My children started the 08-09 school year today. Crazy, no? The weather is unseasonably cool today--almost as if to try and make it seem like we don't go back to school in the middle of the summer.
This weekend we head out to Aspen to do a triathlon (husband) and duathlon (me). The kids are going to volunteer at the transition station. Fun! 2 mile run, 17 mile bike up and down a canyon, 4 mile run to finish it off.
Last year when we did this race we went up thinking that Aspen couldn't possibly be as cool as all those movie stars think. I don't know what movie stars think, actually, but husband and I had to begrudgingly admit that Aspen is pretty cool. I'm psyched to go up again, but with back to school the timing kind of stinks.
I almost don't know what to do with myself with such a quiet house. Oh right. My dissertation. Off to work.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Paris Hilton might have a sense of humor
Although I hate admitting it, given my general distaste for the whole celebutante thing.
Her "presidential stump speech" seems to be getting plenty of press, but just in case you haven't seen it, the link is at www.funnyordie.com.
Her "presidential stump speech" seems to be getting plenty of press, but just in case you haven't seen it, the link is at www.funnyordie.com.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Backyard bobcat
Last night all three of my cats were outside, even the fat retarded one who normally doesn't choose to go outside. He really is retarded. Our vet has declared him "mentally challenged." I'm sorry if I offend anyone with the use of the word retarded. I don't mean to.
Anyway, all 3 cats were out last night. At about 2am I was awakened by some really awful sounding cat screams. I jumped out of bed because it sounded a lot like fat Dexter, who also has a really odd, distinctive meow. Because he doesn't go out much and is fat and spazzy I don't like him to be out at night because he'd be awful at defending himself and can't climb. Not even a kitchen chair. But when I went on the deck there he was, hanging out by the sliding door, pretty pleased that someone was finally coming to let him in. One accounted for. But I knew my other two were still outside. So who had made that noise? Called and called for them, to no avail. Not good. I went back inside, wondering who wasn't going to come home in the morning.
From my bed I heard the sound again, coming from out front. Got up again and went out the front door. Heard the sound loud from my neighbor's garden. Oh boy, I thought. JG is going to find one of cats dead in his flowers in the morning. I don't know why I didn't go over. Middle of the night thinking. I called and called some more and then went back to bed.
This time the sound was loud and close. I put on my flipflops and went down the deck stairs to the backyard. Didn't see any cats but I started to notice all the laundry that I had put on the deck to dry which had fallen overboard and I'd been to lazy to go down and retrieve. So I started picking up my laundry at 2:30 am, walking around underneath my deck calling for my cats.
Suddenly I heard a rustling noise and a meow and saw a cat run away from me. I quickly walked to the other side of the house. My rush of relief was replaced with confusion when I realized that this creature was too big to be either of my cats, had unusually long legs, a stumpy tail and tufted ears. But (middle of the night arms full of laundry thinking) I still kind of thought it might be one of my cats because it had the same markings as one and was lean like the other. That nonsensical idea only lasted for a second. This strange cat arched its back, ran a few feet from me and then settled rather comfortably on the side of my driveway. I was a little afraid, actually, so I went back in, calling again for my own cats as soon as I was out of the stranger's view.
Just before I decided to give up I saw our beloved Matilda come to the door. What a rush of relief. I was still worried about my own cat, Rock Star, but was not about to take on Rocky Mountain Wildlife in my nightgown and flipflops. I went to sleep wondering whether I'd see my Rock Star again or whether he had become part of the food chain. Thank God or the cat diety or Rock Star himself, he showed up at the deck door in the morning, as is his habit.
Now they are all sleeping in the basement. I will let them go outside again, because I can't imagine a life without fresh air, but not at night.
This morning I Googled bobcats. Look about the same as my midnight visitor.
I may have had an encounter with a bobcat. Cool.
Anyway, all 3 cats were out last night. At about 2am I was awakened by some really awful sounding cat screams. I jumped out of bed because it sounded a lot like fat Dexter, who also has a really odd, distinctive meow. Because he doesn't go out much and is fat and spazzy I don't like him to be out at night because he'd be awful at defending himself and can't climb. Not even a kitchen chair. But when I went on the deck there he was, hanging out by the sliding door, pretty pleased that someone was finally coming to let him in. One accounted for. But I knew my other two were still outside. So who had made that noise? Called and called for them, to no avail. Not good. I went back inside, wondering who wasn't going to come home in the morning.
