climacteric

things I can't get enough of

the soft fur behind animal's ears

caramel

driving with the sun low in the sky and a great song on the stereo, and it feels perfect, like you're in a movie

a purring cat

laughing dogs

things I can't stand

the sound of butt-licking, non-stop, until I shout, "karma! Stop it!"

the bed shaking from leg-gnawing, non-stop, until I shout, groggily, "Kai! Stop it!"

walking through the lakes and tributaries around the water dish, in bare feet.

walking through the lakes and tributaries around the water dish, in socked feet... even worse.

typing half of the word "tributaries" into dictionary.com, to make sure I'm spelling it right, before it's done loading, then having it erase what I've typed when it's done loading, so it just says "taries" when i press return.

This might be the scariest thing I've ever seen.

This is from a show in Japan touted to be a "Mannequin Drama". They pose mannequins in different scenes, I guess. They're out on DVD, I think there are 6 of them, I must order! It looks hilarious, but terribly frightening. We had a run of commercials up here in Oregon for a department store named "Meier & Frank" where these mannequins would fall in love across the aisle or whatever. They actually had these same mannequins in the store and the first time I saw them in real life, it weirded me out.
I wouldn't have thought it would, but it did.
Here's the link to the site: http://www.fuccon.com/

Ouch!

Yesterday was quite a day. We woke up and were checking emails and drinking coffee before attacking the packing. We were about to start when Lis play-attacked me (tickling). Karma loves to jump in and save us and Kai just stands by and makes sure all is ok. Well, Kelsey was in the room too and after joining the fun with us, Karma lost it and attacked Kelsey (the newest dog). I threw my coffee on them to no avail then jumped on the pile, which, I must advise against. But with Kelsey screaming, I just go into super-mom mode. I was breaking it up when Kai jumped in the mix and my left ring finger decided to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It ended up in Kai's teeth and he got it GOOD. I was bleeding, and saying, "Kai, you did this to meee!!" So, he must have thought I was needing his help because he kept coming. Finally Lis dragged him outside and Lis and I went off to the ER.
I needed 4 stitches. Pain kept me up all night (even though the vicodin was nice). Today I had to pack with my hurt, bandaged finger. I kept banging it into things!
Also, Kelsey started limping last night...took her to the vet today and one of her bites on her leg is infected. So, we're both on antibiotics and painkillers.
Fun times!

Find: The Face Transformer!

This is the coolest thing I've found in a while. I spent hours with it... transforming me, my pets, friends... playing around with starting off "male" instead of female. Much fun!
This picture is me as a Modigliani painting.
Here's the site: http://www.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~morph/

Introductions: Linus

This is Linus, aka Baby. She is our oldest pet. We got her in 1999 from the Humane Society. She was my first kitten. We had a cat named Toby who was a tabby, but I wanted another one. We were living in an upstairs flat at the time and were only allowed to have one cat. I figured that we could get another cat and the landlady (who lived in the lower flat) would never know... as long as it was a tabby, so if it jumped in the window, both cats would look the same.
So, we went to the HS and found the cutest kitten ever! She was so sweet and soft and purry.
When she was a kitten she would relentlessly lick noses. When a nose was in reach, she would lick it. So, in bed, Lisa often had to cover her face with the blanket so she could sleep. Baby would still find the way under the covers to lick. What is it with the pets bugging Lisa by licking? Must be karma... (not the dog).
So, why is Baby's name also Linus? When we got her, we thought she was a boy... that's what the HS told us anyway. So, we called her/him Linus after our favorite Peanut. When we got her first check-up, the vet told us that, actually, Linus was a girl. We didn't mind... and didn't really see any reason to change her name at that point. The reason it changed to "baby".... We thought we could fool the landlady further by using a nickname with Linus. We figured she might think we were calling Toby our "baby", plus her huge rottweiler was named Baby too.... I don't think she was ever fooled. But we never got in trouble... so that's her story! She is our most lappiest cat and we love her.

Illustration Friday

Finally got last weeks done in time to start this weeks.
Here's a link to "Jazz":
http://sunnygrass.typepad.com/photos/illustration_friday/jazzsinger.html

Introductions: Karma

This is Karma.
She's our youngest dog. A rescue from the Humane Society, she has certain "quirks" we've grown to love and hate.
The reason I chose this picture of her is: if you know her for very long, or even very short, this will be the POV you most often see her from.
As we once saw on a plaque somewhere and have used unmercilessly ever since: "Beware: our dog can't hold her licker".
She means well. We got her when she was a year old already. Yearning to skip the sleepless nights and constant cleanups of puppyhood, we thought we'd try a young adult instead.
When I went to the HS, I looked around... I wasn't going to bring one home if the perfect one wasn't there. Who was I kidding? I have a huge, mushy, soft spot in my heart for animals. Ones in the pound just get to me. I want to save them all. BUT! I knew I couldn't save them all, and I already had Kai at home (who you'll meet later) so I knew I had to pick "the right one".
I came upon a quiet little black dog. No barking, no jumping at the cage when I walked by. A perfect angel. I went up to the cage, said hello and instantly started bonding. I walked away though... I had to see them ALL first.
Well, no more spoke to me like the little black one. So, I went back to the cage... same sweet quiet dog. I asked an attendant to bring her to a meeting/visiting room so I could hang out with her. She was cute and funny, charming and full of energy...but not overwhelming.
SO, I called Lisa and said, "ummm... I think I found a playmate for Kai, want to bring Kai to meet her after work?" She was, of course, skeptical. But yes, she would.
Everything went well with the meeting, we looked on track so decided to adopt her.
We found out she'd been returned TWICE after someone adopted her... interesting. I couldn't think of very many reasons I'd return a dog, but I fall hard and fast.
We got her home, and I spent the first night crying, "We'll never have the special times with just Kai again.....!"
Karma was immediately overbearing. She was bossy and barked when she wanted attention. She licked and licked.
She had obviously been putting on a well practiced act when I saw her in the kennel!
But, with training, and letting her know I was alpha bitch in OUR house... she's turned into quite a cool dog.
She's a clown, a constant source of amusement. She still licks way too much... and drives Lisa CRAZY by doing it.
But we love her.

Photo Friday entry

Well,
Today's the day...the first day on my new blog.

I entered my first Photo Friday photo today as well:
http://sunnygrass.typepad.com/photos/jens_photos/img_1564.html

First day at my new job.

Now it becomes clear: the meaning of my blog's title.