Excess!

I now have FOUR remote controls.

Television
DVD player
CD player
Window air conditioner unit (???)

Who needs FOUR remote controls?

How many do you guys have?

This Chick Loves Nik!!!

Thanks to my lovely, beautiful, and engaged to be married mom for letting me know that my all-time favorite NHL hockey player, the illustrious Niklas Lidstrom, famous for his left-handed slap-shots from the point, will take over as Captain of the Detroit Red Wings in the wake of Steve Yzerman's retirement.

Yessssss.......

Quirk

Reading a new issue of National Geographic always gives me a headache. I think it's the way they treat the paper. I dread turning a page - the big whiff of chemicals.

Funny Games

Several years ago, Michael Haneke's film The Piano Teacher traumatized me severely. It wasn't until recently that I was able to sit down and watch it again. I've since decided to face Haneke head on, and a few minutes ago finished his more recent film, Funny Games.

I'm not sure where to start, except to perhaps paraphrase Haneke himself by saying that this is a film reserved for those who need to watch it. If, he says, the viewer is upset with the film by it's end, he would simply ask, "Why did you stay to finish it?" And indeed he presents some interesting concepts that an ordinary person might need to be walked through - or, more likely, might wish he had never be shown.

The genuis of the film is the way Haneke makes the viewer an accomplice in the violence. You'll see what I mean if you watch it. And beyond that, he generates the most acute frustration, as you realize that the victims are acting in a tragedy but the aggressors in a comedy. Watching the interaction is maddening.

Between this film and last night's Janghwa, Hongryeon (A Tale of Two Sisters) I'm in need of some serious comedy.

Little Girl Home

Natasha went in for her spay this morning. Rob was my hero as always and dropped her off for me because I could not arrange to leave work. I don't know who I was worried for more - Natasha under the cold, hard medical lights or Elena, home alone separated from her sister for the first time.

When I got home from work Elena plastered herself to my ankle and would not remove herself. She held onto me as I changed clothes and followed me into my bedroom. On the bed, she mrrow-ed pitifully and marched up and down my body. Finally she curled up pressed into my armpit for a little snooze. We woke up and I got ready to pick up Tasha - Elena stood with all four paws on my right foot as I brushed my teeth.

Natasha is home now and doing fine, grooming herself right in front of my monitor, in fact. I usually shut them out of my bedroom at night, but I think tonight I'll let them sleep with me for a while at least. I'm sorry that I have to go to work tomorrow and leave them alone.

Why I Do Not Like Accepting Rides

1. I know that it inconveniences the other person. Each and every time I have given another person a ride, it has been an inconvenience. This is not to say that I've minded in the least - in fact I'm often thrilled to be able to help. But I would be lying if I said that it even once fit perfectly into my schedule or made the day easier. That said, I cannot stand being an inconvenience, even if I'm relatively sure that the other person is genuinely happy to help.

2. I become extremely embarassed if the person I ask is not available to give me a ride. This is because if a ride is denied then I am not only stranded, but stranded publicly. All I can do is murmur "That's okay, I'll figure it out" and slink away in my own humiliation, knowing that another person knows I'm stranded and is secretly thankful that they're not me.

It Begins!

DC Restaurant Week.

Rob and I and two friends of ours are heading out twice this week - tonight to Ten Penh, and Thursday to DC Coast. I can't wait.

God Answers Prayers

I've always known it to be true, but today it is SO true. Now the question is, can I walk down the path that I prayed would be illuminated?

Pillow Talk

There's a new coffee shop going up in my neighborhood, I say to Rob last night. It's not open yet, but it looks really cute. It's called Sips. It's right next door to the dry cleaning place calls Zips. I wonder if they're both owned by the same person.

They should put up an S&M club on the other side and call it Whips, Rob says thoughtfully.

They should put up a calligraphy place on the other side and call it Tips.

They should put in a comedy club and call it Quips.

They should put in a lingerie store and call it Slips.

This morning, a friend adds: How about a hair accessory place called Clips?

Ciao

I'll be offline for the weekend. See everyone on Monday!

O Cuteness of Cutenesses

Can my kittens get any sweeter? Elena fell asleep stretched out across my chest while I was watching TV this afternoon. I soon took a hint and disturbed her to totter to my bed, where I stretched out with a kitten pressed against the curve of my back, another sharing my pillow. Every now and then a little paw stroking my cheek or pressing against my nose.

When I rolled over, they followed suit - one kitten draped over my leg, nose resting against the arch of my foot, the other curled into the space between my tummy and my pillow. I woke up before they did.

A stark contrast compared to the scene this morning, when I wished for a hemlock cocktail to appear in my hand - a touch of food poisoning, and oh how glad I am to be feeling better, if a little malnourished and dehydrated.

Tonight

I am entertaining guests tonight for the first time in my new apartment!!

I got home from work and laid down for a nap with my kittens, pressed together against my torso and resting their noses on my arm... so incredibly sweet. Now I've cleaned up and am finishing putting things in their place and opening the blinds to let some sunlight in. Rob will be here soon with the aperatifs - gin, tonic, lemons, limes, I have a nice bottle of red wine, Rob will be bringing some cheese and crustini. We'll stay here for a cocktail or two before heading to 1789 for their summer special - three courses for $35.

Our reservations are for 9pm, a civilized hour, and Rob and I both love dining with these two friends. Dining is best when with people who truly enjoy food.

The End of the World

I've always been a faithful crossword girl, but the other day I gave in and let Rob give me a Sudoku tutorial... then I tried just one puzzle and got nowhere and didn't like it very much... but I thought I might just try again because I was a little bored... and then today I downloaded a 28-day trial of the endless Sudoku program (here)... and thought, okay, I'll try just one... and I WON and it is SO SATISFYING to see all the space filled up with numbers perfectly working out. Ahhhh.......