From my bed I heard the sound again, coming from out front. Got up again and went out the front door. Heard the sound loud from my neighbor's garden. Oh boy, I thought. JG is going to find one of cats dead in his flowers in the morning. I don't know why I didn't go over. Middle of the night thinking. I called and called some more and then went back to bed.
This time the sound was loud and close. I put on my flipflops and went down the deck stairs to the backyard. Didn't see any cats but I started to notice all the laundry that I had put on the deck to dry which had fallen overboard and I'd been to lazy to go down and retrieve. So I started picking up my laundry at 2:30 am, walking around underneath my deck calling for my cats.
Suddenly I heard a rustling noise and a meow and saw a cat run away from me. I quickly walked to the other side of the house. My rush of relief was replaced with confusion when I realized that this creature was too big to be either of my cats, had unusually long legs, a stumpy tail and tufted ears. But (middle of the night arms full of laundry thinking) I still kind of thought it might be one of my cats because it had the same markings as one and was lean like the other. That nonsensical idea only lasted for a second. This strange cat arched its back, ran a few feet from me and then settled rather comfortably on the side of my driveway. I was a little afraid, actually, so I went back in, calling again for my own cats as soon as I was out of the stranger's view.
Just before I decided to give up I saw our beloved Matilda come to the door. What a rush of relief. I was still worried about my own cat, Rock Star, but was not about to take on Rocky Mountain Wildlife in my nightgown and flipflops. I went to sleep wondering whether I'd see my Rock Star again or whether he had become part of the food chain. Thank God or the cat diety or Rock Star himself, he showed up at the deck door in the morning, as is his habit.
Now they are all sleeping in the basement. I will let them go outside again, because I can't imagine a life without fresh air, but not at night.
This morning I Googled bobcats. Look about the same as my midnight visitor.
I may have had an encounter with a bobcat. Cool.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Cooling off... or not
The temperature is finally beginning to drop. I was so excited to be able to cook in my kitchen again (as opposed to having to grill or die of heat). I think I went a little overboard, though, because I managed to heat the kitchen right back up to run-outside-or-die level. Oh well. I will need to remember back to this time when I'm freezing my ass off in winter.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
One for the record
So I was right about it being hot. So hot, in fact, that yesterday set a record high of 99 degrees. Today is supposed to be almost as bad. I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I think we might go to the mall.
Outdoor living
We slept outside again last night. I brought another blanket for myself and slept really well. It is such a pleasure to fall asleep looking at the stars. Last night had more clouds than the night before and the sky was so interesting. I kind of miss my bed but I know that this won't last much longer, so I think we'll do it a bit longer. Or at least for as long as the days stay in the 90s.
Friday, August 1, 2008
All heads on deck
My house does not have air conditining. This is generally a good thing. I hate the fake chill of AC, hate needing a sweater in the middle of a hot summer day, hate the waste of electricity. Plus, Colorado nights cool down 20+ degrees and we open up all the windows and get a great cooling breeze. I love laying in bed listening to the crickets and feeling the cool air coming through my window. But after a week of 90 degree days the house just heats up and stays hot.
When I came home from yoga last night at 7pm, the radio said the temp was 92 and the wind was still. 92 at 7pm! This calls for desparate measures. So the girls and I decided we needed to sleep out on the deck. Not sure whether husband would have gone along with this, but he's away on a business trip (surprise!) so that's moot. We got out our sleeping pads, brought out pillows and blankets and there we were. It was lovely... until I woke up cold in the middle of the night. Thatwas kind of nice too. I got another blanket and lay there for a while enjoying the cool night air and looking at the stars.
At about 5:30 younger daughter came in and went into her bed. Older daughter is still sleeping away on the deck. Forecast is for another scorcher. Wonder if we'll repeat this tonight.
When I came home from yoga last night at 7pm, the radio said the temp was 92 and the wind was still. 92 at 7pm! This calls for desparate measures. So the girls and I decided we needed to sleep out on the deck. Not sure whether husband would have gone along with this, but he's away on a business trip (surprise!) so that's moot. We got out our sleeping pads, brought out pillows and blankets and there we were. It was lovely... until I woke up cold in the middle of the night. Thatwas kind of nice too. I got another blanket and lay there for a while enjoying the cool night air and looking at the stars.
At about 5:30 younger daughter came in and went into her bed. Older daughter is still sleeping away on the deck. Forecast is for another scorcher. Wonder if we'll repeat this tonight.
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