Sweet Dreams

Oh to be a cat! I was up bright and early the other day getting ready for work when I saw this mush ball passed out on the chaise lounge. I tried to tip toe my way over to snap a pic and ended up tripping on the ladder to our loft (we move it at night so Pig doesn't climb it and jump on our faces while we sleep), and catapulted myself across the room. 

Did she even flinch? No. I pulled myself together noisily and stood over her and took this photo. Again, not a flinch. She could practically pass for a slab of deli meat she was so motionless, with the mere exception that you could hear her snoring (more like cat wheezing but you get my point).

Oh to be a cat.

I wonder what they dream about. Do they dream? They must dream. I wonder if she is dreaming about her big adventure to Texas. Probably not. I can dream that my cat has self awareness, can't I?? If she could talk she'd probably say 'Ma, you're crazy.'

Boxes

So many more of these boxes are in our near future. I can't believe it's almost July, JULY! I don't love packing, I don't mind it I guess. It's almost relieving to go through one's stuff and get rid of the things that clutter your life. We have to put lots of things up for sale on Craigslist too, oy vey. I'm still trying to sell my neon wheels... that has proven to be rather difficult. Basically we still have a lot of loose ends to tie up. 

The bittersweet moment when our apartment was being shown and a check was written right on the spot proved to be a little overwhelming. On a more positive note, the soon-to-be-new-tenants loved the way we arranged our apartment and pressed us if they could have a few of the items we plan on selling. I guess that means we have a desirable living set-up! 

Pig looks ready to help in this photo, I guarantee you when the time comes she will not be so thrilled. I love moving! - Said no one ever 

Check Up

Little Pig had her official pre-Austin check up on Wednesday and she got a clean bill of health! I must admit, sometimes I haven't been the best cat parent and have neglected to take her to the vet for the past few years *hangs head in shame* I was a little nervous, and when anyone is nervous about anything medical related they temporarily transform into a hypochondriac. I feared my neglect might have led to some issues I wasn't aware of, but I breathed a huge sigh of relief when the vet looked at me and smiled. 

The only change were red freckles that have shown up near her gum-line due to her being a redhead. Phew.

She needed a couple vaccines, we learned she may need another when we get down to TX due to there being more creepy crawly things in the south. She's been lethargic the past due days, her little 6.3lb frame is probably adjusting to the dose of vaccines. But alas, we are one step closer to tying up loose ends here. I'm going to my human vet in a couple weeks to get my pre-Austin check-up as well. Hopefully I don't need any vaccines... I hate needles.

Loft

This has got to be one of my favorite pictures. The squeeze took this within a couple days of us moving into our apartment, Pig had just discovered the loft and out of the sheer excitement her pupils took over her eyeballs. We opted to keep our bed on the floor and the loft as a means of storage since we really had none, but ultimately it kind of turned into Pig's own room. When the ladder goes up, so does she. Since we keep all of our bedding and blankets up there it's quite the sweet spot for a little cat.

I told the squeeze it made me a little misty-eyed having to move her again, especially since she's taken such a liking to the ladder/loft setup, he (always) optimistically replied that when we get a house some day we'll just have to put ladders all over the place for her to climb.

I am definitely OK with this, In fact, the idea of having a loft has really grown on me. Some day!

Lessons

You live and you learn, right? You make mistakes and you learn. And sometimes you repeat said mistakes and you learn. Or not. 

Throughout our seven or so years together, I've learned Pig cannot be trusted around candles. She has some strange desire to sit with her little face inches away from the flame, usually burning the ends of her whiskers until they are nothing but crisp and curly stubs. This applies to the whiskers above her eyes too, it's quite a hilarious sight when you get the chance to witness it. Candles are one of my favorite things, I love the warmth they bring to a room and the scent they fill a space with. You see my dilemma. Here she is, more cautiously might I add than usual, staring off into the little yellow flame. Sometimes I catch her inching towards it while her eyes are closed and her little nose is wrinkled to catch the scent. She will never learn, which means I will have forever have a cat with burnt whiskers.

 And no, I will not give up my candles.

