How I Became a Cat Person

I never thought it would happen to me...

Despite an allergy to felines, I have become a cat person to some degree. Don't get me wrong - I am still very fond of dogs, love puppies, and of course, want a slew of guinea pigs some day. But over the course of a few years, I've really come to appreciate cats, too.

I think it started in earnest when I moved in to Charlie's, up in Forest Lake. In residence was Pokey, the enormous, testy tabby. Pokey and I were very slow to warm up to one another, but after Charlie went to New Zealand for two months and left Pokey's care to me, Pokey & I were best buds. He still remembers me when I visit Charlie's house - how cute is that!?

In the course of falling in love with Pokey, and seeing how much he meant to Charlie, I encouraged Charlie to get another cat. Enter Pudder. She came from a foster home, where she had been for awhile after being in the shelter. But it wasn't meant to be - Pudder did not want anything to do with Pokey, and spent the whole first month of her residence with us in hiding -- in my room.

So, when it came time for me to move to my condo in St. Louis Park, Charlie decided to give me a housewarming present -- Pudder. She's been my little baby ever since then. She has made coming home a delight, and I look forward to her snuggling and purring and various cat antics. She makes me laugh, drives me nuts, and just generally rounds out my life.

So I get it. I get what Natalie and others have long tried to explain or express to me about cats. I'm one of "those people" now, and darn proud of it. So is Pudder...

Such A Big Girl

My adorable little niece, Livia, turned 4 this weekend - sooooooo big!!! She is beautiful, articulate, and just plain amazing (not that I'm biased or anything). We had a great time together over the weekend!

And boy, can she work the camera...check out the modeling action here!

We had a lot of fun celebrating; she got a BumbleBee Transformer of her very own from her Daddy. Here she is playing with BumbleBee and StarShooter - chip off the ol' block, I'd say!

Her birthday also fell on Father's Day this year, so she spent some time with Daddy and all her Grandpa's. Good times, playing on the jungle gym and fishing, both with Daddy:

Can it get any more frickin' cute? I think not.

So Proud of My Sis!

Amy graduated from Two Harbors High School on May 30, 2009. She looked great up there getting her "diploma" (it's just an empty case - they mail the real thing later) and turning her tassel - I was extremely proud.

Let it be said, for the record, that I managed not to:
a) cry like a baby
b) shout like a banshee
c) reminisce like an old lady

I did, of course, insist on many, many pictures, some of which I will subject you to here:

Amy, peeking over her shoulder while the processional wraps up.

George, the proud papa (he totally cried, by the way...but not me!).

Amy & Katie, after the ceremony concluded. No family resemblance there. Nope.

The siblings - Diane, Nathan, & Brian (back row); Amy, Katie & Leah (front row).

And our niece, Livia, who is (obviously) too cool for school.

The Cutest Thing

So coming back from my afternoon Caribou run, I was waiting for the light to change at Ye Olde Busy Intersection. To my dismay I see mama duck & 5 ducklings...dead center in traffic! (The pic below isn't from today, but just to illustrate the cuteness!)

Just as I see them, another driver does, too...a wizened little old man in a beat-up Ford. He stops next to them, blocking traffic in every direction. Out of the car he climbs, goes around to the side of his car where the ducks are, and gently shoos them off the road towards the pond on the other side (all the while holding his hand out to traffic, as if he were a traffic cop!).

People were clapping in their cars!! It was great!! No one ran over the ducks or the little old guy, and only one idiot honked in (I assume) irritation. Not too shabby!

Why We Love Joe

We love Joe Mauer for many reasons - but it's plays like this that remind us why he's so awesome. It's not just his batting prowess, his awesome sideburns, or that bodacious butt.

Check this out! http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/45266457.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUnciaec8O7EyUsl

Maaaaaaaa

My mom hates it when us kids refer to her as "Ma". So of course, what do we all do? Yep, we call her exactly that. In fact, we drag it out, so it sounds a bit like sheep calling out to one another: "Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

This gets put away only a few days each year, namely Mother's Day and mom's birthday. I got to have brunch with mom & Bob on Mother's Day, as they were making a rare appearance in the Cities. Bob snapped this adorable mother-daughter pic of us outside of Granite City.

If I were blonde, or she brunette, there'd by a pretty good resemblance, dontchathink?

I'm With the Band

I love dating a musician. Not only does he play awesome tunes for me, but when he has gigs, I can go and hang with the band! Here's some of the crew before their gig at Niesen's last week:

Chris Mohr (C-Mohr), Diane, Charlie Mac, & Jarad