for science!

As I posted earlier, I now have a kitten. His name is Boots. This is him, as of today.

I've never had a cat to raise from scratch before, so I'm determined to get it as right as possible. I'm particularly focused on not letting him get fat, since I'm convinced that's what led to Soot's early demise. But since he's a growing boy, he does need to eat a lot.

While I had only been giving him dry food for his first month with us, after I saw how much he enjoyed his post-vet good-boy wet food treat, I decided to add canned food to his diet. But which canned food to go with?? I don't know if you have been to Petsmart lately, but the selection for cat food is pretty extensive. To determine which brand/flavor of kitten food to buy for his first year of meals, I turned to science. (Also known as kitty taste tests.)

I have bought one can of every flavor of kitten food offered by every brand available at Petsmart. I've made a list (from least to most expensive, and it's actually a spreadsheet), and I'm making a note of how much Boots likes or dislikes each one on an ABC scale.

So far, Boots has not been a terribly picky eater. He likes the fish flavors the best, followed by turkey. Chicken and liver (a very popular flavor for kitten food, much to my amazement) has been met with mixed reviews. He is a huge fan of the Nutro Natural Choice brand, and pretty much inhaled both cans of that.

I went back to Petsmart today and picked up a few more cans from brands that I missed the first time around. Most of them are the fancy (expensive), allegedly super-healthy, no-grain, all-meat, no by-products brands. I wonder if he will find these super delicious, or if he will be like me and turn up his nose at healthy food. I should know within the next few days, since he goes through about a can and a half a day, and there are only 10 cans left to test. I can't wait to get my results!

hey lady, get off the phone!

I really hate when people don't get off their phones when they're at a cash register. That shit is straight-up rude, and I'm watching this lady do just that at Dillard's right now. Wait, now she's wandered off, so the lady is ringing up her stuff and swiping her card for her because she's such a fucking Jabberwocky.

RUDE.

This is why I can't work in retail. I wouldn't be able to put up with all these inconsiderate jackasses.

GODDOMOT FRONK

Yet again, I have been terrible about keeping this thing updated. I was prompted to start up again by reading some of my old LiveJournal entries (from March 2005 to June 2006, to be exact). Good times, back when I was in fairly easy school and stayed up until 5am. Although some of the earlier entries from when I was really into political blogs are kind of annoying. I much prefer the updates on my life/celebrity gossip posts.

So what's happened since I last posted? Hmmm.

