Random Stuff - What I'm Up To

That moment when you want to write something, but sit down and can't think?  That's what this is.  (laughs)  I feel like I have a zillion and a half (the half is important) thoughts zooming through my mind.  If I catch one, I'll jot it down and maybe this post will be somewhat cohesive.  Fingers crossed.

A few months ago, chest pain took me to the ER twice in two weeks.  Abnormal EKGs and another doctor's concern had me held overnight the second time.  Since then, I've worn, and returned, a month-long heart event monitor and am awaiting the results.  At the moment, the issue remains unexplained.  Neurology and Cardiology are working together to figure out the cause:  my brain or my heart.  (Giggity)

Probably unsurprisingly so, I haven't felt that great lately.  I'm experiencing more issues with my arms, which, of course, causes issues with my hands and fingers.  Like last summer, I'm hitting extremely hard fatigue walls that knock me out for a few hours.  And I'm feeling a greater disconnect between myself and my brain.  I swear, I talk about my brain like we share a symbiotic relationship, and that's weird, I know, but it truly feels like it. 

This morning I was talking to my cats about finding Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card on Hulu last night, (there was a huge WHOO-HOO moment when I found the books on Rightstuf).  I couldn't get the words right.  I kept saying, "Cloudclaptor..."  I got frustrated and shut up.  (I think the cats were grateful.)  But this word slippage and other vocal issues have been getting worse.  I mumble now and don't realize it, I put the wrong consonants into words (like Funny instead of Money), and I randomly pick up an Irish or other foreign accent.  It's still at that super weird stage that makes us laugh when it happens. 

Speaking of Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card, I love it!  Sakura is one of the cutest and sweetest anime/manga characters, and the anime itself is always uplifting with positive interaction between Sakura and her friends.  Thankfully, there is no English dub to waste your time with (unlike the original season-don't, just don't).  I'm so used to watching the Sub that it'd be odd to hear other voices.  Since I am reading the manga, and am current, I'll eventually get to a point where I need to stop watching so I don't ruin the reading experience.  So far, it seems that several episodes fit into a book. 

I've also been reading the Sherlock manga that essentially takes the BBC show and puts it to paper.  It's pretty cool.  The lack of color pages does limit what the reader can deduce, which is my only complaint.  It's obvious from the first book:  A Study in Pink.  I missed quite a bit of the pink stuff since it's all in black or white.  Otherwise, it's cool to enjoy Sherlock in different mediums.  Like with Cardcaptor, I read the books first and then watch the show.  I realize this reveals that I'm a late comer to the BBC show, but oh well.  With only 3-4 episodes per season, I like the forced pacing.  I also enjoy Elementary and the Robert Downey Jr movies.  I have the Moriarty novel in my towering "to read" pile, and the collected works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  The game is a foot!

My newest obsession is watching (and listening to) the ISS live feed here:  http://www.n2yo.com/space-station/.  The first few days I watched, it was silent, so it scared the beejees out of me when I was in another part of the house and heard a man talking in the supposedly empty loft.  I hadn't noticed the other live feeds on the page and got to watch one of the astronauts (Alex) working in the air lock.  It's fascinating!  And watching the sun set from the ISS roughly every 20 minutes is otherworldly.

I picked up a book called "Civil War Front Pages" by John Wagman.  It is absorbing.  It's difficult to read since much of the news print is small.  I happened to flip to the day the war ended and was amazed by the headlines, huge and bolded, with giant eagles of victory.  I wonder what it was like for people to see that on their newspaper in 1865 after years of a nation torn apart.  The grandeur of the headlines spoke volumes.

