The Cats

Feline relations continue in an uneasy truce. Luna continues to ignore Schroeder unless she decides his tail is a fun toy. And Schroeder still stares at her constantly, pupils dilated.

The Stare

Luna is a sweetie who loves to snuggle. She hopped up on the couch and sat there next to me last night, being cute.

Pet me, human. I'm cute.

Wm is a big fan of Luna and feeling is mutual. She doesn't seem as bothered by his constant bouncing as Schroeder has always been. Now we begin the slow task of moving her food/litter box to their final destination (the basement). Here's hoping it goes OK. The basement is hotly contested territory, as Schroeder considers it his "zone." I'm thinking what we need to do is get a dog to really get these cats whipped into shape...

Detente

We have released Luna into the house. Schroeder has spent the ENTIRE time following her around, sniffing madly at her butt, and staring at her INTENSELY. Luna, for her part, acts as if Schroeder does not exist. This sums up their relationship nicely:

Schroeder: I'm watching you!!! Luna: Meh.

Luna has discovered a love of batting at and playing with Schroeder's tail. Which, of course, freaks Schroeder the freak out. I don't think his pupils have un-dilated since Luna arrived. He is on High Alert.

Luna slept adorably with Wm on Saturday night. He is a big fan. My friend Melanie came over to visit with Luna and declared her awesome. Meanwhile, Steve took Wm to see Lego Batman - which was, apparently, hilarious. So I am very jealous that I missed it! But, they always have more fun without me anyway because Pop lets Wm get pretzel bites, a coke, AND candy. Total madness. Steve is a spoiler. And I can't complain since I benefit from his spoiling as well!

On Sunday, The Cats were left to their own devices while Mimi took us all out for a fancy afternoon tea to celebrate my birthday (now that she is well again!) She and Guy also got to bask in Luna's fluffy awesomeness.

We should find out in the next 2-3 weeks if Wm got into the STEM school's initial draw!! They keep drawing names all summer, so it's not the end of the world if he doesn't. But, man, I'd sure like the peace of mind of knowing!!

Luna

We got the call yesterday afternoon that Luna was ready for pickup! I left work a bit early and got everything set up. Then, as soon as Wm got home, off we went! We had Luna in our clutches by 4pm. She was very sad about the car ride, but as soon as we let her out of the carrier in Wm's room, she was at home! She wasn't scared or timid at all. In fact, she immediately rubbed all over us, purring, then explored the room, had a snack, and came back for more loves. Then she took a nap after her big day! She is THE SWEETEST cat ever!!

And Schroeder took it so much better than we thought he would! I did get a plugin that disburses happy cat pheromones into the house, which is supposed to keep things calm. Either that worked or Schroeder is more chill than we thought. He is definitely VERY INTERESTED in what is now living in Wm's room. But, there was no hissing, no puffing, and no growling. In fact, he seems to want to be door friends. Schroeder spends almost all his time camped out by Wm's door. I think this may be the start of a beautiful friendship!

Steve is very cute because he is super concerned about Luna's incision. Every time she jumps, he's like, "Luuuuuna! Be careful!" And Wm is basically on Cloud 9. You can't help but love the little puffball. She is a cuddle bug!

Wm took Luna into his room and played with her while I hung out with Schroeder so he didn't feel left out. Here is their first "meeting":


Then, after a few minutes, Schroeder calmed down and then spent most of the rest of the day like this:



After a while, Luna decided she wanted to play and Schroeder was like, "WHuT."



Later, Wm and switched places. Turn up your volume and you can hear all the purrs! Luna LOVES people and is all about the attention.



She even sleep purrs!


After her big day, eventually Luna freaked Steve out by jumping onto Wm's bed and taking a nap.

Look at her spotty pink belly!

Then, when it was bedtime, she settled into the fluffy cat bed we got from Schroeder and covered with her "comfort blanket" that came with her from the Humane Society. She slept there most of the night, according to Wm.

Snoozing. Could you die?

I have heard of dogs seeming to know that they have been "saved" from the pound, but Luna seems to completely realize that she is now home and is SUPER happy about it. She settled right in and is like, "this is a cush gig." The only sad part is now I have to go to work all day and can't snuggle her constantly!! Luna welcomes visitors!

