...in short patches, at least. It's been ALMOST FOUR MONTHS. I will tell more later, but I'm worried that I might exceed my typing quota for the day. Suffice to say that I've been MISERABLE. I'm doing strength exercises with a soup can now. YAY!

 We're leaving for Sweden on Tuesday and I'm crawling out of my skin. I've been a nervous wreck for the last month or so, because of finances and drawing and period and I don't know what. I hope things will get better once this trip is over. Or hey, maybe during the trip, even? MAYBE THIS WILL ACTUALLY BE FUN??

Just yesterday, an old friend from my hometown emailed to say she bought a house - "So the next time you visit Sweden, you'll have a place to stay in town!". Cringe. I hadn't told her I'm coming to Sweden, because the agenda appears fully booked just being with my parents, who live an 8 hour drive away from my hometown and gas is $9/gallon over there. 

I don't know why EVERYTHING is a big huge deal with me these days.

I admire Robyn. Tremendously so. I want to be brief here, because I have to get going, but it's so nice to hear that she's still going strong. I remember when she debuted in Sweden back when we both were teenagers. I was never an actual fan of hers, but she was a Presence, with her songs and her personality, and I can't say I didn't admire her even when I rolled my eyes at yet another hit of hers.

( Many videos under the cut! )

 Thank you, thank you, thank you, kyrenekyorl , for my Tiny Book of Tiny Stories! It's absolutely adorable!

( Cuddles! )

( The Best Thing! )

( Tree! )

 

...as sung by 11-year old Brenda Lee. Dang.

Not much going on. Life is just floating on a pleasant cloud of fluff. This might be the best fall (season) I've experienced in my life, actually. I don't want to jinx it by talking about or analyzing it too much. We just recently discovered Nob Hill, though, and have been enjoying it ever since. We first went there on November 2nd to celebrate that it's been 11 years since hubby and I became a couple. There we discovered Java Vivace and their crepes (as well as their hot white chocolate...I died), and a Moonstruck chocolate cafe with cozy leather armchairs and scrumptious macarons. Little pieces of heaven.<3

I discovered the site findadeath.com, but I won't actually link to it, as a symbolic gesture, because I feel it's kind of gross, though morbidly captivating. What drew me in was the Perelson mansion (WARNING: sad story behind the cut - don't click if you get depressed by that kind of stuff), which has stood uninhabited since 1960 since a murder/suicide and is slowly rotting away for unknown reason. Seriously - it's a gorgeous mansion and the owner hasn't done anything with it for fifty years other than use it for storage. The case led me to the findadeath forum, where they discussed it, and one of the neighbors posted, complaining about all the trespassers on the property. He was promptly chewed out, which still irks me. It's not that I can't understand the thrill of looking into an old abandoned mansion with fifty-year old belongings left in it - no problem. I'd definitely feel tempted. But at least REALIZE that you're not exactly a moral paragon when you trespass on someone else's private property, abandoned or not. You ARE breaking the law and you ARE disrespecting boundaries and when you get called out on it, the very least you can do is act humble and not like it's your god-given right to go wherever you please. You-don't-have-the-right-to-be-pissed. End. Geez. 

Speaking of abandoned places, though, I found these to be insanely moving: Kathy's house and Patrick's house (check all of Brian Mac D's galleries, if you like).

Now: food.

So, apparently Black Cat Awareness Day came and went with me completely unaware. That won't do, because I have a gorgeous, wonderful black cat full of quirks and earnest charm and I feel the need to brag. In other words, it's time for a picspam.

I've posted this before, but here's how Busy looked when we first got him, three (four?) years ago. 



He had a bad cold, but the first thing he did when let out of his carrier was come up to me and climb up on my back. The shelter had named him Crow. I quickly changed that after seeing the amount of energy he had - even while sick! This skinny little bundle tore apart three cat wands - one in less than two minutes!

 He's settled down some since then, but not that much. He's still very energetic, playful and hilariously high strung, but also very respectful (if that word can be used about a cat). He knows not to use claws on our bare skin, he makes requests with little whines and soft paws. He loves cuddles, but doesn't ask for any when Markus is around, because Markus is the higher one in rank. He still always kicks Markus' butt in a fight, though.
He loves blanket tunnels and chasing after cat wands. He can bat a ball in mid-air with perfect precision, but doesn't know what to do with it once it stops. He never eats full meals - only many small ones throughout the day. He's always a dream at the vet and has the most wonderful medium-length silky fur, shiny and soft. He likes to groom us - reaching for my hair with soft paws and lick it until it's all clean or polish my husband's scalp to perfection while purring so loud any stress just melts out of you. He's our little bundle of joy and here he is, in a picspam of his very own:

( Busybeans )

 2.5 lbs left!! November 2nd is the 11-year anniversary of when hubby asked me to be his girlfriend. 11 years. 11. It doesn't sound likely, but there it is.

Anyway, November 2nd we go out to indulge ourselves. I've been extra strict this week, because I want to reach the 120 mark by Saturday. Not sure it's going to happen at this rate, but we'll see. I will then have lost 20 lbs. 

Dijon brussel sprouts are AMAZING.