I'm a bit behind on my comics, but I'm enjoying the Doomsday Clock comic and the Justice League Dark tradebacks - I'm almost done with them.  I can't believe Doomsday Clock won't finish its run until next summer!  AND!  I am so, SO thankful that Netflix picked up Lucifer for season 4!  A tv without Tom Ellis on it would be a sad tv.  The saddest tv if ever there was.  Now it can be happy.  ^_^  I'm into the fourth volume of the Lucifer run by Mike Carey (he was created by Neil Gaiman in his Sandman series).  It is vastly different from the show, but that's a good thing, I think.  Because they are so different, spotting Easter Eggs on the show is extra cool.  I'm also still working my way through the Hellblazer tradebacks from the original run.  I grew up in the 80s, so seeing it portrayed in comic form as an adult is eye-opening.  With few differences, you'd think it was modern day - racism, fear of war, violence, etc.  Aside from the supernatural aspects of the story, it's very real and sometimes that makes it hard to read.  Not hard in a literal sense - it's like watching the news these days.  You need a break from it.  Hence - moving slowly. 

I think we're going to watch a movie soon, so I need to post this and "run."  (I don't run; I hobble.)  BUT - we watched Annihilation the other night and it's amazing.  Gorgeous shots with a story that doesn't ram itself down your throat.  Anyone who's played The Last of Us - watch this.  So many of the mutations in the shimmer are reminiscent of scenes in The Last of Us and even from The Evil Within 2.  I would love for a game developer to base a game on this movie/book series.  It has potential for some really cool things. 

Ok, well, I smell popcorn.  Confessions is still in the works - I've just taken a small break while other folks are critiquing.  I think we'll be on track for a July release.  ^_^

PS - there's a promo video for Confessions on my Amazon author page.  Watch it!  amazon.com/author/kastiepavlik 

The Fur Coats are Coming!

With Soundgarden and Audioslave, and, of course, the amazing vocals of Chris Cornell, in the background, the feline overlords have descended into anarchy.  Imagine them in black and red plaid flannel, stomping around in combat boots or Visions (going old school), and you have a pack ready for rebellion, alongside a human nostalgic for the 80s and 90s punk/alternative scene.

I suppose, so I don't get into trouble, that you should envision Atari with a tiara and Vash with his pink feather boa.  Lucien slept on Vash's feather boa one time, and that was totally uncool with Vash.  Had I not redirected Vash to the stairs, he would have jumped from the loft.  He stalked right down to Lu and literally got nose to nose with him.  It's his feather boa, damn it.  O_O
 
I digress.  Lucien's territories and status are up for grabs, so the fur is flying.  Somewhat surprisingly, Vash has stepped up as the new alpha.  King Vash doesn't have the same ring to it as King Lu-ey, but all hail the king because he's not stepping down.  His challengers?  Constantine and Groucho Marx.  Jonny doesn't care as long as he gets his hugs and kisses, and Atari is still a bit lost and adamant that we must pet her, with both hands, whenever she graces us with her presence.

Constantine's challenge both surprises me and doesn't.  If he was human, he'd hide in the basement wearing a tin foil hat while building a Faraday Cage and mumbling to himself about conspiracy theories and the vet's true agenda.  But at the same time, he's a daring independent (oh, Tool just came on) who jumped from the loft as a kitten and raced up the stairs to do it again (I whisked him up because I was not reliving that fright!) and later broke his arm doing only God knows what in the basement while I was in the hospital after my mastectomy.  He has seemingly embraced himself as John Constantine, the Sorcerer of Last Resort, and demanded a House of Mystery to go along with all of MY toys, but he also looks like Batman, likes to read The Flash, is a Daredevil, wants to fly like Superman, and expects to be treated like a Roman emperor no matter how many times I tell him he's not named after that Constantine.  (Queue up They Might Be Giants.)  Anytime I go into his room (yes, HIS room), he cheerfully greets me and meets me at the door to walk and talk.  I still have no idea what he's going on about, but he's happy about it, whatever it is!  I'm probably saying "okay" and nodding along to his plans for world domination.