Nugget No More

We have finalized our adoption of the new kitten! When we went back Saturday morning to do it, though, we decided she doesn't look like a Nugget. So after MUCH family debate (I was partial to Tuna Fey, Wm liked Yogurt, and Steve just kept spouting dumb names like Scooter and was no help), we finally all agreed on Luna. She's all silvery and looks like a moonbeam, so we thought it was fitting, So, Nugget has been re-christened Luna. Luna was as sweet as we remembered! We can't wait to bring her home! They are trying to bump her surgery up, so we may get her Thursday, but they said to plan for Saturday.

While we were at the Humane Society filling out Luna adoption paperwork, they had a puppy all alone in a "play room." So, OF COURSE, we had to go play with her. I tell you, if Steve hadn't basically said, "the puppy or me," I'd have left with a puppy and a kitten! (It was still a close call!)

PUPPPPY!

Then, Grandma and Grandpa came to town and we got to take a short hike in the gorgeous weather and go out to dinner. It was a great day!!

Sunday, however, was suuuuuuper busy. We were all exhausted by the end of the day. But, now we have all the Luna gear we need, Wm has new sneaks, we have 2 washed/waxed cars (thanks to Wm, our washer!), and Wm has a bedroom door that will actually stay closed to contain Luna. I also took Steve on a Death March walk to enjoy yet another amazing February day! I don't know what kind of global climate change catastrophe is happening, but, so far, I'm digging it! Flowers are up and the trees have buds! Wheeeee!!!

On our walk, talking about a creepy guy in our neighborhood...
Me: He is definitely going to murder me one day.
Steve: Yeah, he is for sure going to kill a young woman.
Me: Totally.
Steve: So...not you.
Me: BURN.

Welcome, Nugget!

We went to visit another dog yesterday. She was really sweet, but pretty high energy! And we were hoping to get a calmer dog to just chill with Wm over the summer and keep him company. Plus, when we left, Wm goes, "that dog made my eyes feel dry and itchy." My hand also itched from where I was  petting him. I'm not sure if you can see it, but I actually got hives! 

allergic!

I noticed that the entire time we were there, Wm ignored the dog and played with the lady's cat. So, today, I decided we should go play with some dogs at the Humane Society again to see if I got hives, how Wm did, and if Steve was going to calm down about this whole business (he's been in a panic about dog dirt, dog poops, and all around dog). We were waiting to hang out with a certain dog that was playing with other people. They were taking forever, so we decided to browse around. Not a good idea. Because...

We found the sweetest kitty ever. She was full of purrs and LOVED Wm. She would not stop rubbing her head against Wm's hand, rubbing herself all over Wm, and always purring purring purring. Wm LOVED her. So, of course, we had to get her. We couldn't actually bring her home today because she is being spayed. We will be able to pick her up next Saturday. But, this was Wm's face when I asked if he was excited about getting the kitten:

EXCITED

Wm has decided to name her Nugget. And she will live in Wm's room for a few days after she moves in so that we can make sure she is healthy before she mingles with Schroeder - and Schroeder can get used to her scent and maybe won't kill her. I think we are just cat people. I know Wm is!!

Here is a video of Steve playing with Nugget while she periodically stops to rub against Wm to make sure he knows she's still there:

As well as the new addition to the family, I had a GREAT birthday! It is the first time ever it was sunny and 64 on my birthday! I went to work this morning and found a bunch of treats and some decorations in my office:

Then, I left after lunch and Steve even left work early, too!! That never happens! We took a super long walk on such an amazing, gorgeous day and then waited for Wm to get home from school. That's when we hit up the Humane Society, got Nugget, and then went out to my favorite place for dinner! I am about to break into some chocolate cake. Best. Day. Ever!

Feminist

We got Wm's yearbook yesterday. So we were going through it and talking about the picture, the kids, his friends, etc. So I made an observation and then Wm proved he is a tiny feminist.

