Fun Monday - What Is It Worth?

Southern Doll has created a Fun Monday to make us all appreciate the beauty of life. Those moments that stick out, that make us smile, that we will never forget.

The times in my life that were worth doing, or that I will remember as I age, aren’t necessarily specific moments just yet. To me, it is a way of living, without regret, not holding back.

I give everything to those I love. It has caused me pain, caused me to have been taken advantage of, caused tears. However, those things don’t matter. There will always be something bad that comes out of good. The point is to just ignore that, and focus on the good side.

How about a few specifics...

1. I want to be remembered as the girl that shared her allowance, spending all of it on playing video games with her best friends. And later, as the friend that shared her paycheck to help out with a friend's rent.

2. I want my nieces to remember receiving gifts out of the blue from their Tia Fianna, just because.

3. I want Kaytabug’s boys to know that although they haven’t met me, that I love them.

4. I want my parents to be proud of the things I have accomplished and to know how much their never-ending support helped in those accomplishments.

5. I want to be remembered as the girl that may have broken hearts, but did so compassionately and never with malice.

6. I want to be remembered as the hardest working woman in legal. And the goofiest.

7. And the hardest working woman in everything else. And the goofiest.

8. I want the friends that have slipped through, that aren’t as close anymore, to always remember me fondly.

9. I want to find those old friends and make them close again.

How about you?

Fun Monday - Bucket List

Tiggerlane is hosting Fun Monday this week, asking that we post at least 5 items on our personal Bucket List. Things we want to accomplish by the time we kick the bucket. I have crafted a few of these over the years, however, to my knowledge, none of the lists survived.

The list is sure to have evolved over the years. Today, I simply typed up the first things that came to mind, cooked dinner, watched a great halftime show, all the time thinking of other things to add to the list. Yet, it seems that the first grouping of items is what I really really really want to accomplish. The things that seem to simply roll out of me, not requiring any further thinking.

So... here are the the absolute top items on my Bucket List:

1. Marry my best friend.

2. Take an Alaskan cruise.

3. Sit on my wrap-around front porch, watching my 3.2 kids play in the yard.

4. Visit Europe, Brazil, Australia and Canada.

5. Volunteer on Thanksgiving.

6. Send my parents on their dream vacation.

7. Own another ‘67 Mustang.

I am sure if I spent more time working on this, I could come up with 100 items. However, these are my absolute top priorities. I love this topic. I can't wait to see yours!

Fun Monday - Favorite Drug

Ann, I thought I had this topic down. You wanted to hear about a web site that's changed my life. A web site that I can't live without. A web site whose inventor I'd like to see win a McArthur Genius Grant. (Not sure what that is but...a Nobel? I am down.)

I spend so much time online, I should know this one.

However, life changing? There are a ton that I can’t live without. A few are listed on my page to your right.

My first response was Crazy Aunt Purl. Hers was the first site that I really started to worship. That I visited constantly. I clicked to other commenter’s pages, finding some wonderful folks. I cried my eyes out, I spit things onto my screen from laughing so hard. I attended my first book signing in order to stalk Laurie, where I had to nearly run away from her because tears, oh how she can produce tears from me. But girl crush? Laurie is definitely on the Very Top of My List. So CAP is probably the most important web page I am obsessed with.

I found Bev from CAP. She encouraged me to start my own blog. And lookie here! I DID! So she was very important in my innernet progress. (And hey Bev, your FM post produced tears for me. I am SO happy for you!)

I have to give a huge shout out to a long list of personal finance bloggers. Dawn at Frugal for Life, Boston Gal, Single Ma, Madame X, Trent at Simple Dollar, and so many others…so those, plus PfBlogs.org, where I found these great folks. They all were instrumental in me getting out of debt, knowing about and building an emergency fund, high interest savings accounts, 401Ks, and on and on. So thank you for saving me financially!

However, the most life changing site? This whole post was brought to you, not by my incredible memory, but Bloglines. Amazingly, I found this site just a month or so ago. Before, I would check the RSS feed that I had bookmarked, having to scroll over each site that I visited regularly, which of course, since I am a crack addict, I did every 20 minutes. With Bloglines, it pulls the posts that I so desperately wait for all into one easy to use page.

