April 29th, 2012

A quick one!

So, this just happened.

Bootstrap was across the room, then on the coffee table, then next to me, then suddenly he was perched on Daniel's lap. I found the whole thing very amusing. He got very close to the bowl, it was as if he thought that if he could get close enough Daniel would just let him eat it. Like, "Well, you're already here, have some of my dinner!"

That's cheeseburger soup, by the way. It's delicious. So, I don't blame Bootstrap for wanting some.

April 25th - 28th, 2012

Today you are getting a plethora of extra pictures, making it an amazing day for you, I'm sure.

On the 25th I found Bootstrap giving himself a time-out.

For some inexplicable reason, Bootstrap sometimes runs straight into the corner next to the refrigerator. Usually he does this when he's going nuts, which is almost always.

On the 26th, Barnacle got a present.

A gentle leader.

To be honest, he doesn't like it that much, but I LOVE it. Walking him is no longer an injury inducing torment but a stress-free, enjoyable experience. I feel confident in saying that I don't have to worry about him pulling me tumbling down the stairs again.

But, you never know.

Also on the 26th, I photographed another one of Bootstrap's odd quirks. I know, it's hard to believe he has more, right?

When Daniel picks him up like this, and curls him into a ball, he snatches his tail and bites it frantically. I do not know why he does it, but he does it all the time. He's a total freak.

The 27th is a quirk that is entirely my fault.

Whenever I am eating hershey kisses, Bootstrap perches on the other couch and stares at me. Sometimes he lunges across to me, but mostly he just stares, waiting for me to crumple them into a ball and throw it for him.

Then he plays with it for a little while, until Barnacle comes over and eats it. I usually get the foil out of his mouth but I have also seen foil balls in his poop before.

My life is so glamorous.

Three pictures on the 28th, and the day's not even over. Get excited.

The first is a little trippy.

There are dandelion fields all over Germany at this time of year. I think they're pretty, they're not like weeds here - they're flowers. This picture I actually took on accident, but I liked the way it turned out. Here's another in case that one makes you dizzy.

I proved that I am truly my father's daughter today. I pulled over, put on my emergencies and raced around taking a million pictures of this field. Now all I need to do is climb a barb wire fence for a good shot and I'll truly reach his level.

Finally, we have a new chair, thanks to ikea.

It is for Daniel's "Man Cave". My sister should recognize it, since she totally used to have this exact chair. It's comfortable, and I kind of want to steal it for the living room. Don't tell my husband.

April 24th, 2012

Today, I got a lovely surprise when I came home from work.

Roses from my husband <3

I even got to put them in one of my new vases that I bought at Ikea, since all our vases disappeared when we moved. Damn vase thieves.

Also today, I finished a project 4 years in the making.

Well, I've been thinking about doing it for 4 years, so almost the same thing. But, I finally framed these pictures - well one picture, one postcard. I somehow kept track of that postcard for four years. I bought it the summer I lived in London - 2008. It has survived about five moves, two of which crossed an ocean, one crossed a country.

Damn, I'm good at keeping stuff.

April 23rd, 2012

This morning, I discovered I have lost 12 pounds so far on my weight loss journey. Then, I walked into the hall an found this.

Two birds in the hallway. To be fair, I heard them before I saw them, and after I heard them, I went to investigate and then let out a little shriek and ran to wake up Daniel to get rid of them.

I don't know why birds scare me so much, but I literally have a reaction, my heart races and I let out embarrassing squeaks and screams. I'm so scared they'll fly in my face. I don't understand bird watchers or bird owners. Keep those things away from me.

Then, later, I got a nice family portrait.

I was just taking pictures because it's cute, but then I realized it's totes my family. Awwwwww.

April 18th - 22nd, 2012

On the 18th, Bootstrap was running around like a freak, as per usual. He was jumping across my chest, racing around the room, and attempting to play-bite my arm, all while I laid in bed, not quite ready to get up. So, I did what anyone would do, I cocooned him in the comforter.

Now, I'm not sure if it was the blanket or the arrival of the ghost, but one way or another, Bootstrap immediately calmed down, started purring, and went to sleep. Perhaps the ghost is the demon spirit leaving his body as it was exorcised.

On the 19th, Bootstrap picked yet another strange place to sleep.

I was getting settled into bed when Daniel motioned me to join him in the bathroom. I crossed my fingers that I wasn't about to witness an impressive bowel movement he had to share and walked in. Instead of feces, I saw this. Bootstrap in the sink. I don't know why he was laying in it, but I did know that I had to document it. So, here it is. I have the weirdest cat on the planet.

On the 20th I noticed a bruise.

It's hard to see in the picture, but it's between my thumb and pointer finger. You can sort of see the shadow, and of course the reason behind the bruise is standing in the background, looking innocent. Barnacle was such a pain in the ass on our walk that his leash burst blood vessels in my hand. What a dick. Don't believe those droopy hound eyes.

Yesterday, I walked out of work to this end of day greeting.

A full rainbow. Second one in a little over a week. This time I think it was celebrating my ending the workday.

Today! Another rainbow!

This one I saw while on a walk with Barnacle, I think this rainbow was celebrating the fact that he was not bruising the shit out of my hand. Gentle Leaders are amazing, guys.

Also, I love that rainbows are so prevalent right now. I hope it's a good sign. Either way, they're pretty.

