Rookie Reflections

Our cat is ridiculously spoiled. I was on the computer about an hour ago, trying to waste enough time to be sleepy, when little miss priss jumps in my lap, onto the computer desk, and plops herself down directly on top of the keyboard. She then begins to give herself a bath. The sad thing is that I didn't make her move... I just got up and started to do something else before I thought, "You know what, that cat just dealt with me." I sure do love her though!

I have compiled a list of her nicknames, which should say something about our obsession:

Piper
Pitter
Pit Pat
Pitter Pat
Pitter Pat Kitter Cat
Pitter Patter Kitter Catter
Whiskers
Boots
Squirrel Tail
Fluffin Muffin (ok some of them don't even make sense)
Hitler (because of the moustanch and sometimes the temperament)
Chrismas Kitty
Special Kitty

More to come, I'm sure!

Last night, B and I went to see Wolverine. I love superhero movies, and I especially love Hugh Jackman shirtless (see below).


Afterwards, we decided to go to Mellow Mushroom for the Dexateens' CD release show. I always love to hear them play. At one point, they covered "Gloria" by The Doors (G-L-O-R-I-A). I was thinking about that this morning, because I thought it was an odd thing for them to cover. (NOTE: I think I thought it was weird because Matt Patton sang it. It seemed that they morphed into a tame Model Citizen for just a minute.)

ANYWAY. I've decided that the Dexateens have a penchant for songs featuring girl names. They covered "Gloria" last night, and they have "Madelene," "Mary," "Nadine," and "Anna Lee" of their own. Now if they would only cover "Allison" by Elvis Costello, the world might explode. (ANOTHER NOTE: I actually love "Allison" by Elvis Costello, "Gloria," "Madelene," "Mary," "Nadine," and "Anna Lee." Maybe I also have a penchant for songs featuring girl names.)

I would also like to state for the record that they worked "Dixie Chicken" into the middle of "Maker's Mound." That is talent (and humor).


When we were leaving, I was closing out my tab and this frat daddy guy stumbled walked up beside me. There was a purse (not mine) on the bar in front of me, and he reached over for it. He started to look around, not in a creepy "I'm about to steal this purse" way but more in a "I know whose this is and I'm looking for her" way. I didn't think anything about it until he left and an unknown girl walks up and yells, "WHERE IS MY PURSE?" Of course, that guy had stolen it. I felt like the biggest jerk. I saw him do it, but I didn't think anything about it. I honestly thought he was looking for its owner. Of course, by the time we went looking for him, he had already gone. GRR

UPDATE: I took Piper to the vet. It turns out that it was not a herpes outbreak; it was just allergies. She got a (very expensive) allergy shot. We also found out she has gingivitis.

-I don't understand why my checkbook balance never matches my online balance. I think the difference goes wherever the lost socks go in the dryer.

-Piper is sneezing every five minutes! I don't think it's her cat herpes, either. She doesn't have a runny nose or droopy eyes like she does when she has an outbreak. Maybe it's just allergies, but I'm going to take her to the vet soon just to make sure. Here is a recent picture of her playing on the internetz:



-I had a wonderful weekend! I feel like I accomplished a lot in a short time. I have also lost four pounds. Woo hoo - Heidi Klum, look out!

-Because I love you, I will leave you with this:

-Yesterday, I had my very first cavity filled. It wasn’t that bad, except afterward my face felt like it was melting off (funny) and when I talked I sounded like I had a speech impediment (not funny).

-Yesterday was also Piper Mortimer Duncan’s first birthday. Since I am a bad catmother, I completely forgot until I was in bed about to go to sleep. We decided to let her stay in there with us for the night (it was her birthday, after all) until she started attacking our hands and feet. Before you start feeling sorry for her, I do not think she realized it was a special day; she doesn’t speak English, after all.

-A couple of girls from work asked me to start walking with them sometimes. I am so excited! It made me feel good and included in the work crowd.

-A friend gave me some back issues of Time magazine, and I have been slowly catching up. According to Time’s article “CT Scans: Just How Safe Are They?”, new medical research says that CT scans can expose you to large amounts of radiation (45 millisieverts – the typical chest x-ray delivers .02 millisieverts) and can actually make malignancies worse. Another article (“Gardasil: Vaccine Battle?”) says Gardasil may cause side effects, including seizures, fainting, and even death. HOWEVER (on both the CT scan and the Gardasil front), McSister (my sister doctor) checked medical journals and we are in fact going to live even if we’ve had a CT scan and the Gardasil shot. You can rest easily.

-Tomorrow = last working day of the month = pay day! WOO HOO!