Queen Of The Frigidaire

Roxy's got a new trick. She likes to hang out on top of the refrigerator. There are so many reasons why she loves being up there. First of all, cats love to be up high. And that's where I hide the paper towel roll because she rips it apart whenever she gets her paws on it. So she can hang out up there and tear paper towel to her heart's content. She won't even get down when the freezer door is opened. I had to take a photo of her and send it out to my nearest and dearest. I told the Handsomest Man Alive that she looked regal atop her major kitchen appliance. "Yes," he replied. "Surveying her tiny kingdom while cold freezer air blows up her kitty a**."

No Cake, No Candles

I don't know if you've noticed, but I haven't been around for a few days. I was off celebrating the fact that I got a little older. I haven't actually said my real age out-loud yet. And I'm going to try to postpone saying it out-loud and having to deal with the reality of my true age for as long as I possibly can.


There was no cake for my birthday this year. I think in the future this birthday will go on record as 'The Year Without The Birthday Cake.' It will be followed closely by 'The Thanksgiving Without Stuffing,' and 'The Christmas Sans Cookies.' That's what happens when you're dieting. You become very frugal about the calories you expend every day and what you're using them up on. Last week I was eating stale cereal every day for breakfast. And I finally said, Feh! Ugh! I went out and bought a brand new box of very fresh Cheerios. They're tasty! When you're dieting, stale food is just not acceptable.

I did have a glass of wine on my birthday. It was a lovely Chardonnay served at a little bistro in Ojai that I've wanted to try for some time. I hadn't had a glass of wine for six weeks and I wanted to gulp it down and ask for seconds. I had to force myself to savor the sweet and crisp flavor. After lunch, all I wanted was to wander down to the end of the  Main Street Arcade to the ice cream store for a double dipper, but instead I crossed the street to the coffee shop and got a nice herbal tea. It's not the same, but it's nice to have less of me around.

Did you know that there's a new study that says drinking a glass of wine everyday will keep you thin? I'd like to volunteer to participate in that study. And I thought this was very intriguing too. I also read this excerpt from a book about old dogs. Should I get the book? Hmmmm...

Please Don't Feed The Bears

I may have failed to mention it here, but the Handsomest Man Alive and I have been on diets for five weeks. So far, we've been very successful. But I must say that I'd commit some acts of mayhem for a full picnic basket. Ah, well. Who wouldn't?

A Walk In The Woods

This time of year I often romanticize being in the northwoods of Michigan. I love fall. It's my favorite time of year. I love candy corn. I love apples. I love haystacks. I love hayrides. I love pumpkins and gourds and squash. I love Halloween. But sometimes I forget that Southern California is doing its best to put on a show for fall. It's just a lot more subtle than the Maple leaves of the north. Can you believe this photo was taken a mile from my house? I can. I'll be walking up that path tomorrow morning. Yay! And did I mention that there's a gourmet food truck festival in Valencia this weekend? Double yay!

It's Raining Balls Of Yarn

I honestly didn't think I'd have time to post today. It's Monday and it's been a doozy. And then I saw this video. I know it's just a television commercial (but it's from New Zealand.) Some of my favorite videos lately have been commercials. I fell in love with the little piggy who goes 'Wheeeee' all the way home in a Geico ad. And then there was there's the new Honest Abe Geico commercial. But this commercial really hit home, it's probably because I live with a kitten who truly believes that every day is Christmas morning.

A Bright Light In The Darkness

Balloon Fiesta from Michael Salisbury on Vimeo.

Sometimes all you need is a little bit of hope.

Keep Your Eye On The Bird

There was 24 hours last week when Roxy was ready to move along and find another lady to live with. On Friday, an inspector was due to come in and inspect the furnace (yes, I do have one in hotter-than-H-E-double hockey sticks LA) and replace the smoke detector. In order to prepare for the visit, I decided to prevent Roxy from inadvertantly running away from home should the front door be left open by the inspector by putting her in the bathroom before I left for work. Unfortunately, Roxy knows how to open the bathroom door. Or so she thinks...in her jumping attempts to open the door, she locked the door.

I called the HMA on the way to work and he had to come over and find Juan (the lovely maintenance man) and get him to break Roxy out of the slammer. The HMA has a soft spot for Roxy. He called me on the phone and told me that she was quivering when she was released from her confinement. I could read-between-the lines enough to understand that they were both none too happy with me. And then on Saturday, the nice ladies who clean my place showed up with a vacuum cleaner. Roxy hid out between the pillows on the bed until the coast was clear. While she was in hiding, I washed her red sofa blanket. It's no wonder that she spent all day Sunday stretched out in the middle of the living room sleeping in relaxed comfort on her blanket. It's cold, wet and cloudy here in LA...and I've been looking forward to a fire in the fireplace all day. I wonder what Roxy will think of that? I wonder if she'll share her blanket?

Meanwhile, we've been watching a cop show on the A&E network called "The Glades." The main character is very blithe and breezy. At first, I didn't like it -- but the show has grown on me and I'm completely obsessed. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that the guy playing a Chicago cop who moves to Florida -- is actually Australian. Say what?