Breaking News

Dateline: Suburbia. June 15, 2008.

Our crazy neighbor across the street has finally taken down the 48 inch Christmas wreath that has been hanging on the front of his house between the second-story windows since the day after Thanksgiving. This means that Christmas 2007 is finally and officially over.

Carry on.

El Futbol

Why is MLS so very very boring? And why, if MLS is so boring, is European pro soccer so exciting? We are watching Euro 2008 on ESPN2. We record the weekday games on the DVR and watch them when we get home, and we are enthralled. We loved World Cup 2006 and we tried watching some U.S. soccer, but it sucked, so we quit. These euros, however, are thrilling.
Also, why are sweaty soccer players so utterly and completely hot? In real life, I see a sweaty man and I want him to take a shower before he gets anywhere near me. On TV, however, give me a sweaty, 193 cm Italian soccer player and my reaction is pretty much the opposite.

The Boys are less enthralled:

Do you still think they look alike?

Back to the Lists

May was the month of no lists. I can faithfully report that ratcheting waaaaaay back on the lists correlates nicely with improved mood. I have been feeling better on the whole, even though my shrink canceled my appointment and can't see me again for weeks ("That's okay. I'm not that suicidal.") Not every day has been great, but I'm sleeping better, generally, I'm feeling better, generally, and I'm a little more willing to interact with my fellow humans, generally. I've had a sudden burst of productivity at work that I intend to ride for as long as it lasts. I've got some seminars coming up that will take me out of the office a little and provide a nice break in the routine. I never come up the front steps to the house so I'm blissfully unaware of the dreadful weeds overtaking the front yard Chez Nous, and because I don't know that they're there, they don't bother me.

May is over. Now we are in June. June heralds a return to the lists in a gentle way, because there are things around here that need to get done. This is my list for the weekend:

1. Food: plan menus, make grocery list, send The Man to the Fresh Fields, put groceries away. He buys the groceries. When he goes, we spend less, we end up with less junk, and Bunny doesn't waste time being distracted by all the fun food stuff on display.
2. Wash bedspread. It is covered in dog hair and I need a big, clean, flat space where I can do #3.
3. Block Poppy's sheep blanket. Also, write about it and take some pictures.
4. Cook: If I am going to have something decent for dinner this week, I'll need to do some things in advance this weekend. For example, if I make a french potato salad, hard boil some eggs, steam some haricots verts, and make a vinaigrette, I can have a salade nicoise for dinner this week. If I don't make enchiladas this weekend, there won't be any after work on Thursday. If I don't clean and cook the broccoli, I might not eat any vegetables this week.
5. Catch up on some blogging. It's fun and good for me. Even if I only have three readers, plus The Man, if I remind him that I have a blog.
6. Cast on the second stupid blue ribbed sock and get the cuff started. I don't like it anymore, but it won't be over with if I don't get started. See how abandoning the project entirely is not even an option?
7. Give Kirby his bath. He's fiddling with his ears and chewing his paws a little too much.
8. Clear off my desk. I need a clean desk. I can't tolerate clutter.
9. Discuss with The Man Friday's transportation plan for stitch and pitch. Shall we drive or Metro? Park at the office and Metro from there? Do we want to carpool with friends? Do we want to leave straight from work or come home first? My friends want to know, and The Man needs be consulted.
10. Watch last night's episode of Battlestar Gallactica so I can talk about it with Dana on Monday.

That's enough, I think. Let's check back later and see how she's doing.

Uh oh. I smell poop. There shouldn't be anything poop-smelling in here. Time to investigate.

The Smiler

If you have met Komrade Kirbamov in person, but not in the dog park or in the Old Folks' back yard, and you don't actually live Chez Nous, then you've probably never seen this before:


That's right, folks. He's a smiler and now I can finally prove it.

Isn't he handsome? Sometimes I think he's too handsome. We're not worthy. Maybe he needs to live with a family that is more handsome than us.

See the respectful way he averts his gaze so as not to challenge my dominance? The Old Woman says we have one good dog and one nice dog. Guess which one this is?

P.S. This is apparently post number 69. Snerk.

On the sofa

So I like to sit on the sofa and knit. And when it gets cold, I sit under my green blankie. On a really good day, Kirby helps me knit:


Yarn Bandit's idea of a good time on the sofa involves getting a belly rub:

Mmmmmm. That's nice. Here--let me lift my leg so you can reach that spot.

Oooooh yeah, that's it.


Thanks, The Man. You're the best.

And now you feel just a little dirty, don't you? I don't know how he does that. I'll sign off with a nice cleansing image to take the porny one out of your head:

Eight and Holding

Kirby has forgotten that he remembers how to jump. He tried once yesterday, but failed. Poor baby.

Kirby Learns

Folks, he has remembered that he can jump onto the sofa all by himself. He did it once on Friday, and THREE TIMES yesterday, for a total of 8 jumps lifetime. If he keeps this up, we'll lose count of how many jumps he's made.

Silly boy. When he wants up, he doesn't go directly for the jump. Instead, he does his little "give me a boost" dance for a while before it occurs to him to give it a try.