• Went to visit Ali and Josh in ABQ and Lauren in Durango for Spring Break. ABQ is nothing to write home about (thus the lack of writing about it), but I went to visit the people, not the place. Also, I thought I was going to have to have my feet amputated from frostbite after taking the tram up the mountain. Fortunately, I won't have to visit ABQ again, because they're moving back to Georgia! "Yay!" doesn't begin to describe my happiness about it. Durango is beautiful and I discovered a newfound love of caramel apples there. Plus, we went to a hot spring! It was truly delightful.
• Last Libel Show as a performer. Being a band director was effing hard. I haven't felt the same about "All of the Lights" since then.
• Thought a guy liked me, and I was totally psyched about it, but it turned out to be a friendzone situation. Feels bad, man. I'm over it now, but aasdfdfhja;f; my life sucks sometimes.
• Graduated from law school! Hooray! I have a J.D. now. I still feel stupid.
• Studied for and took the New York Bar Exam. Studying for it sucked donkey balls, taking it was almost worse. I won't find out whether I passed for a few more weeks, but I hope to Gee-Whiz I do, because I don't want to have to take that test again. I would rather take 50 LSATs instead. (However, I am thinking of taking the Georgia Bar, or possibly another state, next year, because I want a job.)
• Said my goodbyes to my dear friends (well, most of them ::side-eye::) and came back home to Springfield. Thought I was going to have to move out the first week because I hate the man who lives here so fucking much, but once I realized I don't have to speak to him or be in the same room with him, it got easier.
• Acquired a kitten! Technically, my father got the kitten from somebody, but aside from that, he's totally my kitten. His name is Boots and he is wonderful. It's really like having a baby. That's how much I love him. As a bonus, he doesn't talk and scream like a child. He's currently sleeping on my pillow and otherwise being adorbs.
• Applied for a bunch of jobs, and thus far haven't gotten one. I do have a tiny foot in the door for a position at the FBI, but it's a long-shot, so I don't want to jinx it. But goddamn would that be awesome. Because being unemployed with nothing to do but look for jobs is driving me crazy. I need structure!
• Went with Michelle to Orlando for a long weekend and bummed around. Had pool time and drank a whole bottle of wine. I also discovered how tasty Walmart's frozen pizzas are. Seriously. You should try one.
• Started running. Yes, yes, I know, I said I would never run unless somebody was chasing me down and trying to kill me, but I did. I'm doing the Couch to 5K program (and as of today, I'm on Week 6, Workout 2). So far it's going pretty well. I got some excellent running shoes from Fleet Feet Sports in Savannah (free plug!), and I've been going to this little track around a pond near my house. Mama comes too, but she just walks. I'm not experiencing a runner's high or anything like that, but I know I'm doing something that's good for me, so that kind of makes up for it.
• Had a wonderful visit from Laura! She drove all the way down here and all the way back just to spend like three days with me, if that long. I hadn't seen her since graduation (because she left for her great Alaskan adventure the next day and didn't get back in town until after I'd left), so it was a warm reunion. I think the only misstep was going to see Drive. Yikes. I love some RGos, but that shit was foul. Yes, I know it's "artsy" and "indie" and whatever, but I hated it. Barf.
• Went to a family reunion for the first time since probably high school or early college. I immediately regretted my decision to go as soon as we pulled up, but it was too late by then. It was at the American Legion hall somewhere near Walterboro, SC, which, for those of you who don't know, is in the deep country wastelands of that state. So much cotton everywhere. The food was good, and some of the company entertaining, but there were a lot of people that I would never associate with outside of that relatively controlled setting. One relation was "allegedly" a crackhead who was missing 5-6 of his top front teeth. Another branch of the family is downright hideous. (IMHO, I was the best looking person there, and that's saying something.) Several others were straight up white trash. At least there wasn't an open bar (although my Aunt Tina did bring a water bottle full of vodka to dull the pain).
• My phone died and I went through an epic saga with Verizon trying to get a replacement. Three separate orders were placed (with the first two supposedly cancelled), and all three were delivered today, about a week and a half after my phone went kaput. I got one that works and have been caring for it very gently ever since. I think I did fairly well living without a cell phone for that long, since I didn't go crazy without it, but I did feel very disconnected. Technology, what have you done????

I think that just about sums it up. Most of the summer was spent in a miserable bar-related funk, so it's probably for the best that I didn't post about that. 

In the coming weeks, I will have my bar results (hopefully with good news), my BIRTHDAY!, and a visit from Laura AND Ashley. It would be awesome if somewhere in there was a job offer, but I'm not holding my breath. But I will try to post even on my boring days, because it's fun to look back on those. If I have exciting days, I'll make a note about those, too.

these dreams

I've been having some weird dreams lately. In one, I was chased (and subsequently caught) by a bear. I got a nasty scratch on my arm and was surprised that I didn't have my throat ripped out. Thank heaven for small miracles?

Then I had a dream within a dream (omg Inception) that made me wake up in a panic. So I'm going to Albuquerque to visit Ali for spring break (and then to Durango to see Lauren), but in my dream (Level 2), my plans had somehow changed such that I no longer had a direct flight from Dulles but was instead going through Minneapolis (and apparently to Alaska). Naturally, I neglected to pack anything, so I had to go around the airport buying all my stuff. Fortunately, there was a Uniqlo in the airport. (Ikr?) And I was traveling with this middle-aged guy and his five friends; I have no idea who any of them were, but I was relying on them to help me make my flight. At some point I woke up (into Level 1), thinking it was the Saturday after the day I was supposed to have left, and that the dream (from Level 2) had tricked me into thinking my plans had changed when they really hadn't, so I'd missed my flight. I spent the rest of the dream frantically calling United trying to get to Albuquerque. Then I woke up (in reality), all pissed at myself for about 10 seconds until I realized that my flight wasn't for another week. Hooray!

I also had a sad dream. I dreamed that Pa and I were going to a dinner party at Aunt Tina's (which is weird, because she isn't the type to host dinner parties, at all). But it wasn't at her house (which is now Granny's house), it was at someplace that looked like an old person's house. We were sitting around chatting and then it was time for dinner, so I went into the dining room, but Pa stayed behind. I came back to ask him why he wasn't having dinner, but then I realized that I was the only one who could see him or talk to him. Nobody else knew he was there, because he was dead in my dream too. I woke up and cried, because the dream reminded me of how much I miss Pa. Sometimes I still expect to see him at Granny's, which is ridiculous, because he's been gone for almost seven years.

