Silly Kitty Sat..er..Sun..er.. oh whatever!
Yes, yes I know this is late – as my Nephew made sure to make known – Sorry D-man! I had a good reason!
You see, I wanted to wait until we had our new kitty toy up. You know, a toy that’s not SUPPOSED to be a kitten toy? That you only put up once a year?
Why yes – I’m speaking of our Christmas Tree in all it’s fake, plastic, pre-lit glory. OH! how i love this pre-lit tree! No muss, no fuss! Seriously the BEST 20 bucks I’ve ever spent. We only have charlie brown trees up here anyway, unless you want to pay for a real tree that’s been shipped from the states and costs anywhere from 50-250 bucks. Granted, there’s a lot less of Power Tools used to cut the end off trees, and/or stress and grumbling while trooping through the cold for a live one… but this is far easier! Which is why I have a fake tree now. I’m all about the lazy, people.
Anyway – Kitties. Even now we have definite distinctions between the two siblings. Ace chose to study his approach first. Waiting and biding his time as he figured the best way to go about getting his first bite of the delicious plastic-y goodness.
He watched, he waited, and I thought – mistakenly – that perhaps he would leave it alone! But oh no – within minutes I had to break out the kitty trainer (Known as a water bottle to normal folks.) He turned and glared at me, then came running to rub up against my feet and suck up.
Right before attacking the tree again. And getting sprayed. And glaring at me. And rubbing. And attacking. And sprayed. And glar…. well, you get the picture. I, however, never did manage to catch him in the act with the camera.
Annabelle, on the other hand, is (according to Ace), a couple beers shy a 6-pack. She went right for the tree, and batted balls and chewed on plastic-y goodness, and got sprayed.
The difference between the two, however, came in with the reaction to the kitty trainer! You see, Annabell is CERTAIN that the water is coming from the tree itself! There IS much glaring, but it is not towards me, but toward the tree itself, before she stalks it again. While Ace watches and shakes his head in wonder at the idiocy of his wonder-twin.
Of course, he’s very likely planning his own next attack in the meantime.So there ya go, D-man! A couple days late, but I didn’t forget about your SKS v.8! Enjoy! So now? It’s time for a nap. Kitty style.
PS: The Tree survived the night – however, smartypants Ace discovered first thing this morning that if he climbed onto the windowsill behind the tree, I won’t notice until I actually HEAR him chewing on fake plastic-y goodness. But he’ll still get sprayed upon escape. Sneaky lil bugger!
Scoop!
So, we were watching Scoop, the girl and I. I don’t normally like Woody Allen films, but this one was endearing, and hello! Hugh Jackman! Raaaaaaawr! It’s really a cute movie, delightfully British in style and content and simply fun (And also – Hugh Jackman!) and of course – good for girl bonding! And yet ANOTHER glimpse of the Teenage Hell I’m in for… Voila:
The Girl: Oh sure! So the perfect guy turns out to be a killer!
Me, snarky as always: Well duh, he’s Wolverine!
The Girl: OH! THAT’S who he is! I was like AUGH! all through the movie because I couldn’t figure it out!
Me: (Just laughing)
The Girl, continuing on: Especially when he took his shirt off! I was like I KNOW HIM!
Me: ……………… so… you mostly recognized him with his SHIRT OFF?
The Girl: DUH mom. (and she blinks, and falls over and hides her face in the couch, giggling)
~~~
Just… kill me now, huh? Gah!
Wow. People are crazy opinionated!
Emphisis on the crazy!
So, been hanging around blogher when I get bored, and Suzanne opened up a discussion about circumcision at birth. And talk about opening the proverbrial can of worms! (HA! I kill me!) I actually bowed out of the “discussion” when it was clear that no one wanted to “discuss” but try and force their opinion as being the One! True! Way! I bowed out after I was told that my personal history with circumcision decisions was nothing more then a story meant to induce fear and loathing and force other mothers to make decisions that concur with mine.