Groucho, on the other hand, is actually also both surprising and not.  He's a bit odd.  I, mean, they all are, but he's on his own level.  He's very stranger danger and when he's even slightly stressed, he licks his fur off.  He's got OCD (for real), which at times is medicated with Amitriptyline, but mostly is handled with calming collars, treats, food, and attention.  He's going through a bad course currently.  I foresee a vet visit soon.  Anyway, Groucho is a tuxedo cat and at times like this, he's running around without any pants and worn elbows that need patched.  If he was human, he'd be a half-naked French pastry chef who yodels like Carol Channing.  He and Vash are around the same age and have played together like brothers, even dominating each other playfully over the years.  Neither one is playing much these days, though.

I think, in the battle for the throne, that I am the greatest territory to conquer, and that's where it makes sense that these three are going for it.  Vash is my favorite and he knows it.  Groucho loves to sit on me and eat my croissants.  And Constantine knows he's my baby boy and has entitlement issues.  Atari is merely seeking affection where she can get it and Jonny is more attached to Tim, so he's all good.

But all that aside, Vash has truly stepped up.  He's never been a lap cat or one that needs attention.  But now he sits next to me after dinner, where Lucien used to sit and lays by Tim on the sofa where Lucien used to lay.  And he's started standing watch and getting into the other cats' business, although he doesn't quite have control over them, yet.  It's the weirdest thing.  I've never lost the alpha male of the group first, so this is all rather interesting - especially the new roles Vash is taking upon himself.  He still has his own routines, too, like stomping all over my face when he crawls into bed once the lights are out and crying at the basement door to go play video games (he loves to watch Final Fantasy . . . and Sailor Moon - if Vash was human, he'd be an anime nerd and gamer with a cheesy poof gut and brainy smarts).

They even seem to have rules of engagement.  At least Vash and Groucho do.  The other day, they were circling each other, squirming and positioning to pounce in dominance, but as they got closer to each other, one would bow his head and the other would lick it.  And then they'd reverse, resume circling and poising, and then start bowing and licking again.  Licking like this is a sign of respect, so it was like watching the most polite Yakuza cat fight in all of history.  Especially since they never fought.  They definitely respect the heck out of each other, though.

"I respect you, but I must dominate you."

"I respect you, but I must dominate you!"

"No, I respect you."

"No!  I respect you!"

I laughed so hard they both looked indignant and called for separate corners.

Constatine's challenges come infrequently and generally only when Vash is trying out his territory - like at the foot of the bed on my side when it's bedtime.  Vash normally sits at the foot on Tim's side until lights out, but one time, when Constantine wasn't there, he gave my side a test run.  A bit later, he looked at Jonny cuddling with Tim and Groucho with me, and approached the area between us at the head where Lucien used to sleep.  But between J & G, he had no wiggle room.  Constatine had come in, given me my nightly love, and gone to his normal spot.  For whatever reason, Vash decided to return to this spot as well.  Oh, I knew it was going to end badly.  Not even the cat-fight-stopping stuffed giraffe worked this time.  Constantine snapped back like he was going to attack the giraffe and gave me a murderous look because he knew I had the giraffe in my hands (he's scary intelligent), and then kicked Vash off the bed in a hissy blur.  It's his spot.  He's not sharing. Vash has his own spot.  I don't think Vash came back to bed that night.  And he hasn't stolen Constantine's spot again.  I guess that spot is to Constantine as the feather boa was to Vash (I forgot to mention that it died and moved to the trash).

And, with The Jungle by X Ambassadors appropriately going on the playlist, I'll close.  "Won't you follow me into the jungle?"  heh heh

Constantine's epic leap from the loft

Mr. Wuffles looks like Groucho, but acts like Vash. 

Vash and his pink feather boa.

Vash is very helpful.

Moon Prism Power, Makeup! (Vash)

Not gonna try.  It's Constantine.

Very helpful.  (Vash)

Whatever you're doing.  You're doing it wrong.  Groucho's mantra.

Constantine reading The Flash and probably contemplating how he can get a Cosmic Treadmill.

Constantine.  Sigh.

Grand Sorcerer Groucho Marx.

