It's finally Christmas

I have a tree, it's officially Christmas at my house (it's not decorated yet, but it soon will be!).

Getting this tree was not an easy task. Read this for the story, then see the pictures below.

[I'll wait....]
[drumming fingers]
[humming "Oh I wish I Were an Oscar Meyer Weiner"] (no, I don't know why!)

Ready?

This is the tree, in all its glory

In order for the tree not to spill into the middle of the living room it is squished into the wall.



And the best part? Making it look somewhat straight. We've got 7 magazines, 2 videos, a folded piece of paper and a CD.



Thank you Three Dog Night! I never knew just how much you rocked!

I've been WHAT??

HappyTam tagged me (although, I didn't know that)...and here's how it works:
A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B. Each player lists 6 little-known facts/habits about themselves.
C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. I make stuff up
I don't know why, I just do...it usually gets a laugh and I like to make people laugh. Now, there's a fine line between "making stuff up" and "lying." I do not lie...I make stuff up!

2. The snake bite is healing well
I was in the backyard a few weeks ago when I felt a stinging on my ankle. At first I didn't think much about it and went on with what I was doing, then I felt it again. This time I looked down to find a snake coiled near my foot. S/He had bit me twice through my sock and the venom worked pretty quickly but everything is fine now. (see how I did that?)

3. I'm dying to do THIS
http://www.aspenseals.com/

4. TAR
I'm fairly obsessed with The Amazing Race. I have watched every season and have applied once and am planning on applying at least once, maybe twice, more. When OJai and I didn't get on the season we applied for, we blogged as if we were running the race. TAR That Might Have Been. This is funny stuff people!

5. Marathon
My goal for 2008 is to run a full marathon.

(see there, I did it again)
Truth is, I only run when being chased...and even then I have to stop to consider if I could take whatever is chasing me. Running seems pointless to me, you spend all this time just to get back to where you started, it makes you sweat, it makes you hurt, you can't breathe...yeah, not for me. AT.ALL. (was that a *little known* fact?)

6. Chewing
I like to chew on things. Especially those plastic tags that hold the price tag on garments, you know the ones I'm talking about? I'm sure they have a name, but I have no idea what it is. It's just the price tag "thingy." Anyway, I save them so I have something to chew on.

God Speed...

If you're a pet person, you'll understand. If you're not a pet person, pretend like you understand!

In 1994, 13 years ago, I got a cute little kitten that was a puff ball of fur. I picked him because he was standing in the cage with these ENORMOUS green eyes, just staring at me [blink blink] "hi!" Honestly, it really was love at first sight.

He got the name Roo because he loved to chase a laser light and could jump to the top of a doorway, so he become Roo after the character in Winne The Pooh.

Roo fetched, and he taught *US* that he could do it. One Christmas we were eating mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and tossing the wrappers to the kitchen by the trash. Suddenly, all the ones we'd throw were back. Roo was running after them and bringing them back. What a good boy!

Roo had a special connection with my friend OJai, he loved her. I think it started when I was showing OJai just how smart Roo was and I tossed a foil ball over the couch where she was sitting. Roo, of course went for the ball, but apparently thought he could go through OJai to get it and smacked right into her knee. We laughed and laughed over that, heck we still do, but Roo sort of sat there, shook the cobwebs out and then looked at us and said "MowOWOW which of course meant, "go on then, throw it again."

Roo lived with me his whole life except for a short 2 year stay with my mom when my life was a little bit in limbo. Roo lived in northern California, Utah, and several places in southern California.

Roo talked to me...people, I'm not making this up. He was like a 2 year old, he'd talk back when I told him to do something he didn't like. If he wanted something he would look me in the eyes and say "MroooooWOOOWWOWWWOWWW." I generally got the meaning.

Roo made it very clear that he was king of the kingdom. He would sit on his "ups" (yes, that's what he called it, SERiously) and watch all the happenings. He would boss Beebo around and tell him what to do; fortunately, Beebo is pretty easy-going and humored him. In addition to his "ups" he had a big pillow that he laid on. Here is Beebo worshiping the ups, the thrown pillow and the remains of Roo. I'm sure Roo is very pleased with this turn of events!


Roo did not approve of my fostering kittens for the Burbank Animal Shelter, he couldn't understand why I would want more than just HIM in the house. When he started getting sick I called someone to talk to him to see if there was anything I could do for him that I wasn't. His comment? "She should take up a new hobby...like knitting!"

Roo's health has been ailing over the past 3 years and last week it got to the point where he was suffering. As hard as it was, I always said I wouldn't let him suffer.

I miss him!

This is a conversation that might take place in this picture.

Cimblog: Roo, I'm sorry you're not coming with me.
Roo: "Oh, me? What do you MEAN I'm not going?"
Roo: "Of COURSE I'm going. Now carry me, slave."