Who hasn't repeated mistakes while knowing the outcome? I think every person on the planet is guilty of that. I for one know that eating a whole plate of waffle fry nachos from Sebago Brewing Co. is a terrible idea and always causes me significant abdominal discomfort after. Do I still eat the entire plate? Of course. Is it still a surprise to me? Only at first because of denial that it won't happen this time around. I don't think Pig is in denial, I think she doesn't realize her whiskers are on fire.

I'm ready to live and learn though, two more months.

My Strange Addiction

Have you ever seen that show? It's completely absurd, people literally eating whole couches and sleeping next to running hair dryers. I guess we all have our quirks, Pig here apparently has a new found interest in paintball guns. Although perhaps addiction is the correct term in their case, I don't think eating dry wall would be considered a quirk. 

A quirk to me is something cute or funny, like the way the squeeze insists on drying his hair against the rinnai heater after a shower and falls asleep. He cranks it up to 75 degrees and forgets to turn it back down, so when I come home our apartment feels like the Amazon Rainforest and he hasn't noticed. I tell him if he's so adamant about drying it to just use my hair dryer, I doubt he'll fall asleep next to a running hair dryer. He's not that quirky.

I love binge watching Reba and Roseanne. I also have an affinity for anything coconut. And of course dinosaurs. That one's a "duh." I can't say I've ever the urge to eat light bulbs though, does that make me boring?

Lone Star Kitty

Sunday is the day I look forward to the most. I have a day off in the middle of the week, but that's reserved for boring errands like laundry and vacuuming. Sunday is when I get to do some of my favorite things, A) sleep in with no alarm screaming me awake B) go out to brunch with the squeeze C) hang out with this little feline D) and we can't forget about getting gelato. I snapped this photo while the squeeze and I were lounging around planning out the day, Pig hurried over in her usual adorable manner mewing away, leaped onto us, nestled down on the squeeze's chest, and dozed off. What a character. 

This past Sunday we went to a BBQ at my sister's, questions about our move came up. El Papa asked about Pig and our plans for her, I told him we were figuring it out as far as getting her to TX goes. Now I know my dad means well, but sometimes his filter seriously malfunctions. He suggested we simply give Pig up and find her a home elsewhere. My sister jokingly (and horribly) suggested we put her down for a permanent nap. Way to set the mood for a BBQ.

My family has never been the type to be full of feelings. You can see my fear and dilemma and leaving her with one of them, the odds of her disappearing seem high.

Do not fret Pig, you will be a Lone Star kitty.

Rainy Day

My cat's mannerisms are an exact portrayal of my inner emotions. It's rainy and cold out and I would rather pay to stay in my sweatpants all day than get paid to sit at work all afternoon. Yesterday we were blessed with (or possibly the victims of a cruel joke) beautiful weather. Low 60s! Out of habit I threw on my jacket only to be made fun of because it was so warm outside.

Then today we woke up to 46 degrees (it feels like 30 so I'm not sure what's up with that) and rain. Oh the humanity! April, please be kind to us. Looking at this photo makes me want to crawl into bed so badly. Agh.

Today is more of a means for me to vent about the cold.

Evil Combs

I'm not sure what was happening here. Pig didn't take too kindly to the comb I was using. Cats are strange beings like that.

Today it's been relatively slow moving at work. There's a lot of downtime so my mind is all over the place. Currently I'm reaching out to all of my friends who have moved out of state, I'm picking their brains apart as to how they got where they did and by what means. Truck, trailer, shippers, everything crammed in one car in the back seat? I've heard it all so far. Some people found jobs and apartments before arriving at their destination, others found something after they crossed the state line. Some shipped their belongings there, and others crammed their life into their car.

So many options and alternatives. It's rather overwhelming to say the least.

Pig will unfortunately have to stay in Maine while we make our way down. This makes me extremely sad and I hate thinking about it. I know cats are aware. but I always wonder if they understand the entirety of what's going on around them.

So many things to plan.

Kitten-Pig

That was the original name I gave this little one. Her previous owners (may they fall into a big hole and never escape) thought it would be a brilliant idea to dye her pink. So she came home with me like this. Bright magenta. She eventually shed the color away, but for the longest time I had pink cat hair on everything. No one believes unless I show them this photo. She reminded me of a little piggy so that's where the name came from. Now that she's older and lacking any pink, it's just Pig.