Thanks, Ann. What a great topic! I cannot wait to visit everyone’s faves!! Just what I need….more sites to obsess over…

Is it possible to break the innernets from too much use? If it does break, I am sorry. Really, really sorry, folks.

Fun Monday - Meet the GrrAnimals.

Previous visitors will know that I couldn't resist this Fun Monday!! Lisa has requested that we discuss our Animals. For goodness' sake, I have a category devoted to my brood of cats.

In my photos stored on my computer, I have a folder titled, "Animals". I have had my computer about 2 years. It has 209 photos currently. I have many more in my boxes of photos and I am sure that I deleted many, many outtakes, as well. I love my pets.

I have always had pets. Growing up, we had both dogs and cats. A Doberman that dragged me around the backyard by my hair, while I squealed with delight, Ms. Kitty who gave me my very first pet that was "mine". Fridgie. Named after Refrigerator Perry. Hamsters. Rats. A few fish.

I have always had cats though, more than any other type of pet.

Out of my 3 felines, I have had Yoda the longest.
I got her from a co-worker, in 2001, as a kitten.

I called her Yoda, because the night I brought her home, my other cat that I do not have any longer, was in her face, not being too welcoming. Scared as could be, Yoda's little ears were off to the side, just like her namesake. I had no intention on calling her Yoda forever, but nothing else really worked out and she was stuck as Yoda.
I adopted Cassie a year or so later. She is a manx. (Just a stubby little tail.)
Cass was a stray that had lived in my apartment complex for years. I adopted her as she was the sweetest cat. Calm, loving, gentle as can be. I found it especially surprising that she is so trusting, after I found a pellet lodged along her back. Apparently, someone shot her with a pellet gun. The pellet can be felt just along her spine. The vet has recommended that it remain, as it seems to be causing no problem and the danger associated with removing it outweighs any benefit.

She received her name because of her,...um...reproductive tendencies. She had several litters while living as a stray in this complex. Mama Cass.

After adopting her, I had her spayed. I dropped her off at the vet that morning, and had an extremely busy day at work. Around noon, I checked my voicemail. The vet had called and asked me to return her call asap, as they had found something interesting when they shaved her down, in preparation for the surgery. They couldn't reach me...and since they had her sedated, they proceeded with the surgery. Turns out...someone had her spayed while she was still a stray! She obviously was loved around that complex! So, Poor Cass was spayed twice.
Cass spent the last few months with my non-pet loving parents, while my living arrangements were....less than optimal for 3 cats. They absolutely adored her.

They also provided her with a new nickname. Cass is extremely lazy. She is the epitome of the Lazy Cat. However, every couple of days, she flips. She sprints around the house, nearly in circles. She doesn't really run...she is more like a rabbit, hopping instead of running. She is noisy. Ridiculously loud in these Buffalo Stomps. Hence, she is now referred to as Buffalo by my parents. (Her style of running is common in Manx cats, more hopping than strides. Read the wiki page for more details.)

I am not sure she likes the nickname.

Kitten's history has been publicized on this blog as I just adopted her recently. You can read about her story here, here, and here.

Although for some darned cute pics, I truly recommend you check out the whole Shameless Promotion of Cats category.

She was a dumpster kitty, found in my apartment complex. She had an icky illness, that had completely gooed up her eyes, causing her to be nearly blinded and apparently she strayed from her littermates where she was luckily found due to her screeching meow, by my Love.


We took her in, not sure if we would keep her as we already had 2 cats. I was about to go live in a hotel for 2 months, where, due to His work schedule, I would need to take the cats with me. However, once you take something in, once you spend money on it, once you wipe its ass, once you name it (4 names and counting), it is yours.

I denied it for awhile, still do sometimes, but that cat is ours. She is staying. Although the naming process isn't going well... She is nearly full-grown now and her name remains Kitten. She has previously been known as Lydia, Sophie and Chloe.

My cats don't particularly like each other. They tolerate each other. They fight sometimes. They have never been caught curled up sleeping together. If I see them relaxed, within a close proximity, my camera is quickly retrieved.