April 16th & 17th, 2012

On the 16th, I looked over and saw something that shouldn't be strange to me at this point, but it was.

Apparently Bootstrap found this position comfortable. I don't know why. I also don't know why Daniel let him lay like that, but he did. I think he enjoys reveling in Bootstrap's snuggle favoritism. It's the same when he's sleeping, Daniel will shift around like a pretzel rather than dare disturb the cat; whereas I will pick Bootstrap up and move him over if he's impeding my sleeping space.

Today was a frustrating yet satisfying day, full of a lot of clanging and shouting and swearing.

All for this thing.

Now that it's up I'm glad, I like it a lot. But, putting it up was annoying as fucking hell. I had to smash a spring loaded metal tube (that kept falling apart at the seams, might I add) so that it would fit in the corner. All the while, Bootstrap is hopping around my feet, knocking over bath products and creating a general atmosphere of chaos which added to my frustration perfectly.

A number of times, I threw the whole concoction on the floor, sending tubes and baskets flying. It took quite a few tries, and quite a few catastrophes for me to get this thing wedged in the corner. It basically took me channeling my inner Hulk. Maybe I should've waited for Daniel's help, but I have a pride problem - once I put together almost an entire dresser by myself when I could've just as easily waited for my husband to come home from work and help.

Whaddyagonnado, it's how I am.

April 13th - 15th, 2012

On Friday the 13th I went in search of German vampires and German killers, and whatever else it is you're supposed to find on Friday the 13th. Instead, I found this:

Flowers in the gutter. They were pretty but it's kind of a depressing sight. Oh well, better than finding a river of blood in the gutter - though on Friday the 13th that's what I would've expected.

On the 14th my animals displayed that they are BFFs.

Bootstrap stumbled sleepily over to Barnacle's bed and laid down, and Barnacle immediately draped his paw over so they could spoon. Weirdos.

Finally, today.

I found tulips just growing randomly in the dirt. They were clearly not planted - they almost popped up like weeds. These are better than dandelions, for sure. Except, you can't blow on the petals and make a wish.

I tried to, though, of course.

April 10 - 12th, 2012

Why do I write this blog? I don't even know. I suppose it's the tagline for more information I couldn't write on facebook. Maybe I just write it for myself. Regardless, I won't give it up till the end of the year. I'm not entirely sure I'll continue it.

Anyway. The 10th: we had a warm day - a shock.





























We took Barnacle for a walk, on the way we spotted these flowers, which have just started blooming in the German spring.

On the 11th, Bootstrap found another way to cause trouble.

I put a bag of potatoes high up so that the cat couldn't get to it, since he seemed so intent on playing with them on the lower counter. However, I did not factor in his wileyness, and clearly that is my downfall. Because he found the potatoes, and proceeded to make a ruckus, until they fell on the counter below.

I never thought I'd have an insane pet family, but apparently I do.

Today, after asking the universe: "What's next?" I turned around and saw this:

A rainbow.

I'm not making this up, I did literally ask for a sign and got one, so it's not entirely crazy that I chased the rainbow to get a perfect shot of it. It's a little crazy, but I'm not being fit for a straight jacket yet.

I admit, I was looking for a leprechaun, but I'll take the universe's comfort instead.

April 6th - 9th, 2012

I missed a day, sue me.

On the 6th I took Barnacle for a walk. This was the result:

Look at those horse legs. Crazy dog.

On the 8th, some Bootstrap action.

"Oh my God, I'm gorgeous!"

I literally walked in on Bootstrap in the bathroom sink, and when I went to take a picture he began gazing at his beautiful reflection.

Finally, today, a fight.

I looked over and Barnacle and Bootstrap were fighting to the death. Not really, here's a video in case you're curious.

April 1st - 5th, 2012

On the first, I took Barnacle for a long walk. I came home and the first words I uttered were "how did you get all wet?!"

 

Of course my first reaction was to document it for 365, because that's just the kind of caring, loving, nurturing pet-mom I am. Then I dried him off as best I could, and after that I looked for anything to indicate how the hell Bootstrap ended up soaking wet. No faucets were running, no big puddles were on the floor or the counter, nothing - he left no evidence.

The only thing I can figure is he jumped in the shower, took a quick rinse, and hopped out - turning the water off after he was done.

On the second, I rolled over and saw this popping out from under the bed.

He's a psycho cat, obviously.

On the third Self Help finally had caulk.

Now, we can start repairing the damage Barnacle inflicted on our crappy government walls. Of course, Bootstrap was very interested.

Again on the third, we have a Bootstrap incident.

Usually I don't attribute much intuitive compassion to Bootstrap. More often than not he's either running around like a psycho, getting into something like a psycho, or sleeping. But, on the third I was upset about something or other - just finished crying - and he wandered over and laid down on my shoulder. He hasn't done that since he was a kitten.

Crazy cat.

On the fourth, my curling iron gasped its last sizzling breath.

It's been slowly falling apart for awhile, but on the fourth I picked it up and it literally fell apart, like blowing on a dandelion.

I bought a new one at the PX for $11, so it better last forever.

Finally, today.

It was a cold and rainy day, but I still took Barnacle out for a walk, because that's just the kind of caring, loving, nurturing pet-mom I am. It wasn't a total loss, I did get to see some pretty trees that were actually flowering despite the weather.

Silver lining.