Last night, I watched Infamous, so I dreamed about Truman Capote and Perry Smith. Unpleasant. But I'm totally obsessed with In Cold Blood now, so I'm sure I'll have a few more of those dreams.

drink with me to days gone by

I meant to note that I went to the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear the day after my last post, and it was totally awesome. There were so many people (I heard one count of 265,000), more people than I've ever seen in one place. And so many funny signs. And Jack McCoy! It was great. And we didn't have major problems getting there or back. Fabulous.

In the month and a half since then, I've been busy doing not much. I took my Corporations final this morning, but I don't want to talk about it because it was really unpleasant. I almost threw up when I saw the questions. I've still got Communications left (by Wednesday afternoon) and I would definitely like to be better prepared for that. WHY DIDN'T I DO MORE READING FOR CLASS??

I meant to start studying this afternoon, but I was too drained to do so. Studying sucks a bag of dicks (thanks, Sweet Dee). So instead of studying, I piddled around on the tubes at school for a bit (after lunch/drinks at Chili's and dessert at SB). Then I came home and did more piddling.

And I watched Hairspray. Again. God, I love Corny Collins. And Seaweed. I love the dresses the girls wear so much. I sometimes/often wish people still dressed like that. I don't want the rest of the stuff that goes along with that time period, just the clothes. And possibly the status and prestige afforded to air travel.

That got me thinking about musicals, so I listened and sang along to the Wicked soundtrack. Then I moved all of my clothes off my piano and played every song in the Wicked book except for "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished" because I don't like that one. And then I played my favorites out of Les Miserables.

I think playing piano for me is what riding a bike is for most people (regarding the "It's just like riding a bike" saying. I cannot ride a bike for shit, regardless of how long it's been since I rode; it's seriously day-to-day). But I haven't played piano since August? And I went back no problem. I mean, the songs weren't perfect, since I hadn't practiced them in ages, but I wasn't rusty. I guess if I'd rode a bike for 20+ years, it would be different.

Just saw this ridiculous Rod Blagojevich pistachio commercial. Made no sense. Lots of pistachios in a briefcase. My first thought was "THAT'S A LOTTA NUTS!" And my second thought was how very few people get that reference. Sad times.

I really ought to go to bed and get up early to study. But I don't want tooooooo.

Now that I know what tardive dyskinesia is (thanks Mental Health Law!), it makes those Reglan/plaintiffs' lawyers commercials more disturbing. I'd hate to have permanent ticks and spasms.

Another bizarre pistachio commercial! This time with vampires. Lovely.

Can I get up early for breakfast? Cafe Cubano? I HOPE SO, BECAUSE I WANT COFFEE.

Here's to pretty girls who went to our heads
Here's to witty girls who went to our beds
(or, why I should hang out with fictional French revolutionaries more often)

hail to the chief

I saw the President today.

It was really exciting, considering we waited 3 1/2 hours in the cold to see him. I met Ashley and Bobby on the Mall at 4pm; the line to the Pavilion was backed up to the skate park (i.e., all the way to the opposite end of the Mall). Once the gates opened it took about an hour and a half to get through the Secret Service security screening and get inside. We had to stand on the grass about 50ish yards away (I'm terrible at measuring distance, but this seems right), so he was kind of tiny, but visible. Definitely audible, considering the sound system at the venue.

I called Mama when he went on and we both listened for a while. It was really awesome. Totally worth it.

Tomorrow, we're going to the Stewart/Colbert rally in D.C. Can't effing wait.

carry on my wayward son

After class today, I hung out with Ashley. We went to SB and got some super tasty pumpkin spice lattes. Let me pause and say that I effing love pumpkin stuff. Pumpkin lattes, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and especially the pumpkin pie Blizzard at DQ. It's heaven. It makes me so angry that it's only around for two months, if that.

Anyway, after our trip to SB, we went back to her place and played Rock Band for six hours. Seriously. It was awesome. We haven't played in a long time (Rock-A-PILA aside), and it was nice to not have to think about anything school-related and just play in our fake band. When we have to part ways in the future, I'm going to get a PS3 and RB and we're going to play online together. And it will be magic.

dumplings and yogurt

Amy and I went to dinner and dessert on the Downtown Mall tonight and it was pretty fabulous, if a little chilly. Dumplings for me and sesame noodles for her at the Chinese place and then frozen yogurt at Sweet Frog. Fabulous.