Um. No.
Now, I know I’m opinionated. That’s no surprise to anyone who hangs with me more then 0.152 seconds. The difference being, I will STILL respect you for YOUR opinions. My job on this earth isn’t to force you to believe as I do. My job instead, is to simply present another view and allow you to still come to your own conclusions. I do not – and will not ever begrudge someone a choice they made, as long as it does no harm to me or mine. I will not judge anyone for their opinions and personal beliefs. It is simply not my way. If you believe differently then I do – fine. I don’t have to like it, to still like you.
But when you (collective you – no one in particular here!) decide that I MUST CONFORM to your way of thinking – that’s when I get pissy. I don’t have to conform. I’ve spent just shy of 37 years listening and thinking and learning and discerning and coming up with my own personal truth. This does not detract from your personal truth, if they do not mesh, but merely mean mine are different then yours. This also does not mean that I am right and you are wrong, any more then the opposite is true.
For instance: Circumcision. I’m for it. I saw a friend have to go through circumcising her son at 3 years old for medical reasons (my “Scare story!”) and helped care for that kiddo when he looked up at me with tears in his eyes and asked me why I hurt him. That’s a personal experience that further shaped my feelings on the matter. Does this mean I think all people who decide against circumcision are wrong? Hell no. My decision was right for ME.
Another hotbutton: Abortion. While I, myself, FOR MYSELF, believe that abortion is wrong, I identify as pro-choice, because each woman needs to make that decision for herself in a way she can live with. It is not my job to tell them they are right or wrong in what they do with their bodies. It is their job to formulate a plan of action they can live with and believe in.
When asked for my opinion (You know what they say – opinions are like assholes, everyone’s got one and they all stink!) I will share it in an effort to help broaden someone’s view. I have no intention of forcing you to believe as I do.
So why can’t other people be the same? Seriously – just because we’re different and have different views, does not automatically make you right, me wrong, or vice versa! Get a grip, be secure in your beliefs, and realize that you can still befriend someone, anyone, with different views then your own. And also – you can discuss different views without getting defensive or attacking another persons belief. That’s where the line is drawn for me – when you stop giving me your ideals and explaining your beliefs and instead slam me for mine, you’ve crossed the line.
So lighten the fuck up already.
And trust me – You’ll all feel better when you realize that I’m always right, anyway. Gosh!
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
– Jack Sparrow: “Where is it? Where is the thump-thump?” Brilliant! There were many laugh out loud moments and a collective “AUGH!” at the ending. Harumph.
Still more pre-teen fun!
In the previous episode, we introduced the boy to whom my Daughter can never date. Or mate. or any other things. What I didn’t mention was the rest of the conversation that revolved around acceptable gift giving limits in Jr. High. Seems a friend of a friend of hers in 8th grade wants to get his girlfriend a $300 necklace for Christmas. What are his parents THINKING? (aside from – damn, we’s rich!) She added that it was his money that he earned and he should be able to spend it as he pleased. Yeah, we fixed that point of view real quick.
The nice thing is that it opened discussion for things people don’t normally think about, and we had fun setting up limits as for what would be acceptable for kids her age. (I *love* when my kids help set up their own limits!) for if and when it becomes an issue for her.
Cue today’s conversation:
TheGirl: So, that boy I told you about?
Me: yeaaaaaaaaaah…
TheGirl: He gave me a piece of gum today!
Me: um. YAY!
TheGirl: Now (completely straight faced), that’s not too expensive a gift, is it? I mean, I could TOTALLY hawk it back up and give it back to him if you think it was too much…
—
Need I even go into how much my kids rock? She’s totally gotten my sense of humor, and is completely adorable!
And yes – I totally told her to give the gum back. Oh! The eye rolling that brought out!
In other news – her clarinet is once again back in her hands, and she is busilly catching up on tons of missed practice. Oy. me’ears!
