Puddle Take Two!

Internet there appears to be more to the puddle story than a drowned toy mouse hung up to dry.

"This morning when I came into the kitchen I found a large puddle next to the water bowl," says the Huz.

And by the next sentence, I can tell the Huz hasn't read yesterday's blog.

"As I stood there wondering where the water came from, Athena walked up to the water and says, 'Here let me show you what happened.'"

"Then she lifted the water bowl and dropped it back to the floor," says the Huz.

"Bong!" says the bowl, as water sloshes onto the floor.

"And that's how the water got on the floor," explains Athena Kitty, telepathically. "This time anyways."

Puddle

The last few days I've noticed a lot of water on the floor near the water bowl.

"Where's that water coming from?" I wondered.

Then the other day, as I walk into the kitchen I see the cat fling the toy mouse in the water bowl!

Which still doesn't explain the puddle on the floor.  The next part, however, does.

As the poor toy mouse lie drowning into the water bowl, the cat reached in the bowl, grabbed the mouse with her teeth, and flung the mouse onto the floor creating a puddle.

Another mystery solved!

Miss Representation

Miss Representation is screening on Saturday February 4th at Carmel High School at 7 pm. For information click here.

Siri on Big Bang Theory

Me, the Huz and my Mom and me are all fans of the comedy television show The Big Bang Theory.

This is a clip from Thursday's episode. It's funny!

Now of course we can't stop asking Siri questions.

"Beam me up, Siri," commands my Mom.

"Okay, stand still," answers Siri.

"Siri, you're driving me crazy," says the Huz.

"I respect you," answers Siri.

Internet, I think love Siri.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo 2011

Internet, I am estatic to report the American movie version of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo," based on the book of the same title by Stieg Larsson is AWESOME!

In 2009, the Swedish film version was released. I saw it. The film was too long and too horrible.

So I wasn't planning on seeing the American version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Afterall, I read the book. And the book was great! Why ruin it with another bad, long movie?

But then one of my BFF's says, "'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,' is the best movie out right now."

"Really?" I wondered. "Okay, I'm in, let's go!"

"No way!" protests the Huz. "I'm not going to see a movie with torture in it."

Though he didn't seem bothered by the torture scene in the latest Sherlock Holmes movie.

"Ahem, you know this is a torture scene, right?" I annoyingly point out.

"Yeah," the Huz concedes.

I figured then I'd have a credit to get the Huz to go see The Girl With A Dragon Tattoo. But no such luck.

Fortunately, my BFF's are into torture.

"This is horrible," says the BFF, as all three of us cover our eyes during the movie.

For folks bothered by torture wait for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo to come to Redbox, otherwise y'all may need to self medicate after viewing it.

Sound of swallowing pill.

For those going out tonight, the American movie version is less graphic than the Swedish movie, I think. Besides it's way more exciting. I stayed awake through the entire two hours and 40 minutes of the latest The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo movie. Which is more than I can say for Sherlock Holmes, despite the loveliness of Robert Downey Jr.

"Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz."

The casting is excellent. Daniel Craig is perfection as Mikael Blomkvist. Craig is sexy, smart, charismatic and man enough to be saved by a woman. Guys, know, that in itself, takes balls.

Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander is where the American film really gets it right. Mara, is exactly who I saw in my head when I read the book. Need I say more. Well, yes.


Mara as Salander is weird, smart, fierce yet still retains all the sexual oomph to titillate audiences, as well as Mikael Blomkvist.

Snicker.

Even more important than either stars' individual appeal, is the their ability to make mad passionate love onscreen literally and figuratively. That they do! More than once.

"You need to stop talking," says Lisbeth Salander to Mikael during one love scene.

Internet, are you ready for even more exciting news?

The last two books in the Millennium Series, The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest, are being adapted for American movies. The Swedish already made the last two books into films, which I'm not going to bother watching......

Filmfest. More like Snoozefest.

Which reminds me I never finished the third book, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest. I need to do that now. By the way, my favorite book was the second book, The Girl Who Played With Fire, in the series.

I am so looking forward to the next movie where audiences will learn even more about Lisbeth Salander, who manages to kill villains without actually having to, and her amazing super powers..........

The 100th Day

100 Year Old Gio

Today, is the 100th day of school. That means we're more than half way to summer!

Yahooooooooo!

Weather Forecast

Every morning the first thing I do is check the weather.

"High today of 68."

Wooohooo! Pretty good for January in Northern  California.

I Covet Thy Lap

Im surprised the Huz ever gets anything done with the way these cats boss him around.

The Book Thief

The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak, was my book club of two's very first book, that I picked, nearly a year ago. I just finished it.

Good thing my book club is patient with me. Of course, it is just me and the Huz who are in it and we all know the man has a lot of patience.....

I started the Book Thief Friday, and finished up the last few pages this morning after getting everyone off to school and work.

It was so good. I'm not sure why I didn't finish it sooner. Perhaps because I'm incapable of reading a real book?