Here are the only 2 pics I have with all 3 cats present.


Don't they appear happy....

My cats are part of my family. I love them. I buy them gifts. I coddle them. And while they are cats, who frequently walk away, turn their back to me and outright ignore my existence, they also greet me at the front door, jump on the bed as soon as my eyes open, and follow me around. I can't imagine a life without pets, and I am glad these 3 found me.

Fun Monday - Home Edition

This week, Kitten is hosting. Kitten has requested that we discuss the history of our home and the street that we live on.

I signed up anticipating to be in my new home. Having slept a couple nights there, enjoyed a leisurely weekend where I would stroll the streets, take some pics and just soak in some of the rich history and amazing architecture found in my new neighborhood. As the post below indicates, I am still living in the hotel. I am kinda sure ya'll don't really care about the history of the hotel or the freeway that runs outside it. Although if you must know, the freeway was constructed in 1935. As for the hotel, who knows. Or cares.

The new home, however, is rich in history. It is one of the oldest and most historic neighborhoods in Houston. The neighborhood was platted in 1907, whatever that means. My home was built in the early 1920's. There are a plethora of little bungalows and large Victorian style homes throughout this dense area just outside of downtown.

There are gorgeous trees and many outstanding gardens, both flower and vegetable (some large enough to be bordering on small-scale farming operations). The neighborhood has at least one resident beekeeper, and in many places it still has no proper gutters, but instead relies on open drainage ditches (with choruses of frogs most summer evenings). (Plagiarized from Wiki). One of the annual events is a Christmas home lighting extravaganza. I would estimate that 80% of the homes within a 10 block span of my home are beautifully decorated. It has been a sight to see and makes me feel so at home.

I will be surely showing off my neighborhood in the coming months, however, I probably should spend a night or two there before I start photographing neighbor's homes.

So, Fun Monday is all about photos. So here are a couple of inside shots.

Looking down to my front door:

My foyer. Where my secretary will sit and make my appointments:


My expensive, imported living room suite:


Now go look at everyone else's beautiful homes!

Fun Monday - Christmas Edition - UPDATED

My BFF, Kaytabug, is hosting Fun Monday this week. She tells us, In the spirit of the season I would like to see your favorite Christmas tree ornament. Not to be confused with the WHOLE tree. I want you to zoom in and show me one or a few(you know I can't choose just one!) of your favorite ornaments. If you don't decorate a tree, show me your menorah or dreidel, Kinara, or Yule Log. I want to see your favorite decoration for this holiday season.

I have been a Christmas fan for years, see:
Kaytabug and I are right by each other here, her in the back row, me with a wreath in the front.

I love the excitement of Christmas. I love the lights, the cold, the songs, the family get-togethers, the gifts.

For the irregular readers, (commenting on your frequency of visits, not your health status), I am currently in between homes, in between states, in between stability - mental and otherwise. I meant to take some pictures of my favorite ornaments while I was at my parent's earlier this week. I forgot. I forget alot of things these days.

The ornaments I remember from my childhood are my favorites. The cute little redheaded girl, the ceramic mouse in a sock, the Avon Mama Mouse Bell. The wheat braided ornaments I made in 5th or 6th grade. These remind me of such wonderful times.

As for me, I don't have many ornaments that mean much to me. I have this weird habit of having Major Upheaval at Christmas time. I have moved at the end of December way too many times. I have decorated a tree under my own roof just twice. I have had my own roof for 10+ Christmases. I just don't have many Christmas decorations.

The past 2 Christmases, this being the 3rd, have been the most memorable as an adult.


Since my sister spawned, Christmas is much more fun. The delight in a child's eye when they look at a tree, the shrieks of joy as they rip into the gifts, the laughter as they decorate cookies.

I am hopefully going to remember to take pictures on my swing by my parent's again on Monday. So perhaps, just perhaps, we will have an update to this post. Although, I can't guarantee anything. I'll probably forget my camera here in State Adjacent!

Go check out everyone's ornaments. I can't wait to see yours!