Me: Have you noticed that we always talk about how cute the girls are. But not always the boys. There is way more focus on what girls and women LOOK like. And the personality of the boys.
Wm: Yeah, that is true. That's not fair.
Me: RIGHT?! And what do you think we should do about it?
Wm: Smash the patriarchy!
Me: YESSSSSS. William, YES. You are a genius.

One-Eyed Pug

We had a great weekend! It was actually pretty nice outside (for February) and Steve took a long walk with me both days! That never happens. We spent some time lounging around, went out to lunch at our favorite German restaurant, Mimi came over bearing Valentine gifts, and we walked more dogs at the Humane Society. There was a one-eyed pug named Mimi who Wm LOVED. We actually tried to adopt her, but someone beat us to it. I guess there is a run on one-eyed pugs. Wm was bummed!

 

Wm bonding

We also got to walk a dog/beast named Boss. He was still a puppy and was STRONG. But I loved him and wanted to take Boss home. He was super sweet and loving. But Steve and Wm ruined it. Steve because he didn't want to clean up Boss poops and Wm because Boss freaked him out. (Boss LOVED Wm and wanted to be his best friend and Wm was having none of it.)

Boss

On Sunday, Suzanne took me out to dinner for my birthday - and I even got chocolate cake! It was awesome!! She also made me the best present ever:

We have (I believe) Wm's last parent/teacher conference ever this evening!

And, last, this happened...
Me: He had a derp-face
Wm: It's funny that you say things are derpy since you're old-
Me: HEY!
Wm: You didn't let me finish!
Me: Oh, OK. Sorry. Continue.
Wm: It's funny that you say things are derpy since you're old-fashioned and not hip at all.
Me: Uhhhh...that's not any better!!!
Wm: I didn't say it was going to get better. I just said you didn't let me finish.

Spoke Too Soon

OK. So I can admit when I'm wrong. The 5th Wave is freaking awesome. I am really enjoying this book. More than the super depressing book I paused reading to pick this one up (The Light Between Oceans). I generally do not like YA books (because I am a 38 year old person), but, man, this one has me glued! Steve said last night, "you really like that book - you have been reading for HOURS." I was like, "I have? What time is it?" Also, no sexy times. Just kissy times. I think the librarian must have meant that the main character's parents (and everyone) dies horrific deaths. But it's alien invasion deaths, not "real" deaths. It's not like they died from gun violence in their own neighborhood because they couldn't afford to move out due to the increasing social stratification of America. Wm can handle alien deaths and some kissing. So, 2 points to the librarian on this one.
Cory's review of Maze Runner: SUCKS. Would make good kindling.
Wm's review of Maze Runner: Awesome. HIGHLY recommend.
Must need to be a tween boy to enjoy that one.

Also, Wm's bestie puked all over the classroom yesterday, so now we're counting down to see if Wm has been infected. He has a field trip to COSI he is REALLY looking forward to and his class Valentine Party on Friday. So, we figure that's when he'll get it. Of course.

Lip Syn Battle

Wm has finished the Maze Runner series. He LOVED it. He said it was as good as Harry Potter (we agree to disagree on that one!) So now that he's done, we had to go to the library yesterday to get him some new books. I love our library - as soon as we hit the shelves, a youth librarian always comes over to ask if she can help us. Once we tell her what kinds of books Wm likes, we get great recommendations. Yesterday, she suggested we move from the "older child" section to the "teen" section, based on what Wm likes and is reading. Wm was THRILLED with all the great choices.  So was I. Until I realized that I now have to read a bunch of teen boy books. The librarian recommended one and then gave me a very knowing look and said, "there is some MATURE CONTENT in this one, but it's really good." I'm assuming she meant teen sexy times, but I can't be sure. So now I have to pre-read everything to see what I'm dealing with. Wm goes, "if it's not appropriate, will you not let me read it?" I told him I'd never forbid a book, but I would suggest he wait a couple years and/or we'd have lots to talk about before and during his reading of said book! So I started The 5th Wave last night. So far, just some innuendo and some violent deaths by alien weaponized bird flu. But I am not looking forward to putting all my books on hold to read a pile of books for teenage boys. I suggested Sweet Valley High or The Babysitters Club....but Wm was having none of it!

Wm started reading a different book that I know has nothing too crazy in it (Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children) in the meantime. He looked cute reading...

