December « 2011 « Changing the Universe

Archive for December, 2011

2011 in Review

Dec 29th, 11 / 0 Comments

WHEW!! What a busy last week this has been! Christmas can in with a whirl, spun me around a few times, and left behind boxes and toys and clothes and more gifts than we could ever want! We truly have been blessed this Christmas and I had a wonderful time spending time with family. I’ve had this last week off of work, and Aric and I have been hanging out and playing with all his new toys! It has been so refreshing to have this time to myself and spend it with the kiddo

Each year I fill out this meme and as I do it, I go over my responses from previous years (Here are the answers from 2008, 2009, and 2010). I have to say, looking back, 2010 was a tough year for me! PPD came and hit me hard, but I came out swinging and determined to make 2011 my bitch. And I think I did!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before? Had my wisdom teeth removed (although technically my appointment is tomorrow, but still!), dealt with unemployment, finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up, and started grad school.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Apparently I made a resolution to spend more “quality time” with Tim. While I won’t tell you if I kept that resolution, I WILL tell you that my other new year’s goal, becoming a hot momma, was a WILD success!

3. How did you spend New Year’s Eve 2011? We have no plans. Mostly because I’m certain I’ll be on painkillers and in bed by 8pm.

4. Did anyone close to you die? My grandfather passed away in April.

5. What countries did you visit? :( No countries visited.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? More time in a day!

7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? The day Tim called me at work and told me he’d been laid off. I was in a 1:1 meeting with one of my staff then and I had to cut our meeting short because I was about to lose myself in tears. Those first moments of not knowing what’s going to happen and how you’re going to survive are not easy.

8. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year? Starting grad school, certainly. Oh, and getting a 4.0 in my first semester

9. What was your biggest failure? I honestly don’t know how to answer this question. I really feel that despite the lows of 2011, it wasn’t all that bad. In fact, I’d venture to say it’s been my best year in a very long time. I cannot think of one big failure of the year.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Well, Aric went to the emergency room with nursemaid’s elbow, so that was fun. Oh, and Tim had pneumonia the week he was laid off. But nothing major, thank goodness!

11. What was the best thing you bought? Our mini-van. SHUT UP. It’s awesome. And it will be pulling a camper as soon as the weather warms up so we’ll be creating family memories. MEMORIES, PEOPLE! ALL FROM A MINI-VAN! Although I must say that with all the hidden cubbies and places to hide things, there’s that many MORE places to accumulate trash.

12. Where did most of your money go? It was rudely taken away by Tim’s former employers. Well, not so much taken away as much as no longer given.

13. What song will always remind you of 2011? I honestly have no idea.

14. What do you wish you’d done more of? Spent more time with Tim. And not necessarily like “that.”

15. What do you wish you’d done less of? Feeling gross about my body. I wish I could just love me for who I am.

16. What was your favorite TV program? Modern Family, Dexter, How I Met Your Mother, Psych, and Secret Life of the American Teenager (shut up.)

17. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Hate is such a strong word. I don’t like saying that I hate ANYONE.

18. What was the best book you read? I forgot that I even READ books this year! I got so caught up with school that my pleasure reading fell WAY off. But I loved 127 Hours. I honestly cannot remember any other books like I read and loved. I do remember that I hated Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

19. What was your greatest musical discovery? It’s more of a radio station discovery. I’ve always liked The Current, one of our public radio stations that plays a lot of local and independent artists. I’ve started listening to it almost exclusively and I’m completely in love.

20. What was your favorite film of this year? THE MUPPETS!!! This was an AMAZING movie! I laughed so hard I cried! Oh, and I for real cried during it, too.

21. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 27 and spent the day hanging out at home with my bebeh and hubby. It was low-key and I loved it!

22. What kept you sane? As always, Tim and my little love bug, Aric.

23. Who did you miss? My old friends. Friends from school and what not. Facebook just isn’t enough and I want to see them and hug their faces.

24. Who was the best new person you met? I would have to say the employees we’ve gained at work this past year. I don’t want to say too much about them, but they are an amazing group of people and I’m so proud to work with them!

25. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011. There can be time for a little bit of everything, as long as you are ok with it being only a little bit.

Happy new year to you all! I hope 2012 gives you more happiness than you could ever imagine … at least until December 20th, anyway

year in review

Merry Christmas!!

Dec 23rd, 11 / 1 Comment

Click to see full size

From our family to yours, we wish you the merriest Christmas!

We’ll be taking a bit of a break from the blog for the next week or so, but I’ll be back Monday with a Hot Momma 2011 summary and with a summary of our adventures in 2011.

So for now, we’ll leave you with our Christmas letter that went out to all our family and friends

Greetings, human food bringers!

My people decided to let me write this year’s letter since they seem to have lost their minds creativity, so I grew temporary opposable thumbs to try and entertain you people. Like I have nothing better to do. Like sleep. And eat crepe paper. And play with twisty ties.

My days are usually quite peaceful. The people leave the house for hours at a time and that mangy dog has to be locked in her kennel the whole time. This gives me the chance to rule over my domain, be queen of the palace, and nibble a couple Christmas lights (when they’re in season, of course). Well, last spring, all of a sudden, the biggest one, the one with the red hair … there are some who call him Tim? … he just STOPPED going to work! He kept me locked in the basement and let that dang dog run amuck! And the small human was around all the time, too. He said something about being “laid off” which actually doesn’t sound too bad to me. Luckily for me, this was only for three months when some place called [redacted] hired him to edit their reports about cleaning up army bases or something, then I had my kingdom back.