I called Michelle for the first time in a long time after I dropped Amy off and we had a nice chat. I wish we lived closer. And I wish Ali lived closer too. Is it too much to ask to have all my friends move to wherever I go?

When I got home, I was reminded that I need to go replenish my household supplies. Toilet paper in particular. I'm down to my last roll! I also desperately need more food.

I am still in love with this Kanye station on Pandora.

How does salt go so well with caramel? I don't understand it, but it makes my mouth so happy.

i dreamed a dream

I ended up sleeping through Corporations this morning. Oops. See my previous post for why. In exchange for truancy, I had some bizarre dreams.

One of them that I only vaguely remember involved someone holding me in a bear hug while someone else rushed at me to presumably injure me, and I used some of my newly learned karate moves to get away. I felt pretty bad-ass.

A later dream that I remember more clearly was set at some kind of bizarre theme park, kind of like MGM, but with sets that you could go into that were lushly decorated. Anyway, I was there with my mom and Hadi, and we were wandering around, but there were a lot of random stabbings going on. It was kind of freaky. And then I stumbled upon a cache of baked goods in a little kitchen (next to a pool where fat people in wheelchairs were watching "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken"--no idea where that came from), a whole bunch of brownies and eclairs and cakes, and I just stuffed my face. I thought (later) that maybe those had been made for someone else, but I didn't care. I ate a bunch and I made myself a doggie bag and took more with me. As a result, I am dying for brownies and cake. DYING. I'm thinking of going to Harris Teeter and buy a whole bunch of eclairs. Or go to Ben & Jerry's and get a brownie. Maybe both? The possibilities are endless. If only I didn't have shit to do preventing me from getting sweets immediately.

i can hit you with real millionaire shit

I am terrible at updating. Apologies all around.

It is currently 1:17am, and I got home from school approximately 15 minutes go. Why so late, you ask? VJIL.

It's not as bad as it seems. I just had two articles to format and one of them was an 86-page monster, with a ridiculous table of contents. I had to create a new template for all the subdivisions. It was intense.

This activity would normally be a lot worse, except that we got a SWEET new computer for the office today. 27" screen, 1TB harddrive, 8GB RAM, Blu-Ray player, Bose speakers, the works. God bless Tim for being so amenable to spending VJIL's money. So instead of squinting to format on my little laptop screen, I got to kick back (not really) and work on a fabulous, giant HD screen. And listen to the Kanye station on Pandora, which is pretty bad-ass, because it plays a ton of Biggie. I miss him. R.I.P. B.I.G.

I wish I had more downtime this week, because my apartment could use a serious cleaning. It's disgusting. So much clutter and junk and hair and dirty dishes. It wouldn't hurt to do another cleanse of my wardrobe and put stuff I will never wear again into the Goodwill pile. I also need groceries. See? So much to do, but no time. Thanks, Negotiation Institute.

My hair needs to hurry up and grow out faster. I want to get my transition cut, but it's not long enough yet and it's killing me. Like cancer. That's how much my hair is annoying me.

Last night I tried on some of my "fancy" dresses because I was bored and didn't want to do my reading. I have two nice dresses, but I only have one more dress-up law school event (because the PILA Auction suuuuucks). I'm torn. One is satiny, emerald green, one-shoulder, knee-length. It's really pretty, but I have two issues: 1) I hate strapless bras, but I probably shouldn't go braless (February is really cold), so I don't know what to do about that, and 2) it's a solid color, and not forgiving like black, so I'm going to have to do a lot more ab/hip/thigh exercises (plus some arm stuff wouldn't hurt) or get Spanx, and those are expensive and painful. The other is a purplish floralish print, indeterminate fabric, with that tiered look (not like a band dress or those dresses that look like fish scales--somewhere in between), with cap sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. It's very pretty, and it makes my boobs look really good (I could even go braless!), but I don't know if it's fancy enough for Barrister's. I guess I'll have to do a fashion show and have my friends (or my date????) help me pick.

I also need to find a Halloween costume. I want to go as Lucille from AD since I've got my minks, but I don't know where I'll find an old lady dress that zips up the back. Perhaps one of the numerous thrift stores? I shall shop around and see.

I've been craving grand jura cheese from the Borough Market and La Duree's macaroons all day. Basically the whole time since I got back from England. It's killing me (softly). Would someone get a girl a goddamn macaroon?