UPDATE: See, I had these grand plans. I made sure that my camera had freshly charged batteries. I made sure I packed it. In addition to ornament photos, I had plans on posting a ton of pictures about this fascinating metamorphosis currently going on in Far West Texas. Cotton picking season! It is fascinating, let me tell you.

But then, dammit all to hell, plans went in the crapper. Although I have officially graduated from 2 separate driving education classes and have participated annually in the Texas Defensive Driving program, I am hopeless on ice, snow, hell - rain freaks me out a bit. And you Northerners, rock for your all-weather driving abilities. In Texas, if there is an indication that it is going to be 50 degrees or less, just stay home. Don't even go to the grocery store or the gas station. They will be packed. It is like a mini-apocalypse. Texans cannot drive in cold weather. Ice? Snow? Hell no!! So I replanned my route. I went south as fast as I could. Which when the officially sanctioned speed limit is 80, is pretty fast. So no ornaments for you. Kaytabug, I suck. I am sorry. But I am safely back in a tropical wonderland, going from the low 30's to the high 70's in a 10 hour drive across Texas. No cotton picking pictures. Of cotton or ornaments.

Fun Monday - Looking Back

Robinella has gracefully hosted our Fun Monday this week, asking us:

I want you to dig through your blog files and show us your best effort. Why you consider it your best is up to you. C’mon, you know you have a favorite - show it to me one more time.

I knew right away which post I would use for this topic. The situation leading to the post was such a pain that this post just rolled right out. I was half drunk, beyond frustrated. I barely edited a word, just hitting post. I am pleased with my effort.

Dinner

I did not want to cook tonight. I had some chicken that I could have baked up real quick, but decided that I wanted to just grab something. So while my dear did some work that had to be finished tonight, I headed out to pick up dinner.

I went to KFC. They had a special going 10 piece meal, two sides, some drink thing, blah blah blah. They usually have a number of sides available. Tonight, they had mashed potatoes, green beans and baked beans. No original recipe chicken. Oh and they were also out of Dr. Pepper. I contemplated my options, and decided that I would decline their limited options. I left the drive thru line, called my dear and after agreeing on a different spot, I headed up the street to Arby’s.

There was no one in the drive thru line, so I pulled right up to the box. And was promptly greeted. I provided my order, slowly, pausing between each item. After I finished ordering the two meals, the girl asked, “Ok, a #2” “Yes” “And what side with that?” “Curly fries” I responded. “Ok, and what to drink” “Lemonade” “Is that all?” My foolishness, I responded yes, assuming she got the second meal that I had already ordered. But then she confirmed, that I had but one order. No, so I repeated the second meal, at 1/10 of the speed I had originally ordered. And she confirmed both meals and requested I pull up. I sat at the window for awhile while she took the order of the gent behind me. Between changing stations on the XM, I watched what was going on inside. There was a separate woman putting together the order, and presumably, one in the kitchen area. The one that I was able to see had long hair, that was not restrained. And while I waited, and waited, and waited, I imagined long hairs breaking off, into my curly fries. And then, after 2 songs on channel Highway 16, after I still had not been greeted at the window nor requested to provide payment for my meals, I saw the girl wipe her nose, wipe her pants and continue to stand in the window where the food is dropped. And I sat. Listening to Tim McGraw. And thought…is it worth it? I had already left one restaurant. Yet, I pulled out of a second one. I felt guilty doing so, the chicken was probably already fried up, ready to be slapped on a bun, a quick swipe of mayo and boogers and I could have got my dinner and headed home. Yet I left.