Let Motal Kombat begin!  (Vash)

It's his spot.  (Constantine)

Groucho selfie.

Vash's probably a Noctis fanboy.  I'm partial to Iggy.

Face palm.

Nosferatu Constantine?

You're still doing it wrong.

Totally Random with Generic Title

Time for random rambling.  My brain is all over the place, so why not?  What have I been up to?  Brain on the hamster wheel.  Not sleeping.  And, this week, Ignis made me cry twice in the new FFXV DLC Episode Ignis.  I heart Iggy.  :'(

However, my internet hiccuped when I earned the achievement for "Quick Recipeh" and it didn't port over to the main game.  Queue angry face.  I have yet to figure this one out.  I have over 400 hours logged into this game since January!  Grr.  So I spent time today in a "friendly" sparring match with Noct that wasn't as cathartic as I'd hoped it'd be.

I didn't get my nap today.  :(  And I still can't sleep.  :( 

I re-binged the anime K and watched the movie K:  Missing Kings.  Fingers crossed that Santa is bringing the 3rd K season!  I love the slick visuals and music.  And God knows I love Matthew Mercer's voice, so, yay.  Leon S. Kennedy!!  Captain Levi!!  [bloody nose, passed out]  I also binged Shiki on bluray and wasn't sure what to think at first.  The weird hair and over the top personalities nearly drowned the series early on, but once the story caught its grip, all the distractions fell away.  It wasn't the horror anime I was hoping for, but I enjoyed it.  I'm looking forward to the Steins:Gate movie.  The anime was amazing.  If you're a time travel buff and want a story with spot on science, check out Steins:Gate (the series first).  Just go with the confusion.  It levels out.

I've read quite a bit . . . um, I just finished Artemis by Andy Weir.  Excellent!  I loved the Martian - book and movie.  His sarcastic, witty tone is there in both books.  I remember a lot of math in the Martian, which makes sense, of course, but Artemis is more story driven, so while the science is there, it's not as forward facing as in the Martian.  I finished The Flash Rebirth tradeback #4 and Nightwing Rebirth tradeback #3 in which he faces off against a criminal James Gordon has been dealing with on Gotham.  Also finished The Flash/Batman Rebirth Lenticular Hard Cover edition for "The Button," which has a logical break in The Flash tradebacks between 3 & 4, but breaks in the middle of Batman Rebirth tradeback #3.  So, I picked up the Doomsday Clock #1 comic with lenticular cover, the Watchman tradeback omnibus, and Deadman #1 and #2 (rebirth).  Boston Brand can be really irritating, but I'm oddly fascinated by him, especially after reading the Blackest Night/Brightest Day event.  I read some manga and started a Japanese horror novel "Another" based on the anime (which I've seen).  

I've been trying to "work" on Confessions, but with my focus all over the place, it's never a good idea to force it.  I'm at a spot introducing new characters that requires exposition through tense conversation, and I know it can be done better.  I need a better brain to consolidate the scenes.

(Reading, gaming, doing puzzles, staring out the window . . . and so forth are all coping mechanisms to calm my brain down, ease stress, and help with physical and cognitive decompensation.  My MS has never gone into remission, so I always have some issues and pain, but it varies.  I've spent this year trying to work up to "cleaning and cooking and adding structure" on a gradual basis, but SO MUCH has happened that I'm at "struggle to get through day on idle" and basically try to keep my activities as mindless as possible and only tackle one task when I have a moment of clarity.  This pattern, for this time of year, developed several years before I had to stop working.  I'd get on "struggle" and stay on "struggle" through the end of the year, get through January on auto-pilot, and start pushing through "struggle" in February, completely forgetting January in the process, and being somewhat "structured" by April.  Long winded?  Yes.  Easy to see why I should NOT be touching Confessions?  Yes.) 