Buy Kindle Version of The Book Thief here:

The second time I began and finally finished The Book Thief I read it on my phone's kindle app. Obviously, I prefer electronic books over real books mainly because they're a lot easier to read in the dark.

Or maybe I was unable to finish The Book Thief, which is narrated by Death himself because it's à sad and tragic book.

Buy the hard copy of The Book Thief here:

The Book Thief is about the Holocaust. It's about the German Jews who were persecuted and the Germans who didn't go along with the hatred Hitler infused in Germany through brutality and fear.

Yes, it's a sad story but to quote Death himself, and the book:

I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant. None of those things, however, came out of my mouth. All I was able to do was turn to Liesel Meminger and tell her the only truth I truly know.

I said it to the book thief and I say it now to you.

I am haunted by humans.

If you love a GREAT story, and don't mind reading with a box of tissues, then I highly recommend reading The Book Thief.

Now what should The Book Club of Two read next?

Skater Guy

Yesterday, Gio went to a roller skating party.

"Can we go buy some roller skates?" pleads Gio after the party.

"We can go look at skates," I say.

Of course, looking at roller skates turned into buying roller skates. Gio came home and immediately put on his new roller skates.

He's been obsessively skating around the house ever since.

Unfortunately, skating around the house isn't enough to satisfy his skating addiction. So, today, he somehow managed a skating miracle coaxing all of us out of our PJ's and to the skating rink.

"The rank opens in 30 minutes, how come nobody's getting ready?" wonders Gio.

"It's a skating RINK," I say.

But I guess he didn't hear me because 28 minutes later he says, "The rank opens in two minutes!"

Poor kid gets his ESL (English as a 2nd language) from the Huz.

Cat People

With all the kitty pictures I post, it pretty much makes me one of those weird cat people.

Yay!

Apparently, I am raising weird cat people, as well.

Shit Surfers Say

The twitter account/book/tv show, "Shit My Dad Says," has inspired a viral series of "Shit ___________ Say," videos. Someone recently sent me, "Shit New Age Girls Say." It's really funny, and it already has almost 1 million hits even though it was only posted 6 days ago.

Then last night on facebook someone posted a video, "Shit New Yorkers Say."

Internet, it's safe to say shit is going viral.


Dude just the other day the BFF said, "We should make a, 'Shit Surfers Say,' video."

"Yeah, that would be sick," I say.

Looks like someone beat us. This video was posted yesterday. These surfers nailed it. But there are a few things we could probably add to spice it up.

They totally forgot:

I forgot my towel can I borrow yours?

I forgot my leash can I borrow yours?

You're girlfriend is hot, can I borrow her?

And so on........

Coolest Fort Ever

Vinny peaking out from the coolest fort ever.

After school today.

"Mom, let's go to the fort," says Gio.

"Not today, I'm starving and I don't have any food," I say. "I need to go home and eat."

"But you said next time you picked us up from school you would take us to the fort," whines Gio. "That's not fair! Vinny has been to the fort and I haven't."

"Maybe we can go tomorrow," I offer. "I'll remember to pack a snack."

"I might have a snack for you," says Gio.

And by snack he means food without soy, dairy or gluten.

"I do!" says Gio excited.

"Really?!" I say. "What do you have?"

"Almonds," says Gio.

"Cool, we can go to the fort then," I say.

I was happy to take them to the fort because that meant I could go for a walk, too.


As I'm enjoying my walk I hear, "Mom come into the fort."

"I can't fit through there," I say.

Narrow opening to the coolest fort ever.


We'll hold the bushes open for you," offer Vinny and Gio.

"Oh alright," I say. "But don't let them go as I'm walking in."

Internet, I've been around boys long enough to know to set the ground rules ahead of time. There are less shenanigans that way.

"We won't," swear Gio and Vinny.

Once inside I could see why this truly is the coolest fort ever.

Vinny+climbing = happy.

Sibling Rivalry is impossible while climbing.

"Where are all the chairs?" wonders Gio.

End Piracy, Not Liberty

Sign google's petition to Congress to express your concern over Internet censorship in the proposed bills Protect IP Act (PIPA) and Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) which aim to block illegal uploading of copyrighted materials such as movies and songs. Unfortunately, the bills could work against legal sites such as wikipedia, and blogs that link to other websites.

In other words our freedom to share information and distribute ideas freely could be blocked by the government.

Click this link to sign the petition telling Congress you oppose these bills.

In protest of PIPA and SOPA wikipedia is on a 24 hour blackout. Take action and sign the petition now.

Read more about PIPA and SOPA in the these articles.
Click here to read today's article on the issue in the New York Times.

Forbes interview with Rep Jared Polis and why he's opposed to SOPA

The Wall Street Journal (in support of SOPA and PIPA)

Brrrrr

Ice Frosted Picnic Table

Just last week I was bragging about how warm it's been. Well, that's over, Internet. This morning there was frost on the beach!

Yikes.

I would have surfed, even though it was freezering on the beach, but the waves were pretty bad for how cold it was. So I drug the dog for a walk instead.

Happy Martin Luther King Day

Prison

Set me free why don't you baby?