I decided that I would next try Dairy Queen. There was a bit of a line both inside and at the drive thru, so I phoned a friend while sitting in line at the drive thru. The line moved promptly enough and before you know it, I am ordering a steak finger basket and flamethrower chicken sandwich basket. I then proceed to the first window, provide my credit card as payment. And wait. And wait. And wait. Then a girl, not the one that took my card, asks what I ordered. I stall, Is this a trick question? Shouldn’t she know what I ordered. And she does! Food! Yes, indeed, I did order food! Thank you! And she asks me to pull up to the second window so they can serve the people behind me. But I protest, the other girl has my card. “Oh?” She responds, and walks off, searching for the girl that is running amuck with my Visa card. Shortly, the first girl, the holder of my card returns to the first window and requests that I pull up to the second window. I tell her that she still has my card. She responds that they will have my card and my food at the second window and will I please move out of the frigging way! Irritated, but understanding the way things work, I pull up. And wait, and wait and wait. Finally, the manager, in his regal blue uniform opens the second window and exclaims that the credit card machine isn’t working. Do I have cash? What a silly question, he asked me. Does anyone carry cash anymore? Visa/MC runs commercials on the silly nature of those souls that pay with cash. I do not have cash. Bah! Ah, but… shortly after moving here and seeing people utilizing these strange contraptions, I started carrying these pieces of paper in my wallet. You put the name of the business, the amount of the sale and sign your name, and the business takes it, just like cash! I believe that they are called “Checks”. I have not seen one nor written on one in many moons, but I hear that they are wildly popular in these areas. Yet, this gentleman, this purveyor of the Queen refused. My scrap of paper was not welcome, my bit of plastic spurned. And so I left. I left the establishment, with nothing to show for my time.

Three eateries. No satisfaction. I stubbornly decided that cold turkey sandwiches would suffice. I turned my car towards my home. Throughout the ordeal at Dairy Queen, I continued to talk to my friend. She spoke very highly of a different type of pizza joint. Where they make the pizza in front of you, you take it home and cook it in your own stove. Papa Murphy’s. My friend discussed how she loves them. You can order any type of pizza, anything you like. And the chocolate chip cookies! YUM! I warned her that she had better not pump up the place too much. She had not had Papa Murphy’s in BFE, New Mexico. She laughed and said that she would give me a ring tomorrow to see how it went. And we hung up.

Now, I have such an affinity for Papa John’s, I assumed anything “Papa” must be worthy of my time. I pulled a U-eee (How do you type that out? A you-ee, I did a U-turn) and headed towards Papa Murphy’s. Their open sign was dimmed, but it was only 8:10, so I walked in, where I was not greeted. There were two teens working behind the counter, yet I walked around a bit, looked at their line, which was much like Subway’s meal line with slots for the various toppings, which was already cleaned out. I asked if I could still get a pizza. After a bit of a "ahem", look, I was informed that they had pizzas pre-made, she thought pepperoni, maybe some other things. I asked if they had cheese already on them. A jolt ran through me. This must be what it is like to have a teenage daughter under your roof. She shot me a look as if I was the stupidest person she had run into this month and sarcastically responded, “Yes.” I quickly said, “I do not want your damn pizza” and fled. Ok, maybe I didn’t say that exactly, but I should have.

Four places. Four. This was becoming comical. I headed down the street, willing to accept nearly anything at this point. McDonald’s drive-thru was packed. Wendy’s was packed.

Utter frustration set in. The remaining choices on the short list of available restaurants were less than appetizing. I would rather have a cold turkey sandwich.

However, grocery stores! They have delis! And rotisserie chicken!! Hot rotisserie chicken!!

So, I pulled another You-EEE and headed towards Albertson’s.

Yea. You guessed it. The deli was shutting down. It was now around 8:20. Of course, the deli has fucking shut down. The chickens? Gone! For holy fucks sake.

Near tears, starving and pissed to my frigging gills, I headed to the frozen food aisle, picked up some TV dinners, nearly ran to the alcohol section, got a bottle of a fast acting elixir. Bahama Mama from Bacardi. And headed to the checkout.

As is customary in this town, I was carded. They card everyone. No worries, but….the checkout girl looks at my birthday and at me and at my ID again and says wow, you look great for your age!

And I proceeded home. With multiple TV dinners and a large bottle of medicine.

And I, as I was preparing the second TV dinner for each of us, I asked myself, why the FUCK do we have to stir the potatoes 8 times.

And this, all this, is to say that I had a really hard time getting dinner tonight. But in the end, I got drunk, so it was an okay birthday after all.

So there we have it, my best post. Now go read some other Best Of's via Robinella.