Cute.

Then, he busted me. When I asked how he knew I was taking pictures of him, he goes, "you got suspiciously quiet."

Busted.

We had a family lip sync battle last night. Steve would not let me record him singing Hollaback Girl, so he's no fun. But, I got Wm's permission to record and post his! (When I asked him if I could post his videos he goes, "I don't know. That's embarrassing. It would be a violation of my privacy to post them without my permission!" I promised him that I would never post anything without his green light, he goes, "it's a shame to waste them...you can post them.") So, here they are (notice his avid feline audience for the entire thing):

First, Wm did Let It Go, which he rocked...


Then, he did an enthusiastic version of Shut Up and Dance...


Wm watched the SNL skit of Sean Spicer and LOVED it. His favorite parts were the "radical moose-lambs" and when Spicy shot the reporter with the water gun and had to take a big boy nap. If you haven't seen it, YouTube that action STAT!

Jammie Day!

I scheduled on my calendar that Saturday was a jammie day. No one was supposed to get out of their pajamas all day. The plan was to lounge around like slugs for the entire day. But, Steve immediately ruined it by setting his alarm, getting out of bed, getting dressed, and going to watch a soccer match with his friends at some bar (at 7:30am!) He was all sad because he could no longer watch them on his phone with some app. But while he was whining around to his friends at the game about his sad fate, one of them gave him his info, so Steve is once again connected. And will not have to find some obscure bar showing EPL soccer games at all hours. Wm and I, however, were successful in our pursuit of jammie day. (Although, I did cheat and get dressed to take a walk because it was sunny!)

On Sunday, it was gorgeous! So we took a walk around Antrim Lake. Then we went and walked dogs at the Humane Society. There was one that I was about one second away from taking home. She was soooo sweet. But then, when we took her out for her walk, as soon as she was out of the cage, she was like, "screw you guys!" and was completely indifferent to our existence. She played us! She was a hound dog, so she did get to go outside and sniff all the things. So, everyone won. And I don't think Schroeder, Emperor and Semi-Benevolent Dictator of the House would permit an intruder into his domain.

Steve was bummed because he's scary. He ran to the library to pick up a book (not for him, of course), and it was about 6pm, so it was already dark. When he got out of his car in the parking lot, a woman was walking by. She looked at Steve and literally took off at a full run to get away from him and inside the library. Steve was all offended. He came home and was like, "do I look scary?" I told him that he has a penis - so that is threatening to any woman in a dark parking lot. He didn't buy it, but I was still on Team Terrified Woman. (It did crack me up to think of Steve attacking anyone and so I told him about a comedian who did a bit about a woman running from him in a darkened subway station. He thought she saw something scary behind him, so started running too. At which time she screamed and turned to fight him - and then he finally realized HE was the something scary and had to convince her he was harmless.) Apparently Steve went into the library in a huff like, "I AM HERE TO READ! Not to rape anyone!" But the woman didn't even see him, so his entire "I read" charade was for nothing.

Wildly Inappropriate

Wm: Kid asked me if I had seen the movie Sausage Party.
Me: Do you even know what that is? What did you say?
Wm: I know what it is.
Me: So what did you tell him?
Wm: I told him that that movie is WILDLY inappropriate and I had not seen it, OF COURSE.
Me: Hahaha! Good. Seriously. What did he say?
Wm: He said, "it is fucking awesome!" Can you even BELIEVE it?
Me: Nope, that is some crazy, awful business.
Wm: Well, Kid is crazy....so that makes sense. I just walked away after that. [shakes head] Crazy...

Wm is awesome. But I fear for his teenage years. Any kid that tells another kid that a movie is "wildly inappropriate" is not in for an easy time. Especially a tiny, bespectacled kid who says stuff like that.

Wm read for FOUR hours yesterday. I pledged to his Read-A-Thon per hour that he reads. I fear I have made a terrible mistake. I told Wm I was thinking of changing it to a flat pledge (he read for 3 hours the day before that and this goes on for 3 weeks!) And he was all, "YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" So now I'm going to be on the hook for every hour The Nerd reads!! There goes his college fund...