Slight Rejuvenation

Embarking on twelve straight days of work, I feel slightly rejuvenated after a film, pot of tea, and a few tunes at home alone. Natasha slept between my knees the entire duration of the film. I could feel her purring. So precious!

This morning I mistook the USPS mailbox outside my apartment building for a trash can (sorry postal carrier, you'll have a paper towel with some crumbs waiting for you) and tried to use my work ID to enter the metro station. Fortunately I am amused rather than irritated by my mishaps. Things bode well, for now.

I Feel:

Underhydrated;
Flabby;
Grumpy;
Inarticulate;
Short;
Short-tempered;
Uninteresting;
Fat;
Inattentive;
Annoying.

Suffice it to say I am having a bad day.

Irksome

I am eight minutes into my very first episode of Emeril Live and I could not be more annoyed. What is with all the weird sound effects? Why did the entire audience cheer when he added garlic?

I don't get it. Give me Giada de Laurentiis any time.

Nice Evening

Kittens playing on the floor, a new book, a bottle of Chianti, yoga, air conditioning. I made a light salad of spinach, avocado, smoked salmon, and bleu cheese, took a nap, watched The Simpsons, did the dishes. Found out that a good friend went to the pub last minute and that made me sad since tonight is session night but I stayed home.

Things are getting rough. Since I'm "Essential Personnel" I have to work six days a week (for the next 30 days or so) because of this. I'm not complaining too terribly much... I'll be able to sleep in a little bit on my sixth day and still pull in quite a bit of overtime pay, which I need.

Such is life in my line of work. Time off, including weekends, is always conditional. Sometimes things can't wait until Monday. Sometimes working on Saturday means catching a rapist, and not working might mean that he strikes again. So it will be stressful, but I'm reminded that the mission is an important one.

Cycles of Behavior

My kittens and I have settled into a routine.

I come home from work, excited to see them. I try to play with them for a while, a pathetic attempt to which they react only half-heartedly before choosing each other as more suitable playmates and ignoring me completely. I then go drown my sorrows, lamenting that even two little animals who I feed and house don't really like me. A few minutes later, they're both asleep in my lap for the next hour or so. Then I think, aw, my kittens do like me.

They're especially sweet during my yoga practice, lining the edges of my mat, snoozing, sometimes winding between my legs during Downward Facing Dog or Eagle.

Still, though, having cats has been a huge emotional adjustment from my life of having dogs. Dogs always want to be around you. You'll tire of petting them before they will, I guarantee it. WIth cats, though, things are much more on their terms. They display affection spontaneously, and the move on. I'm trying not to let it hurt my feelings, especially since I've noticed that, even if not being overtly affectionate, they still like to be in the same room as me. If I'm reading in bed they'll hop up, if I'm watching TV they'll play in the living room, if I cook dinner (read: pour cereal) they'll watch, if I'm dressing or brushing my teeth they like to hang out by the closet door. It's sweet.

I am tired of not breathing

I have a condition. Often (as much as twice a day, as little as once a week) I cannot breathe. Air comes in, air goes out, but I still cannot breathe.

Try this.

Inhale, and hold it for a second. Now inhale again. And again. Don't exhale, just keep inhaling over and over again. This is what it feels like, except that I am perfectly capable of exhaling, it just doesnt' FEEL like an exhale. I breathe in and and breathe out physically, but I never FEEL the exhale. And then, finally, with great concentration and prayer and I don't know what, I can breathe and and FEEL it and then I am okay.

It's awful, and the most frustrating thing is the lack of pattern. It doesn't appear stress-induced. Just a second ago, I was sitting in my lovely sun-filled apartment in a comfy chair reading a book and sipping cold water while my kittens played on the floor. And then suddenly I couldn't breathe.

Last night Rob was massaging my yoga-ravaged muscles, and suddenly, I couldn't breathe. It happens while I'm walking to work, while I'm at work, while I'm at home, eating dinner, not eating dinner, trying to go to sleep, watching TV, reading, whenever.

I'm sure it's not physiological, since I'm perfectly capable of running 26.2 miles at a time, or going for a 20-mile bike ride, or doing 60 minutes of yoga without any respiratory problems. In fact, I rarely if ever have my breathing problem while exercising. I just can't seem to pin down the triggers.

It first started happening years ago, while I was staying with my mom, on a break from college I think. Remember? We went out in the middle of the night to a 24-hour drug store and picked up some Benedryl because we thought it might be an allergic reaction. The Benedryl put me right to sleep, thank God. Later that week I went in for allergy testing - negative for everything, knock on wood.

So what the hell is my problem?

Perception is Everything

First things first (and sorry to note update this): Elena is fine! On the second day of her limping, poor girl, I made an appointment with the vet for the next day. On the day of the appointment, came home from work to find a perfectly FINE Elena jumping around and putting normal weight on her paw. Joy! As a new mommy, I think I just overreacted. Kittens get into things. She could have sprained her ankle or pulled on a claw or something.

And now.

Oh. My. GAWD. I hadn't been to Rob's since picking up my kittens, and yesterday when I walked through the door and saw one of his cats, they looked HUGE. I could not stop exclaiming. His cat takes up the whole seat of a chair. My kittens take up about 1/6 of a chair each. After being around 2.5-month old's for the past week or so, I had totally forgotten how big adult cats are!

I can't really believe that my kittens will get to be as big as Rob's cats, but he says mine might actually get bigger.... oh my gawd.....

This is a picture of one of Rob's cats, Kyosaku. Compare with pictures of my kittens from a previous post, and you'll see what I mean.