Fun Monday Graphics!

Willowtree is taking care of hosting duties this Fun Monday.

He wants to see some clothing art. That's tee shirts, baseball caps, hoodies, sports uniforms or any bit of clothing that you or your kids own that has interesting, funny or artistic graphics.


One of my friends in Houston, whom I have seen several times since I have been here, recently commented that every time she has seen me, I have always been wearing the same thing.

This cool shirt paired with a khaki skirt, brown Old Navy flip flops. Shady Grove has been previously mentioned as my favoritest restaurant in Austin. Go there if you ever...go there.


I LOVE this shirt! This is the shirt I wear on the other weekend day with the khaki skirt after wearing the Shady Grove shirt seen above.


One shirt my friend hasn't seen me wear since I have been here is:
This is one of my very oldest shirts. The mermaid is way faded. She has since been relegated to gym clothes duty. While I joined my old gym for my stay here in town. I am doing what I usually do, subsidizing the gym by paying dues and not going.

My friend has seen this shirt nearly each time our get-togethers occur in the evening hours. What better way to hit the bar than by wearing a liquor ad.

By the frequent vodka mentions, ya'll may know that Jack is not my beverage of choice. Definitely not since Kaytabug and I reached high school. Oh wait, TMI. Don't tell our moms. But this shirt was a gift from my beloved and I love it! Black is the slimming agent of choice. Not the gym.

This is such a cute tee....if you know that I am a redhead. And I am so not Irish. One of those things Alanis Morrissette considers "Ironic". And I like to flaunt "Irony". Kinda like how I really want one of those shirts that say, "Blondes do it Better", or "Brunettes Rock" or something very similarly "Ironic".
That's all folks. I hope this post makes any sense at all. I am so so exhausted. Tomorrow or Tuesday or 3 weeks from Friday, we will be discussing the beach, with a 2 year old and an infant. What is exciting though? It is nearly November and in some places, not an hour flight away, summer continues with bikinis and beer bongs. But not on 2 year olds or infants or the heroine of this blog. But somewhere, dammit!

Fun Monday 37: Meet Cute

Monday…again…already! This week (and weekend) flew by! Thank goodness I can be a cheater for this Monday! Janet has asked us to:

Describe your meeting with your spouse/significant other. I especially want to hear "meet cute" stories.

And wouldn’t ya know it, I showered my love for my man all over the innernet awhile back. I am gonna copy and paste that story, shorten it and perhaps edit here and there. The original can be found here in case you are dying for more.

Throughout the week leading up to this amazing meeting, my life was crazy. I had just been promoted into a very trying position, with no one to show me the way, seeing that the previous employee was wanted in 4 states. I had just left this guy I had dated for 6 years and was working on an exit strategy from a shared apartment and co-ownership of 3 cats. One of my best girl friends had asked me to join her in Austin for the weekend for a little celebration of her becoming a licensed masseuse. I almost backed out/never really committed, but at the last moment, I went. I drove to Austin after work that Friday, got all hussied up and we hit downtown for a girls’ night out.

We walked in to a bar, got a drink, wandered around, spied some seats. And sat. And sipped our vodka, eyeing the crowd. When she went to get another round, this guy sitting next to us said hello, and asked my name. His was Craig. We started chatting. My friend came back, and we all continued to chat.

We decided to change bars and I asked Craig to join us. He followed and we proceeded to get liquored up at a few more locations. When the bars closed down, I asked for Craig’s number and find out I completely misunderstood him that his name was NOT Craig. We programmed our proper names and spellings into our respective cell phones. And we kissed.

Fun Monday: My Hood

Pamela has been so kind to host our Fun Monday this week, requesting:

I want to see what you see on any given morning this week; from somewhere very near where you live. Front porch, back porch, down the street, around the corner. Just makes sure it's your neighborhood. Post a photo that will send me to the travel agent to book a weekend at your local Bed & Breakfast. Post your October View on Monday, October 8 . Write a little or write a lot.

As I have mentioned, I am living in a hotel in Houston currently. I have always been a suburb girl. Always on the outskirts, but now, I am smack dab in the middle of Houston. A freeway running right outside, restaurants, bars, shops all within a short walk. Urban living. Concrete jungle. I love it!

