What will the Robot do?

What will the Robot do?
Originally uploaded by betsystreeter

In this drawing, the Robot has to make a decision - swat down the airplane or get seriously damaged? I like to draw moments where there is something about to happen, but we're not sure what it is - although there are clues in there. Like, the look on the Robot's face.

Chosen by Cats

So, we went down to ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation) last weekend so some cats could pick us out.

They were short of staff (surprising since they've got vintage guitars on the walls and a whole room full of Tony LaRussa's baseball memorabilia, but apparently not enough resources to bring in more folks) so the wait took a while.

So we had time to circulate around and look at all the cats. ARF collects cats from the county shelter who have less than 24 hours left. 

I kept going back to these two brothers who were conked out together in one of the deluxe kitty adoption rooms. They weren't doing much, but they had a good vibe. 

So once we got into the process, we went to see them.

And one of them picked out my husband, and then we were done.

This is how it works.

Now I've got these two kittens following me around. 

The only casualty in the house so far is a roll of toilet paper that got murdered in the bathtub.

They like to watch Champion's League football.

This is what we know so far.

After I lost my last kitty, I asked him to send me a "ping" when he thought I ought to adopt another kitty or kitties. This was our deal.

What I got back was, "Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping!" Which is to say, "There are a ton of fabulous friends out there, go meet some." Thanks Elvis.

So, I highly recommend ARF (boy are they thorough), the SPCA, and your local shelter. Just go and let someone pick you out. That's how we've always done it.

Maybe we'll wait until first grade...

Backpack
Originally uploaded by betsystreeter

So I seem to remember my daughter had a backpack for Kindergarten, although I'm not sure what she carried around in it besides her lunch... so I took my son down to look at backpacks today. This is pretty much what he looked like with it on... a backpack with legs. I think we'll wait a while, this was actually the smaller model. Maybe first grade.

Effort

Effort
Originally uploaded by betsystreeter

Don't read too much into this, I just thought it was an interesting visual - although if you are having this type of day, I am very sorry.

Exit

Exit
Originally uploaded by betsystreeter

This one I think explains itself pretty well. It's in pen with pencil added.

House O Crap

Since school is starting presently, we are in that process of a) removing all outgrown, worn out or strange clothing from the home and replacing it with b) things that will eventually be outgrown, worn out or strange but aren't yet.

All I want is for the mass of what gets removed to be greater than the mass of what gets brought in.

This year I think we did pretty good - 4-5 bags of stuff out, just 1 bag of stuff in (and part of that was a shoe box so I don't think that counts).

Now I can go pay for that Netflix movie I lost like 10 months ago (which of course means I've already paid for it a zillion times over) and start getting movies again.

Sometimes I feel like such a consumerdork. Sigh.

This End Up

I don't have anything particularly deep to say here, this is just one of my all-time favorites and I thought of it recently when getting stuff out of the trunk of the car. That's all.

Bye, Kitty.

Elvis, you have been a truly exceptional kitty.

In the 14 years you have lived with us, I never heard you hiss, and you never hurt anyone.

When we adopted you your name was Prince, so when we renamed you you became "Elvis, the cat formerly known as Prince." Plus you got upgraded to the King.

When I was sick, you would come and sit with me.

In the night, you slept on my feet.

You chose to be vocal many times right after I had gotten one baby or another to sleep. This was not good timing.

This last year you have been weak and unhappy and we've done our best for you.

I hope that you have not suffered too much, but you don't let on when you're in pain - even when your claw is growing into your paw. So I can't be sure.

You have never clawed anyone, or broken anything, you have just been a love.

We love you and we will miss you.

I hope you end up somewhere where you can chase your tail and jump onto beds and get the laundry all hairy and where people leave their dinner dishes out and you can eat all their chicken and turkey and cheese and butter.

You deserve it because you are an exceptional kitty.