Ummmm . . . going long here (that's totally unexpected!), but I kind of diverted there (I promise my books don't read like my blog does.  Here I write like I talk.  It's cathartic.).  OK, we've established that I don't burn candles when I'm home alone, but I had one going the other day and Vash set himself on fire.  That was delightful.  Ha!  Vash is fine.  Just burnt a little fur off his pudgy belly.  I've cooked dinner twice this week - it's been a while - and managed to burn myself a few different ways all through completely avoidable, stupid actions last night.  I've been having trouble following written or oral instructions, which is funny in regard to food because we generally eat really healthily - so, give me some fresh salmon and produce and I'll whip up something really good, but give me a box of Stove Top Stuffing?  OMG!  My Thanksgiving Day guests can attest to my troubles with that 5-minute pot of stuff (pardon the pun).  Last night, I made pork tenderloins braised in a savory bourbon and brown sugar sauce w/potatoes, green beans, halved baby chick peas, quinoa, and cranberries.  You'd think the bourbon would offer clues about the burns, except I couldn't get the lighter to light and, tbh, my husband wasn't looking all that confident in my ability not to burn down the house, so he did that part.  Always a comedy of errors around here.  (But seriously, I'll dream up recipes and jot them down in the morning - must be an automatic creative outlet for my brain.  Maybe I should post a "recipeh" every now and then.  Oh Iggy!!)    

Speaking of Vash, I need to devote a post to Trigun.

And lastly, I am way too addicted to Rick and Morty.  I've watched all three seasons multiple times this week.  I quote it line for line when I watch it.  Yep, it irritates the hell out of my husband.  Probably the cats.  And our (not so) little dog, too.

"Um, my name is . . . (0 o 0) . . . Mr. Tophat . . . Jones . . . and God forbid anyone ever take my sner--little people snibbles . . . "

Gotta love those Strawberry Sniggles.  But don't get caught with eyeholes.  ;)

Scripting a New Rosetta Stone

I know I’m a little behind in the news, but what??  The Common Core State Standards for English no longer requires schools to teach cursive...and at least 41 states are going along with this.  This isn’t where I read about it, but here’s a link to the release at abc News.

Are we witnessing the extinction of a written language before our very eyes?  How many grand-kids will need their parents to read them handwritten letters from their grandparents because they’ve never seen cursive?  Okay, I see the flaw in my logic there already.  Who the hell writes letters anymore?  And yeah...even though I know cursive, I couldn’t read my grandmother’s handwriting half the time anyway... 

Still, it’s a valid point.

Core standards exist for a reason and yet they don’t mean diddly-squat.  Roughly three years separate each of my siblings and me, but we were all taught different English standards.  Is there one period after a sentence or two?  (Two.)  Do you include that last comma before the ‘and’ in a list?  (YES - I hate, hate, hate when that comma is exluded!  It doesn't make any sense.  None at all.)  And there are generations before me who were taught to put commas EVERYWHERE (please don't - much like when drinking, use commas with discretion).  Writing and grammar are so confusing now because changes to the core standards created an inconsistent environment where some people use one set of rules, others use a different set, and others suit the set to their own standard.

I get that things change.  Our world is evolving.  History and science are constantly in flux as we learn new things, and the definition of planets change so those of us who grew up in adoration of Pluto are left feeling deflated now...but this is English.  It is our language.  It is how we communicate.  How can the rules differ so vastly so quickly?

Personally, I think cursive should be taught.  We will have a split society in which some people have this secret, almost clandestine style of writing, while the rest can type a million mph with their thumbs.  Oh, and those of us who can script...we can also type  a million mph with our thumbs because...HELLO...technology made its huge roaring entrance in the 90s.  Ug.  I swear, it makes me want to snag a quill and an ink well, and throw my pc and stupid smart phone out the window.

Two Posts in One Day? EGAD MAN!!