It has been a rainy weekend, a busy weekend. Most All of the photos are from the window of my car, while jetting down the freeway.

This is Lakewood Church, the former basketball stadium.


Hazy rainy downtown buildings.


Street Sign.

Maybe I could take a piano back home? Strap it to the roof of my Corolla?
Right off the freeway:

Could someone translate?

This sculpture is at the Menil Art Museum. It is a bit hard to see in these tiny little photos, but each end says "Love".

How about the evening view that was so beautiful I figured out just enough Photoshop to make it a header?

Show Me Some Soul, er Sole

I promised when signing up for this Fun Monday (Thanks to Robin for hosting) that I would show you all the shoes I have. And I will show you all the shoes that are in the hotel with me. In the 7-1-3. (Cuz I am hip like that.) These are not all the shoes I have. There are many, many times this many back in the 5-0-5. But these were deemed worthy enough to travel across 2 states with all my other worthy belongings, 3 cats and sunflower seeds.

I started with the Timbs on my toes. I brought 2 pairs of flip flops, thongs, sandals, etc., with me. Both are from Old Navy. They are the smartest company in the world for selling the cheapest flip flops around. I am pretty sure these are both from their clearance racks at 99 cents a pair.



Further into the hotel room, I came across my favoritest work shoes. Simple black slides. Ya’ll, if you got an issue with thrifting, you may want to click that back button on your toolbar. Cuz these shoes came from a thrift store. Yup. I am wearing some unknown chick’s shoes. Every day. And I love them!



Then I came across my other flip flops. And those things in the last 2 pics are pop-up cubes for cat entertainment. If you find yourself living in a small hotel room with angry cats, may I recommend you pick up some of these. It eases the pain just a bit. That, and Vodka.



At this point, I ran into the wall, not literally... this time….I actually put up some shoes. Had a moment of cleanliness up in here.



I have had these for years. I wear them to work on Fridays and everywhere else every other day that black footwear is appropriate.



These. These are generic pumps from Payless. I wear these only when I have to look a tad taller and more professional. Otherwise, back to the flats.



And these…these are my sexy dress shoes. I have worn these once since I have been here. And they really really hurt my feets. So no sexy for the remaining time here.



And oops, nearly stumbled over these shoes.


Oh Lawsy! There are men’s shoes in my room. Oh Lord, don’t tell my mama. I have a gentleman caller. Oh Lordy! Please have mercy on me.

And don’t tell my mama!

Fun Monday: Art

Sayre has asked us:

Brush off your interview skills. Talk to everyone who lives in your house. I want to know what their, and your, favorite piece of art is in your home. Photographs do not count. If there was a fire in your home, everyone would grab photographs, but what is the non-photographic piece of art you would grab on your way out - and why? (Edit: These don't have to be paintings - these can be wall hangings, statues, lumps of clay by your child, anything that is artistic expression of some kind EXCEPT photographs.)

I am currently living in a hotel. Away from my worldly possessions that I would attempt to save in a fire. Away from the photos I would grab first. Away from my love and my 3rd cat that I would ensure the safety of.

So...if some jackass staying in the room next door fell asleep with a lit cigarette, what would I and my fellow occupants grab?

Well, I interviewed the senior Cat first. Yoda, after she grabbed her bag of weed,



she would grab her favorite fetch toy. My cheesy plastic bracelets that she has absconded.



Kitten, Ms. Chloe, was extremely undecided.


She first picked her mice. Currently residing next to the food bowl. However, their usual spot is on my pillow.


Then, she excitedly changed her mind. And was so riled up that I couldn't get a clear photo. Her choice?

My kitchen sponge. The sponge that I tried to place back in its rightful spot the first time I found it on the floor. She quickly retrieved it and has not left it alone since.



As for me? I have 2 choices....


While the art isn't too shabby. Pointillism is kinda cool. But I am kinda vain and would probably pick the mirror.

Can I just choose my fave possession beyond the cats?



I think Yoda is jealous of Dell.