When I left for Seattle on Thanksgiving day for a couple of days, I knew that Tiger (the cat) would be here alone so I left the door to the patio open about 4 inches so that he could go in and out to the litter box as needed. I left his food dish overflowing and a bowl full of water. When I returned on Saturday, there was an odd smell in the house and I noticed the patio door was closed.

I called Leah, who had stopped by to see if she had closed the door, but no. Then I saw that the cat, given no other option, had relieved himself on my bathroom on the floor (at least he didn't do it on the carpet or in the plants). As I was cleaning it up, I was getting irritated. I guess cleaning up cat poop isn't necessarily an activity that cheers me up. I was racking my brain trying to figure out who had come over and shut that door. I called Joseph, but he hadn't come by. Then I started thinking that I was losing it. Maybe I hadn't left the door open. Maybe I was the one who had caused this whole debacle.

However, Marianella came over last night and informed me that Alonso had come over to play with Tiger, since he was worried that he was alone. Whew! Mystery solved - I am not completely nuts.

P.S. Tiger is officially able to come and go as he pleases now. He can go outside and do his business. This is very good news to me and to him I am sure. He is currently outside making the rounds as I write this. Hopefully, we are done with vet visits and bills for awhile.

Four Star Hotel

My daughter has this new thing she does whenever Deb stays the night with us. If I tell her, "Deb is coming," she runs like a little maniac to her leftover Halloween and birthday candy stash and digs around for something that most closely resembles a mint, and then goes and puts it on the pillow in the guest room. Yesterday, it was a variety of a Hershey bar, a pack of M & M's and some other candy. A couple of weeks ago, she left her a individual size package of kleenex.

It's just her little way of making her special guest feel more welcome.

Well, I made it 322 days...

322 blessed days of no hangovers, but I managed to break my New' Year's resolution this weekend just 43 days shy of the end of the year. Oh, it wasn't the WORST hangover I've ever had, but it was definitely a hangover; nausea, pounding headache, stomach very unsettled, tired-as-hell hangover.

I almost made it. Of course, the evening that led to the killer Saturday hangover included Cristie, Nell Anne and Cactus Jack's. UGGG! The sad thing is that Nell and I each ordered only one cocktail. It was Cindy, the waitress's fault we decided. She continued to bring us cocktail after cocktail that we hadn't ordered. We didn't protest.

Maybe next year.

I am in a funk. Someone close to me is going through an extremely difficult, horrible situation and I just feel helpless.

I also feel like it makes me question my own relationships and actions. I am conflicted and torn. I know that one cannot completely control the direction that their life takes, especially when you embark on a journey with someone else. One person cannot control the actions of the other. But what if one's actions affect the direction of the other person's life? Is that fair? I should be beyond assessing things as fair and unfair. Is there something that one can do to ensure their path in life? Are the bad things that happen to you in life supposed to happen with some greater good as the outcome or can you avoid pitfalls by making better decisions? I guess this is why many people look to religion for answers - there are so many unanswered questions in life. I imagine it provides some sort of comfort to believe in some greater power. That way the (entire) responsibility doesn't fall on you for what happens in life. "It was God's will." I think that's a bunch of bullshit. It terrifies me to realize how easy it is for one person to affect another in a devastating way without any intention of doing it by acting selfishly, recklessly, or thoughtlessly.

I heard my own words come out of my sweet, innocent cousin's mouth today and it is cutting me to my core.

I know this entry makes no sense to anyone. Please allow me to rant and ramble aimlessly.

So what does it mean when my kids are requesting a club soda with lime on their nightstand at bedtime instead of water?