I stole a Facebook status from a friend today that required me to list 15 albums in 15 minutes. Not in any particular order - just whatever came to mind first. Seeing as how everything at the forefront of my brain was anime-related, such as Bleach OSTs 1, 2, and 3, Bleach Beat Collections 1, 2, 3, etc (there are like 50 Bleach-related albums...no joke), The Jill Decoy Association from Red Garden, Yoko Kanno from just about everything (Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell, Macross Plus, etc, etc, etc), I forced myself to take a minute to think of something normal. The list I came up definitely revealed my eclectic tastes, even minus a single classical title (although I did think of Beethoven's Piano Sonatas, which I adore, and Ave Maria as sung by Christina England...which was used in the game Hitman Blood Money (which I also adore)).

This prompted me to think about what book titles would first pop into my noggin if I did the same thing. Seeing as how I like to write, I thought seeing this list might reveal my influences. So here it is, 15 books in 15 minutes:

1. The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe
2. The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
3. Ivanhoe, Sir Walter Scott
4. Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss
5. The Magic Cottage, James Herbert
6. Tales of Terror, compiled by Alfred Hitchcock
7. Dracula, Bram Stoker
8. Vampire Hunter D: Twin Shadowed Knight, Hideyuki Kikuchi
9. Of Mice and Men, Ernest Hemingway
10. Black Rainbow, Barbara Michaels
11. The Witching Hour, Anne Rice
12. Magic Elizabeth, Norma Kassirer
13. The Martian Chronicles, Ray Bradbury
14. The Illustrated Man, Ray Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451 also came to mind, but I already had two Bradburys on the list)
15. The Eyes of the Dragon, Stephen King
Honorable mention: A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry

Yes. You did see Dr. Seuss and Poe on the same list. Don't gouge your eyes out. I imagine that might hurt a bit.

I grew up reading and, in my teen years, took as many literature classes as possible, so books like The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe, The Great Gatsby, and Of Mice and Men, and others, like The Old Man and the Sea, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and Beowulf, had a great impact on me and my perception of writing. Now that's not to say that I didn't also read Sweet Valley High, The Babysitter's Club, or any R. L. Stine book I could get my hands on. As a kid, The View From a Cherry Tree, A Wrinkle in Time, and Magic Elizabeth were my favorite books. As I got older, I began reading V.C. Andrews, which, really, once you've read one of her books, you've read them all. Just rename the characters and move them to a new locale. But I loved to read and would go through a book a night...so I read them all - at least until the writing team that was hired to continue the late Ms. Andrews' books began to lose her writing style. I digress. As much as I loved (and still love) the literary greats (back to Poe & Hemingway here, not Andrews ^_-), a lot of those books were chosen for classes and read for report writing. Even a teenager who loved to read would find that a chore. So in my down-reading-time, I selected titles by Mary Higgins Clark, Barbara Michaels, Agatha Christie, and Anne Rice. I also read Ellery Queen and other mystery compilation magazines. Heck, when Harlequin came out with their mystery romance line, I even started picking those up. I was hungry to read just about everything I could (should I note here that I worked in a library for four years?). I gravitated mostly to mysteries, with or without a romantic twist, but also sought non-fiction, reading everything I could about anything that interested me. While I may not read as much as I used to, I still carry at least one book around with me everywhere, and I can say that looking back at the my list of 15 and my life in books, I truly see how my writing style developed the way it did. If you think I'm going to explain that, sorry. That's a whole 'nother post.

If anyone is surprised by the lack of manga titles, fear not. I purposefully left them off. And before anyone cries foul that Vampire Hunter D made the list - while the series does come in graphic form, my collection, and the specific book I mentioned, is a true to life novel with words and everything. ^_^ However, should I be tasked with 15 manga titles in 15 minutes...well, I would cheat, because they are right above my head. But since the question was posed...I suppose I could oblige, and in order of preference, too...

