chatting.  

3. I'm watching V right now and I wish Andy were home watching it with me. Wash and Inara! And Juliet! And the dude from Party of 5. What was his name on Party of 5? Something sort of girly, right? Bailey? Was that it? I'm enjoying it, but I'm fairly easy to please. I do not give up on actor's former characters easily. Like when Terminator 2 joined the cast of X Files. I kept yelling at Scully to watch the fuck out because you knew he was going to kill her.

4. I have been sooo tired lately which means I am napping during the day which brings up to almost 11 pm and I'm not tired enough for sleepytime. Who knows what my deal is. Maybe it's my lady cycle, maybe I'm just really tired! You know what's funny to me is when the animals go to sleep before I do. Murray is all, "uh, whatever Night Owl, I'm going to bed."

Love,

Catie

When We Were Beautiful

Dear Kittens,

1. I just finished eating one of the est oranges of my life. So juicy! So tart! And yet also sweet! I know it's early for good citrus, but here I am with a bunch of super great oranges in my refrigerator. I mean, I am assuming that the rest of them are as good as the one I just ate. There is nothing worse than having one god orange and then 4 shitty ones.

2. I am 100% done with this warm weather. I am sick of all my summer clothes. I just want to wear skirts and boots and tights and sweaters. This happens at the change of every season. I am always ready to move on earlier than the weather is. Damn weather.

3. I think I mentioned that Andy is Las Vegas for the week. I do not enjoy Las Vegas because I am a grouchypants old broad who would rather shop than gamble and could care less about shows. There are two great things about Las Vegas. The people watching and the restaurants. Man, it used to be that the only food in Las Vegas was buffet food or prime rib and lobster for $5.99, which no way is that not going to be fantastic, right? Anyway, I am envious of Andy and these amazing dinners he gets to eat. I am also envious of the fact that Andy does not have to get up in the night to let an orange stripey cat in the house or out of the house.

4. I've been using a new product that I love. It's called Vacuum Cleaner by Dr. Brandt. It's not cheap, but it works! It's specifically meant for blackheads, but what I've noticed is weird little bumps that Ive had for years are slowly disappearing.

5. And now I tell you a secret. I recorded this documentary about Bon Jovi a couple weeks ago and I am watching it again. Because I am in love with Jon Bon Jovi. SUE ME. I cannot help it. I've got to go because it would be sad to miss a second of this. I will not mention this is the third time I'm watching it.

Love,
Catie

More than a feeling

Dear Kittens,

1. Sometimes Murray will pen Seamus and then start aggressively sniffing him. Seamus is unusually tolerant of this, but he does sometimes meow in a soft, annoyed way. It makes me think that Seamus is the petite intellectual brother and Murray is the jock brother who is freakishly large. Of course, Seamus did his fair share of bullying when Petey and Roo-Roo were alive, I have no idea why we feel sorry for him now.

2. My computer broke a long time ago and since then I've been using this mini laptop we got for traveling. This computer is awesome for travel and really sucks ass for every day stuff. It's totally taken all the fun of the Internet away for me. Andy has ordered me a new computer from Dell, but apparently they are growing all the parts themselves and waiting for them to be vine ripened and so who knows when I will be allowed to enjoy the Internet again. Maybe before I die. MAYBE NOT.

3. Andy is in Las Vegas this week for a work deal. I have three goals for the week. The first is to take care of myself. That means going to bed early, eating well and exercising. The second goal is to paint the master bedroom. The third is to read every day. Read a BOOK, I mean. The Internet and magazines do not count.

4. The master bedroom is getting a makeover. New furniture, new paint, new artwork. Essentially, it will stop being a pit of clutter. We're both super excited about this. It's been a long time since our bedroom has been a truly nice place to spend time. The house in general is coming together very nicely. We're finishing up long over due projects and the end results are so nice! I'm painting the bedroom a medium shade of taupe that's heavy on grey. I want that room to feel sort of cave like. You know, not dank and clammy, but cool, dark and cozy.

5. Today is Murray's first birthday. He's lived with us since January. That's 10 months of a puppy bouncing his way through our lives. Bounce. Lick. Bounce. Lick. Body slam. Lick. Bounce. He's gone from looking like a roasted marshmallow to a caramel to divinity. He's super friendly and really cute and sort of an asshole.

 

Love, Catie

Yay.

Dear Kittens,

I have a friend who is making a movie. To raise funds there is an Ebay auction. Bid on wonderful handmade products! I donated a set of cards.

Go support an independent filmmaker!

GO HERE

Love,
Catie>

Three Things Right Now.

Dear Kittens,

1. This is where the rubber meets the road, but which I obviously mean I am exhausted. I had such a good day, but I am so ready for my bed.

2. Here's what's going on this week: some straightening/organizing, dog training, baking, Lyle Lovett concert, friends coming to visit, creating pretty things and reading. And also sitting and thinking. Siting and thinking is on my to-do list pretty much every day. Really. Even when I don't have a lot going on, I like to have some dedicated time to sit and gather my thoughts or maybe just daydream.