The lady human, Nicci, or something, took over my basement bedroom and turned it into her “classroom.” She spends hours in my room on the computer doing something called grad school through Mankato State learning something about Special Education. She says she’ll be done in three years and will have her teaching license after that. I don’t know if I can share my room with her for three years. Maybe if she would sweeten the deal with tuna or something I’ll think about it. At least she still goes to work every day at a place called [redacted]. She’s still helping humans with disabilities live on their own, which is cool, I guess. I wouldn’t want to live alone, though. No one to bring me treats!

Then there’s the small human. They call him Aric. I call him terror wrapped in cute. But I don’t buy his cuteness. No sir. I see right through it. I see the look in his eyes as he chases me and calls me “meow.” It’s insulting. I’m really getting to old for this. I keep myself hidden in the basement when he’s awake. The worst part about him is that he’s talking more and he doesn’t even know the meaning of “walk.” He’s all over the place. The lady human says he’s a wonderful kid and is so friendly and well-behaved. But I know the truth. Oh, I know the truth. Don’t worry though; I assert my dominance over him while he’s away from the house. It’s HIS bed I nap on during the day!

Good thing the biggest humans say they have no plans for introducing another small human to the pack in the near future. I do NOT think I could handle that right now. And DON’T get me started on the time they had another cat here. SHEESH! Good thing that was only for a couple months!

So that’s what’s been going on around here. A whole lot of nothing. Just the way I like it! Oh, if you want to keep up with the humans in real time, they write stuff on the internet a lot at http://changingtheuniverseblog.com. Check it out if you want, but you won’t find much about me. I guess they think I’m not that interesting to write about.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I see a sunbeam that must be conquered.

–Misti the Cat (and the humans: Tim, Nicci, and Aric) (and I guess the dog, Roxie, too)

PS – If you’ve got any catnip, send it my way! I could kick the ‘nip habit whenever I want, I just don’t want to!

christmas

Baby It’s Cold Outside: A Cautionary Tale?

Dec 20th, 11 / 5 Comments

My number two favorite Christmas song (after Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas is You, obviously) is Baby It’s Cold Outside, specifically the version from Elf (the greatest Christmas movie ever made). But the other day I was singing along, and I realized something.

There’s something sinister about the lyrics.

Let’s walk through them, shall we?

I really can’t stay -
(Baby it’s cold outside)
I’ve got to go away
(Baby it’s cold outside)
This evening has been
(Been hoping that you’d drop in)
So very nice
(I’ll hold your hands, they’re just like ice)
My mother will start to worry
(Beautiful, what’s your hurry)
My father will be pacing the floor
(Listen to the fireplace roar)
So really I’d better scurry
(Beautiful, please don’t hurry)
Well maybe just a half a drink more
(Put some music on while I pour)

My take:
Girl – Oh look at the time, I have to go!
Guy – I’M PRESSURING YOU TO STAY!!
Girl- But my parents think you are a creep, and let’s face it, you’re way older than me.
Guy – I’ll give you booze!
Girl – Fine.

The neighbors might think
(Baby, it’s bad out there)
Say, what’s in this drink
(No cabs to be had out there)
I wish I knew how
(Your eyes are like starlight)
To break the spell
(I’ll take your hat, your hair looks swell)
I ought to say no, no, no, sir
(Mind if I move closer)
At least I’m gonna say that I tried
(What’s the sense in hurting my pride?)
I really can’t stay
(Baby don’t hold out)
Ahh, but it’s cold outside

Girl – Seriously, even the neighbors know you’re a creep. Also, did you just roofie me?
Guy – HAHA!! Good luck finding a cab in the blizzard! Now you’re stuck with me!
Girl – Um, no.
Guy – You say no, I hear YES!!

C’mon baby

I simply must go
(Baby, it’s cold outside)
The answer is no
(Ooh darling, it’s cold outside)
This welcome has been
(I’m lucky that you dropped in)
So nice and warm
(Look out the window at that storm)
My sister will be suspicious
(Man, your lips look delicious)
My brother will be there at the door
(Waves upon a tropical shore)
My maiden aunt’s mind is vicious
(Gosh your lips are delicious)
Well maybe just a cigarette more
(Never such a blizzard before)

Girl – Seriously. I have to leave. Do you even know what “no” means?
Guy – Baby, your body is so fine!
Girl – My entire family knows what a skeeze you are.
Guy – Awe, baby! C’mon!

I’ve got to go home
(Oh, baby, you’ll freeze out there)
Say, lend me your coat
(It’s up to your knees out there)
You’ve really been grand
(I thrill when you touch my hand)
But don’t you see
(How can you do this thing to me?)
There’s bound to be talk tomorrow
(Think of my life long sorrow)
At least there will be plenty implied
(If you caught pneumonia and died)
I really can’t stay
(Get over that hold out)

Girl – Give me my damn coat, jerk. No means NO!
Guy – But when you touch me I get happy! You know ….
Girl – I do NOT need people thinking I’ve been with someone like you.
Guy – If you leave, you’ll die.

Ahh, but it’s cold outside

———

Ahhh! Happy Christmas music!!

PS – Stay cool, folks. This is just for fun I still love this song no matter what!