1. Vampire Hunter D (but wait! It's a novel! Well yeah, but it does have illustrations and it sits with my manga collection, and I do have one of the graphic novels (even though I'm not a fan of them). I'm cheating anyway, so what'd you expect?)
2. Bleach
3. Vampire Knight
4. Hellsing
5. Loveless
6. Trigun Maximum
7. Trigun
8. Descendants of Darkness (please finish the series, Yoko Matsushita-san!!)
9. Sailor Moon (technically comic books, but whatever)
10. Cowboy Bebop
11. Blood +
12. Gravitation
13. Tenchi Muyo!
14. Captive Hearts
15. Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles

That's only a list from what I own. There are many titles I'm interested in reading and many of them would bump several off the preferred list (Please Save My Earth, for example - loved the DVD, but a lot of the story was lost in the transformation from paper to animation, and the story left me wanting so much more that I researched the background and fell even more in love with it. I cannot wait to add these to my collection, but that is going to take some time).

What would you come up with if asked to name 15 books in 15 minutes? I welcome anyone reading this blog to post their lists in the comments section.

Cheers!

The Earth is in motion. Prepare yourself.

My husband has cryptically told me that he ordered me five things that will bring out my inner Sheldon. The only thing I know is that these five things are on back order, so I may not get them for a while.

In unrelated news...I want the Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock t-shirt from thinkgeek.

* Rock crushes lizard.
* Scissors decapitate lizard.
* Lizard eats paper.
* Lizard poisons Spock.
* Paper disproves Spock.
* Spock vaporizes rock.
* Spock bends scissors.

Bazinga!

Thank NerdGirl for this...

What rolls down stairs alone or in pairs
Rolls over your neighbor's dog?
What's great for a snack and fits on your back?
It's Log, Log, Log!

It's Log, Log, it's big, it's heavy, it's wood.
It's Log, Log, it's better than bad, it's good!
Everyone wants a log! You're gonna love it, Log!
Come on and get your log! Everyone needs a Log!

Yes, yes, yes, Ms. NerdGirl. I have had the song in my head THAT long. Thanks. Really. I mean it. ^_^

AHEM. Neko-Chan totally seconds that, cuz not only has the song been stuck in her head, but also in her mouth...and therefore in my ears. Thanks a lot. I've never even heard of this Ren and Stimpy person, but I totally, completely want to strangle him/her/it. Whatever.

So, like, while she's off singing in some parallel universe somewhere where my ears don't exist, let me tell you all about my Christmas. My only wish was for that darn Jonny to go back to wherever the hell he came from, but that Chesire-cat-faced cat is still here, of course. Nevermind that I accidentally licked his head earlier (and I bopped him good for tricking me, let me tell you), he just sucks. There is no way I'll ever like him and I already know what my Christmas wish for next year will be. Any guesses? Well I have a whole year to figure out how to make it happen, and you know what? Neko-chan's a good thinker. Yes she is. It will be done. Muwahahahahahaha!!!

Ahem...I'm sorry. I'll compose myself. I got lotsa meeces and stuff and hit the catnip sauce pretty hard (passed out on the wrapping paper and everything). Yeah, good stuff. Even if I did hafta share with Jonny Buttface.

And then I got to listen to that woman oo and ah over some cross she got, like she doesn't already have more than the Vatican. Oh brother. And he had to feign surprise at some blu-ray player, like he hasn't been watching stuff on it for weeks already. Humans. Whatever. Hey lady! Mr. T called and he wants his jewelry back. Yeah, I said it. Deal with it. I totally hafta deal with Jonny Fang-face, grinning like he's the dang Joker or something. I tell you what...Hey!

Well, I think it's safe to say that Neko is a bit moody today. Then again, when is Neko not moody lately? I'm starting to wonder just how good my little girl actually is.

NEKO-CHAN IS A GOOD GIRL!!!

Neko was actually quite sweet all day (probably because Jonny left her alone most of the day).

(That's cuz I bopped him good. A right hook right to the mouth. Kapow!! Just like in Batman and everything.)