3. There are two other wheaten terriers in our neighborhood. One lives around the corner that way, the other lives around the corner the other way. We saw the other wheatens with their owners tonight when we were on our bike ride and they were all, OMG! He is so TALL. That is the most common comment about Murray. He is so tall. It cracks me up because it's not something that you usually hear about a dog and it always makes me want to say, "yes, his father is tall" meaning Andy, not Murray's biological father, of course. Oh! The other thing I hear a lot, which pleases me greatly, is when I introduce Murray and people go, "MURRAY! He looks like a Murray." He totally does, of course.

I'll think of you while I sleep.
Love,
Catie

A return to love.

Dear Kittens,

My goal for this month is to post to this blog every single day. Let's see how that goes!

1. Tomorrow is the flea market that I go to every month with my mom. It's the best mommy and me time ever in the world. This month I'm looking for stuff for my porch. I'm hoping to find the exact right metal table and maybe some other things of interest. The other thing I'm looking for is a bird cage. And anything else that I might fancy.

2. I've been doing a lot of creative work lately! I'm looking to relaunch my website in September, so I've been hard at work making stuff to sell. Right now I'm making a lot of handmade and lined envelopes and note cards. The envelopes are made from gorgeous wrapping paper and I am in love with him. Hopefully other people will be, too.

3. A couple weeks ago Murray and I started going to the Level 3 dog training class. I'm still not certain that Murray is ready for this level of obedience, but we're getting through okay so far. I'm sure we'll repeat this class at least once before we're through. I enjoy the dog training classes so much.

4. My dear, dear friends, Eva and Kimberly, are coming to visit next weekend and I am so super excited. it's going to be so much to hang out with these wonderful broads.

5. Did I tell you that we've been taking bike rides with Murray? It's the most fun thing we've ever done with the dog. Starting on Monday I'm going to get back into taking a long walk every morning with him and practicing obedience stuff and then we'll do the bike rides at night for fun times. The walking is more mental exercise for Murray. And starting tonight I am going to bed early! So I've got to get going if I'm going to make that happen.

Love,

Catie

The best thing I've ever had

Dear Kittens,

1. Today I got my hair cut and colored and I realized it's been a year since my hairstylist killed herself. After trying a couple three different people, I returned to the salon where she worked and while it's absolutely not the same without her- I miss her so much- it's not quite as weird as I feared it might be. I definitely miss seeing Marcie, but I what I miss even more is how much she loved cutting my hair. She did such a good job and was always willing to tweak my bob in the smallest ways that made the biggest difference to me. My haircut now is fine. I look good. But I do not LOVE my hair like I used to.

1a. Once again I am seriously considering adding some pink to my hair. There's this gel that will supposedly tint your hair and then wash right out. I think that's what I should do because I worry that I will get some pink hair and then want it to be gone 4 days later and that's not really how it works.

2. We had a snacky sort of dinner, which we love, but one of the snacks was tzatziki and naan and it was entirely too much raw garlic for my delicate system. I sort of wish I could puke because I think I would feel loads better.

3. I am STILL working on cleaning out closets. It's sort of horrifying how much work it is. And of course, it's not really physical work, it's psychological work. What goes, what stays, what gets donated, why the fuck did I ever buy that to begin with... that sort of deal. By the end of next week I hope to have all the closets cleaned out, the hall bathroom painted and the moulding around the guest room closet painted. Also, why do two people who live in a remarkably mild climate have so many jackets? I have a freaking PARKA for some reason. I have never worn it once. I also have SNOW BOOTS. I mean, they are pink, so, haha, no way am I getting rid of them, but it does make me wonder if I'm taking the threat of global climate change a little too seriously.

I've got a date with a bed.

Love,

Catie

I am so glad I know you.

Dear Kittens,

1. I took a bike ride with Murray tonight. OMG! It's so much fun. I kept him galloping as much as possible. He did such a great job, he got distracted a few times, but mostly he just ran and ran and it was awesome. Right now my plan is to keep up with our long walk in the morning and then do the bike riding in the evening. Let's home this means a more tired puppy. YAY FOR TIRED PUPPIES.

2. So, for the third week in a row we're going to try to go to the lake this weekend. Please say a prayer to the sweet baby Jesus that this time we actually get to go in the water. You can do it, Baby Jesus! Seriously, it would be so great to be able to go swimming and go zooming around the lake. If I remember correctly, going out on the boat is like a mini vacation and that is always a welcome thing.

3. Did you know that I have a yogurt maker? Because I do. Did you know that I have never once used it? Because I have not. That is clearly ridiculous. I think making yogurt should be #1 on my list of things to do before...uh...this month is over? Yes! That is my commitment. Then once I make the yogurt you can come over and eat it with me. Thank you.

Time for sleeping!

Love,

Catie