I don't know how old she was when I brought her home many years ago. I make up birthday dates for her when I remember, but if I had to guess I'd say she's somewhere between 6-7 years old. She still acts like a crazy kitten, chasing her own tail and sticking her tongue out. She will always be Kitten-Pig though.

Grumpy Cat

How I long for Sundays. Listen to me, it's only Monday and I'm already starting off the week with a Grumpy Cat disposition. Although the weekend storm occurred, it didn't wreak havoc on the greater Portland area. Despite this positive news, work called us in an hour early today to clean up the parking lot. Not exactly music to my ears. So 7am was spent in snow pants (Ellen I owe you big time), scraping off cars and rearranging our parking lot so the plow could make its way through. 

Before I worked at a dealership it never occurred to that some body has to clean up and move the 100+ cars in the lot, just like it never occurred to me that every year the poor souls working at The Maine Mall have to open and disperse what seem like thousands of Christmas decorations, only to put it all away again.

Sundays are great because all the dealerships in Maine are closed. I can relax at home in my USM sweatpants and look out our majestic living room windows. We get quite the display of light filtered throughout our apartment, it leaves a pleasant warm hue on the walls. Pig often hangs out on the lounge and watches the cars and people making their way down Cumberland Ave, this is one of the best views she's had in the many apartments we've lived in.

How lovely it would be to live life as a cat. To never have to worry about a bill, school loan or snow removal, just the occasional hairball or flea. 

Happiness is...

A warm cat. But really, what's greater than a warm kitty in your lap?? Nothing, that's what. Since it's been so chilly lately, the Squeeze and I often huddle up by the Rinnai heater. Yesterday Pig decided to join us and wedged herself in my lap (she sort of folded in half over time as you see here in this photo). The three of us sat there for a good 30 minutes or so, taking in the heat like three bums near a blazing garbage can.

Those people that claim to hate cats I believe have either A) simply only ever been around evil cats, or B) have never been around any cats. Not all cats are the devil, some definitely are, but many can be sweet as pie. Pig has always been affectionate, she nuzzles, snuggles, and occasionally licks you on the nose. Sometimes I look at her and think there's a little person trapped behind those big yellow eyes. Other times I think she's just a crazy animal. Regardless, anyone that's ever met her has loved her, even those who claim to be "anti-cat." 

So before you judge a feline by it's furry cover, get to know them first.

Do You Ever Feel...

Like a plastic bag? Thanks Katy Perry, for your heartfelt and insightful lyrics lolz. But seriously, look at this cat. Pig has always had a bizarre fascination with plastic bags, I'm afraid she's going to suffocate one of these days when I catch her sleeping in the occasional misplaced Hannaford version. Silly Pig.

I don't think plastic bags actually have feelings, but I'm sure I understand the point Miss Perry is trying to get across. With all this blizzard weather we've been having lately up north, it's hard to keep a positive mindset. I often forget that my mood is affected by the weather, and when I catch myself in a slump I usually look outside to see 12 foot high pyramids of snow and am reminded of why I feel bummy.

Too much snow removal at work and not enough customers. It's a dangerously effective combination on one's mood.

Here's hoping to sunny mornings and warm afternoons soon!

That Face

This is how I feel every morning that I'm required to get up early; dazed and confused. Pig does a great job reflecting my inner monologue via her facial expressions. I'm not sure what her deal is or why she looks so tired, she's a cat. I mean, I'm sure it's a full-time gig being adorable all the time, but come on.

I've always wanted to be a morning person, I rather like the idea of getting up early enough in the day where I can accomplish everything I set out to do and then some. But I'll tell you something, getting up before the sun is even awake just doesn't seem natural. Even after eight hours of hibernation, once that alarm summons me it feels like I just went to sleep mere minutes ago. 

Ugh. It's a constant battle I have with myself; get up early and accomplish all my tasks, or get sleep drunk.

It doesn't help that for Christmas the squeeze got me this amazing flannel comforter cover from LL.Bean. It's like sleeping under a wonderful down flannel cloud. I'm also insistent on leaving the temps low at night so I can sleep comfortably (thank my dad for his frugalness and never turning the heat on so you were required to sleep in a snowsuit), so when it's time to crawl out of bed the chilly floors and air nip at you.

Long story short, I am not a morning person, but strive to become one.