Ever since she watched The Dark Knight last night, she's been obsessing about Batman. I think she dreams about running Jonny over in the Batmobile-cycle thing with the wind blowing in her Neko hair. Well, it wouldn't surprise me at least. I don't know that I really want to know what she dreams about. And how does she know who Mr. T is anyway? I think I need to have a talk with her. All this TV violence is doing something to her.

To me? Whatever. Hey, wanna see a magic trick? I'll bet you a Jonny that I can make this pencil disappear. Com'mere for a sec...

Um, Neko, I watched the movie, too. I know how the trick is done. No! Get away from me! I don't want to see the pencil disappear! Give me that!

Note to self - hide all pencils from Neko. She's clearly gone over to the darkside. It's time to throw on some Happy Happy Joy Joy and brainwash her into having g-rated Hello Kitty dreams.

Happy Happy Joy Joy Happy Happy Joy Joy
Happy Happy Joy Joy Happy Happy Joy Joy
Happy Happy Joy Joy Happy Happy Joy Joy
Happy Happy Joy Joy Joy!

Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Joy Joy Joy!

(This installment of Neko-Chan theater was brought to you by the letter H and the number 23. No Jonnys or Katzies were harmed during the making of this episode (except when I bopped him good earlier). Hope everyone had a lovely holiday and that Santa Claws was extra nice to you. ~*^_^*~)

Neko-chan rants!

Uh oh...I forgot that Neko has been on the war path lately. I think she's about to --

AHEM. It is I, Neko-chan, and I have something to say! I absolutely, positively will not tolerate any more cats coming into this house! I will not, I will not! (aren't her stubby legs just so cute stamping about?)

AHEM! I am speaking! Just what is up with that new guy anyway? Those are my mice. Mine. Not his. And he'd better not even think about the one in the kitchen. I am the mouser. Me. Not him. That's my job and I'm gosh darn good at it. Neko-chan's a good girl. I know it cuz I'm told so a whole bunch of times everyday. Who's a good girl? ME! That's who!

Oh but it's so not fair! They coo and coo over Jonny and tell him he's a good boy, but he's not. He's not! He's always jumping on me with a stupid grin on his face. I could just swipe it right off with one sharpened claw...well, I could if I had claws. Damn. Well this just smacks my fanny in a really irksome way. Grrrreat...

Hmm, looks like she's gone off to sulk a bit. That concludes this installment of the world as it pertains to Neko.

Neko's rants

For post #2, my cat, Neko, is commandeering my keyboard. Therefore, while you get to listen to whatever goes on in her head, I'll sit back and relax to some Depeche Mode. Enjoy. ^_^

afkkjfndddd...Koneko-chan here! You know what I really want? (Aside from dinner, of course.) For Lucien to stop sticking his nose in my butt. I hate that! What a little twerp! Always there...right behind me, like he has nothing better to do. Gees. I don't see his nose up Lady Sakuya's butt, or Smokey's, or Twitch's. Then again, grumpy old Twitch would bop him silly if he did that to him. Maybe I should take a few lessons from him.

Oh well. Alas...yes, cats can say alas, we aren't completely uneducated you know. I am actually quite smart. My human says so. She's always saying she can see the gears in my head working...as if I'm some robot or something, but whatever!

We had some excitement the other night. There was a mouse in the bathtub! Can you believe it? I was so stunned I couldn't do anything but look at it. Now, if it had been in the kitchen, I would have been a super good girl and caught it, but the bath tub, now...well that is the taboo zone for us cats. We know what comes out of that metal thing in the wall and let me tell you: WE DON'T LIKE IT ONE BIT! So, nope, no mouse catchings for us. We'd rather sit at the end of the tub and just watch the dang thing 'til those humans come and get it. Oh yes, who are we? Well that was me and Sakuya and Lucien (who didn't have his nose in my butt for once).


Uh oh...I hear Lucien coming. I'm gonna go hide. This concludes part one of Neko's rants. Here's hoping you have a nice day, or evening as the case may be, without any unwanted noses in your butts.

And there you go. From the mind of my cat to yours. ^_^