Looking back...

I posted this on the first of the year, and it seems appropriate to comment on how things went in 2009:

• Starting a fresh day book and calendar: the old ones were getting ratty--they were, like, a year old!--Okay, this still holds true at the end of every year. What can I say, I'm a sucker for calendars.
  
• A hot new president who will change the world (politics is fun again!)--Obama is on the road to implementing Universal Health Care, won a Nobel Peace Prize (whether you think he deserves it or not), and has done assorted other good things. No complaints from me so far.
  
• Being a bridesmaid in one of my longest standing friends' wedding (I'm struggling with the proper term, because it's not oldest friend, and long-time friend sounds weird. Anyone? Help?)--Er...yeah...that didn't happen...
  
• The bachelorette party associated with said nuptial (very possibly to Las Vegas)--This did happen. Good times.
  
• Watching as more of my friends from high school try for and grow big with children (and subsequently pointing and laughing, then consoling the tears and recriminations...)--Two more on the way!
  
• John finishing his masters of journalism (and school forever...?)--DONE AND DONE. THANK GOD.
  
• Me and John going on a celebratory trip to some place hot--possibly on a cruise of some kind--We both ended up taking separate trips to Vegas this year. That's as close as we got.
  
• A possible start to searching for our first home together--CHECK!
• Planning the wedding--Venues are booked, dress is bought...I don't need anything else, do I?
  

What does 2010 hold?

The wedding!
The honeymoon!
And I WILL sell a book, dammit, or else get an agent or SOMETHING.

Onward!

Photo editor FAIL

Today's Metro News commuter paper, page 10:


Someone's St. Peter is showing.

http://www.metronews.ca/toronto--You can read the whole paper by clicking on the link on the left-hand side bar.

Smartikus J. Cat, Destroyer of Worlds

It's been a little over a month since we adopted Smartikus, and he's all settled in and comfortable now. Perhaps a little too comfortable.

It's hard to determine most days if he's being affectionate or just a jerk because he knows he can get away with it. Even as I'm typing this post, he is purring and getting right in my face so that he can get a shot at my cereal milk. I'm trying to ignore him, but he keeps tapping me: just a little reminder that he's here. Tap, tap, tap. Hi, Mommy, gimme yur fud.

And now he's pushed my elbow and made me spill a spoonful of cereal down my front.

Other affectionately jerky things he's been up to:

• Chewing through both mine and John's cell phone charger cords (that's just plain jerky)
  
• Waking me up just before my alarm goes off every morning by jumping on me, poking my face, giving me wet willies (he actually licks his paw and smears it all over my face and, if he can, my mouth)
• Attacking my hands or feet if I try to sleep in too late. (Mommy, wake up! Wake up! The sun's out! Wake up! GIVE ME LUV!!!)
• Sitting directly in front of my computer screen and helping me write (No, Mommy, I like this letter ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;)
• Sitting right on top of my overtime manuscripts, no matter where I put them (I help you, Mommy! I keep the plot under my bum!)
• Climbing onto my back and shoulders at least once every day--I can't decide if this is some display of dominance or affection (I shnuggle! I shnuggle you lots! AND NOW I BITE YOUR ELBOW AND RIBS!)

Other fun things we've learned about Smarty:

• He plays fetch with balls of crumpled up paper. No dollar-store toys for him!
• He's bananas for bananas.
• If he likes you, he'll reach out and put a paw on you and give you a meaningful look, just to let you know he's there for you, bro.
• He talks a lot.
• He has cold kitty breath. Very odd to feel when you're sleeping and he decides to give you a little nuzzle.
• One of his favorite places to be: on top of the fridge, where he can survey his domain and watch the squirrels outside.
  

Despite the jerkiness, he always makes up for his bad behaviour by being shnuggly. He really is our dream cat.

To Whom It May Concern...

We've started receiving Christmas cards for the former and now deceased owner of our house. Up until now, I've written Return to Sender--Deceased on all mail for her. Most of it was from charities she probably donated to. But something tells me treating Christmas cards from friends overseas would be...how should I put this...dickish.

What do I do? Write a letter Regretting to inform you to the sender? Do I forward personal mail to the deceased's son, who is probably still heartbroken over her death? I don't know if I want to bother him with it during the holidays.

Help? Advice?