Dinner Time

And I'm not cooking or cleaning up the mess. Yes!

Friday Night

It's Friday! Yippeee!

Vinny, Athena Kitty and I are thoroughly entertained......

Zip Line

Today, we made a quick stop at a friend's house after school.

"I'm just going to drop something off," turned in to trampoline jumping and zip lining.

Wait? Zip line? Who on Earth has a zip line at their house? Fun people, that's who. Yes, fun people with giant yellow auras.

"So, do they need helmets to ride the zip line?" I ask.

"Oh no they're fine," laughs my friend........

I'm pretty sure all the zip line pictures I've seen have people wearing helmets.....

Vinny survived the zip line, but I'm not sure the bush is going to make it.........

Juneuary

Californians frequently refer to the month of June as Juneuary. I have no idea why?

June is normally foggy, grey, and the temperature feels like a perpetual 49 degrees.

Whereas January in California, at least January 2012 has been sunny and warm. Sure, some of the mornings have been freezing, but by 9a.m., it's warm enough to go surfing.

At the beach the other day, maybe Sunday, someone said, "It's 73! Can you believe it?"

Then the same day the BFF tells me, "It was warm enough to lay out today."

I hope June 2012 is more like January, than June, minus the cold mornings and ocean freezer water. Then maybe we can just call it, er, June.

Mouse

Super Hero

Today's Super Hero cape is by babyblanket.com.

Shark Bite

The Huz and I went on a surfing/lunch date today thanks to my Mom.

Thanks Mom!!!!!

The waves were really good.

Drving down Pacific Coast Highway, the Huz says, "I could go for a pastrami sandwich."

"Yeah, let's go to lunch!" I say.

Being near the beach the market is decorated in surfing decor. As we're standing in line I notice a surfboard hanging from the rafters. A surfboard with a faux large bite taken out of it, presumably by a fake large shark.

Great..........white.

"Look at that," I say pointing to the bitten surfboard.

"Non-surfers think that's funny," says the Huz.

Haha.

Kitty on Top

"Mom, the cats are battling," says Gio.

"They're fine," I say. "Leave them alone."

"Why do the cats get to battle, but Vinny and I can't fight?" questions Gio.

"Because they're cats," I say.

Sick Day

"Bark, bark, bark," coughs Gio, upon rising for school.

"Woah!" I say. "That cough sounds bad."

"Yeah," agrees the Huz.

"You better stay home from school today," I say.

"Wah!" cries Gio. "But I love school."

"You don't want to get all your friends sick," I reason.

But the crying song plays on and on, the wailing dooesn't stop til the break of dawn.

"But you can lay on the couch and watch TV all day," I entice.

"Okay," says Gio.

"Now where is the TiVo remote?" I say, starting to fret.....

Ten minutes later.

"Mom, FIND the remote, " whines Gio.

"I'm looking," I say.

But not finding the remote. :(

It's going to be a long sick day without TiVo.

"Hey, I have an idea!" I say. "We can watch Netflix on the computer."

"Wah!" cries Gio.

But as soon as Pink Panther episodes start streaming he's smiling and laughing.

And Luna Kitty likes it too!

Surf Art

Art by Terri Woodward

The boys' art teacher drew this sweet miniature drawing of a surfer in a Thank You card. That's so thoughtful!

In life it's the little things people do that make life magical.

Please Don't Feed The Wildlife

Nadia Dog has reached the age where she is unable to process human food.  How do I know this? From the many piles of vomit I have shop vacked the last two days.

So please don't feed the wildlife. Thank you very much.

It's Panoramic Dude

So my new phone has a panoramic feature built into the camera. Hmmmmmm? I was hoping for a better result.

It does look better if you click on the picture. But I'm definitely, going to shoot for a better result next time around, such as panning for a shorter time.

New Year Resolution 2012

I'm certain I've made this resolution before, only to quickly forget it. But this year, I'm cereal. Serious. About my resolution. I hope.

My 2012 New Year Resolution is to organize SOMETHING, ANYTHING, for at least fifteen minutes a day.

Fifteen minutes of organizing a day may seem brief to Martha Stewart, but that's one hour and forty-five minutes of organizing a week. Which seems like a lot. To me.

Ready. Set. Organize!

Happy New Year!

Internet, last night the entire family awake at midnight to cheer in the New Year. Our new neighbors kept us awake. Not with noise, but with fun, games and margaritas.

"Please, baby Jesus, let everyone sleep in tomorrow," I prayed as I fell asleep last night.

Internet, Baby Jesus was listening. The Huz and I woke up at 8. Vinny rolled out of bed around 10:15. And Gio got vertical just before 11.

We eventually made it to the beach, just after our neighbors, same neighbors, around 2 p.m. Just in time for burgers by Mojo Burger, THANKS, and a few choice waves.

Mojo Burger made burgers for everyone at the beach.
Internet, how sweet is that? Super sweet.

The waves were fun enough, the kids played in the water.

2012 is off to an epic start......and for that I am grateful. A to the Mend.