Fred the Large

After the last of our four legacy cats died, we were torn about signing up for another 15-20 year commitment. Cats are SO fun, but given that our last cats lived up until a very old age, we had forgotten just how fun and rambunctious younger cats can be. Given that we live in the country and thought we could use the insurance against the meeces, we dove in. Our first new cat was Fred, who we now call Fred the Large.



In addition to being extremely photogenic, Fred is a mighty hunter. As he has no front claws, I continue to be amazed by the dragons he's slewn. Toads, birds, voles, moles, and field mice had better watch out when Fred's on the move! I think the squirrels continue to press their luck - I don't want to be home when that one goes down. It's so fun to watch him bound across the backyard!

Fred is also a snuggler and he LOVES to be spooned. When he sees me getting ready for bed, he sometimes beats me to the bedroom! I often wake up with him stretched against me. Unfortunately, he's also a big fan of waking us up by making biscuits on our heads or chests at 6am to tell us it's time for breakfast. This is a practice that we are adamantly discouraging.

It's not really an exit strategy...

Those of you who know me (lucky you!), know that I do A LOT of thinking about what's next. It drives Shawn crazy that I cannot ground myself in the here and now. It's not that I don't *LOVE* my current life, job, circumstances, etc...and it's not that I don't appreciate and thank the universe for those "in the moment" experiences and blessings, 'cuz I do. I like the think of it as the Gemini in me working through options, so when the time comes for opportunity to present itself, the homework of thinking through it all could very well be done! (or something like that.)

One "project" I've been doing some serious scheming and researching on involves starting a summer resort in the Michigan UP. I mean, who wouldn't want to spend time in place like this?

Part resort, part retreat, we could offer activities we like to do ourselves and bolster the local economy at the same time. I rationalize that the current economic situation is the perfect time to start a retreat. Now is the time when people starting thinking about their options...a great time to confirm one's perspective and perhaps "find oneself." We could help make it happen!

Our guests would be immersed in the beautifully rugged scenery formed by volcanoes. Just imagine...yoga and meditation on a rocky beach, the waves crashing all around...mountain biking through the woods...kayaking in the big Gitchee Gumee...sunset cruises...berry picking and pie making...personal reflection while hiking along waterfalls...creek walking...the options are limitless! This is a powerful place. Lake Superior holds 10% of the world's fresh water - just think of all those positively charged ions pulsing into me (they stop hangovers...did you know that?).

Maybe it is an exit strategy, because the more I write about it, the more I'm ready to go! It's either that or my longing for spring to hurry up and be sprung!

OK...so I'm not *REGULAR*

For those of you who REALLY know me, I'm sure you're surprised by the title of this post. You've got to be saying to yourself, "of course she's regular...I've seen the reading material and sudoku puzzles in every one her bathrooms! she's got a regular lending-library in there!"

The honest truth is that I am not referring to my scatological comings and goings (mostly goings), but to the irregular nature of my "pattyfabulous is just that" blog activities.

Who knew blogging took up so much time? With work and the new adventure of school kicking my shorts into midnight four nights a week (whoever even suggests that Capella is a diploma mill is welcome to stop by and write papers with me any time!), I barely have time to scoop cat boxes, exercise, and see my darling Shawn.

Gentle reader - I hope you'll forgive my delay in posting:

• parts 2 through ? of with stories of our Mexican vacation,
• highlights of my last kayaking adventure
• how much I frickin' love Bert Summers (and you ask "who the hell is he?")
• my very own reviews of cheese, local restaurants, beer, school courses, and more!

It will come...just not as fast as a "professional" blogger would deliver.

I *HEART* Squidbillies

I am a big fan of Aqua Teen Hunger Force (saw the movie in the theaters!), but I am an even BIGGER fan of the Squidbillies! As the name suggests, the show is about squid hillbillies. Charles Napier (of Blues Brother fame) is the voice of the sheriff in Season 1. I haven't seen a new episode since 2006 - I sure hope they make more!

Here's a fun episode -- enjoy! (p.s. - Dokken is devily music.)

PART ONE:



PART TWO:

A kinder, gentler version of "My Humps"

I've not been a big Alanis Morrisette fan, but I think in this case she comes very close to making the nonsense Black Eyed Peas song into something pretty and listenable.

Our Mexican Vacation

Shawn and I recently spent two lovely weeks in Mexico. We spent our first week in Puerto Vallarta and our second week in the little seaside jungle village of Yelapa. The trip was grand, and I'll probably tell you about it over a couple of posts. Read on...

On our first day, we arrived at our hotel just in time for happy hour(s). We happily discovered that happy hour meant "dos por uno" for all drinks from 3-6. Needless to say, we made it back by at least 4pm during our time there.

While in Puerto Vallarta, we stayed at the Hotel Mercurio. It's a VERY GAY hotel that welcomes open-minded straight people. The place was FABULOUS (just like me!)...a new pool, a well-stocked bar with a great mixologist on staff, free calls to the states, free high-speed internet, free breakfast, nice staff, and a kick-ass location right in the heart of the Romantic Zone.

As it's VERY GAY, we did get questions from other guests about why we chose to stay there, but most everyone was friendly. We were sort of the human oddity exhibition for the other guests, who for the most part seemed to be gay couples who liked to drink, go to the beach, drink, go to dinner, drink, and then go clubbing. One snarky little gentleman from Canada did tell me that I looked like an old Jewish lady because I kept my cowboy hat and sunglasses on while drinking my pina colada from the pool, but I think it's just that he was JEALOUS.

So - our first hours at the hotel were spent drinking in the sunshine and the wonderful margaritas! After three hours of drinking, we decided to do some exploring and headed to the beach, heading north along the malecon and eventually getting something to eat (I don't even remember where!). It was a great first day!

Separated at Birth?

This is my kitty, Maruschka. She is a friendly calico who loves to be pet very hard (she loves the hair brush!). She weighs in at 20 lbs. and has been known to stop dogs in their tracks! She has a rather loud motor and cannot sleep with people because she paws and licks heads to wake people up!

This is another kitty cat who seems to have a playful wink and wonderful dance moves!



Separated at birth? You decide!