Of Mice And Memes....

Our cat Trouble hasn't been feeling well lately. Her nose has been hot and dry and she hasn't been going outside very much. Twice now, when she's gone out, she has managed to sneak a tiny mouse inside the house, in her mouth. Alright, I'm all for her catching mice and all but NOT so that she can bring them in the house to be her little playmates. Until they die, of course.

Anyway, I have reason to believe the mice are making Trouble Cat sick. I'm worried that perhaps they had eaten poison, therefore Trouble has gotten some of that poison. However, for some reason, she never eats the head or the stomach. I know. How strange, right?

So, last night I let her in without frisking her and I'll be damned if she didn't have a baby mouse in her mouth. She's getting even better at disguising her little playmates as she sneaks them into the house. Anyway, so I'm thinking what a great photo opportunity this was and ran to the den to grab my digital camera.

In between screeching and jumping around when Trouble let her little friend loose and trying to get a shot when she had captured it again, I was barely able to achieve a shot that was decent. Clearly, cats and mice are way out of my league when it comes to quick movement. So, you must look very closely at the pictures to see the little tail sticking out in the first one and Trouble licking it in the second one. I know it's gross. But, it's what animals do.

Then, after I had washed my Pottery Barn slipcover for a club chair in the den, I was trying to put it back on and guess who thwarted that plan? Uh-Huh. Trouble Cat. I then had to wash it again before I could achieve this:

Did I mention Trouble Cat is 17 years old? Yes, she is and she still acts like a kitten. We have a history of our cats living to be 25.

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Then, Ms. Tammy over at The Color of Home has tagged me for a different, fun meme, so I am complying and offer you this:

What are your nicknames?
Lizzard, Lizzie, LizZARD, Dizzy Miss Lizzy, Wrong Way Liz, and God knows what else.

What TV network game show/reality show would you like to be on?
Survivor, hands down. I could get a trip to a really cool location, try to boss everyone around, show my ass a few times as I make new friends, and be the first one voted off because I hate bugs and would be freaking out anyway.

What was the first movie VHS or DVD you ever bought?

The first VHS tape I bought was The Thomas Crown Affair with Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen. The first DVD I bought was Sweet Home Alabama with Reese Witherspoon.

What is your favorite scent?

As far as perfumes, I've worn Estee Lauder "Knowing" for 20 plus years, and no other. I also love the smell of rain in the air, brushing up against a rosemary bush, bacon cooking, fresh coffee brewing, tomatoes freshly picked off the vine, Mr. Snooty's farts, the first crisp day of Fall, toe smegma, wood burning fires, freshly baked bread.

If you had one million dollars to spend just on yourself, how would you spend it?

Extreme Makeover, if one million would cover it.

What is the one place you've been that you can't forget and always want to go back to?Haanakapiiai Valley on Kuai in the Hawaiian Islands. I lived there for almost a year.

Do you trust easily?

Yes, which is often to my detriment.

Do you generally think before you act or act before you think?

If age has taught me anything, it's to think before I act.

Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?

With my life? Nope. With the world and our future in it? Don't get me started.

Do you have a good body image?

My mother, The Brown Recluse, instilled a distorted view for me of myself at an early age. Thank God I never listened to her. I think I look great for 55 (almost 56). I don't care if anyone else thinks so or not. When I look in the mirror, I like what I see, even though I know I should get out and exercise more. Of course, I have to work harder at looking good these days, but that is just the course of life.

What is your favorite fruit?

Avacado

What websites do you visit daily?

Too many to list.

What have you seriously been addicted to lately?

Political coverage and the new Fall shows on HBO and Showtime.

What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?

As crazy as she may often seem to be, Tammy is a great Mother, wife and writer. She has a sharp wit and a tremendous sense of humor. Besides, she likes ghosts and other things that go bump in the night. Okay, so I like weird people. Apparently, she does too, since she seems to like me.

What's the last song that got stuck in your head?

"The Top Of The World" by The Dixie Chicks.

What is your favorite clothing?

Hmmmmm... When I'm at home I prefer the comfort of sweats. Yes, I love being a slob sometimes. However, I love, love, love to dress up and I love to feel girly or glamorous or elegant or whatever I can muster up. Basically, the opposite of how I look when at home.

Do you think Rice Krispies are yummy?

Nope. Not in the least.

What would you do if you saw a $100.00 dollar bill lying on the ground?

First, I'd pick it up, looking around to see if anyone is looking for anything. Then, I'd ask a few nearby people if they had lost anything. If not, I keep it and it's mine.

Items you couldn't do without for a day?

Blood pressure medication and food. Better add cocktails to that as well.

What should you be doing right now?

There are so many things, I wouldn't know where to begin. Basically, anything other than what I'm doing.

So, I'm supposed to tag some people. As much as I hate to burden others, I feel I must, so Deal With It. (Actually, if you don't want to do it or don't have the time, I understand.) Here they are:

The Tombstone Chronicler

Rubbish By Roan

Mama Hut's House

Queen of the Planet Hot Flash

Camera Critters Sunday Meme... Who Ate The Watermelon?

Yes, it's once again time for the Sunday Camera Critters Meme.


Misty Dawn over at Camera Critters presents this fun meme every Sunday, just in case you'd like to join in. Thanks MD!

Our funny Cairn Terrier was named Lulu and we lost her two years ago after 16 wonderful years of her companionship. This is one of many funny Tales of Lulu.


One summer while at the lake, we had guests visiting which usually meant that poor Lulu Dog had to stay at the house while we all went out on the boat. It always made her sad but when we would come back off the lake she was always there to greet us.


This one particular time, we had stopped at a ranch that grew watermelons in their pecan orchard, that is on the way to the lake. As always, I bought a seedless watermelon and took it with us to the lake house, to share with our guests & their children. Lulu was still pretty much a puppy so we made her stay at the house rather than letting her get lost in the wild shuffle of bodies on the boat. As we had always done in the past, we left the watermelon on the floor for fear it would roll off any of the counter tops. We wouldn't have wanted that to happen.



Anyway, once we came in off the boat, I saw the watermelon and thought that it looked funny... you know,odd. That's when I realized that it had an enormous hole in it. Just as I said "Who ate the watermelon?", here comes Lulu with her head down (never a good sign). I then began to notice a pink tinge to her mouth area and put two and two together. Lulu had discovered the joys of eating watermelon and apparently had known that what she did was not a good thing. I was just beginning to learn about the Cairn Terrier's rooting capabilities. They are truly amazing.


Cairns were bred in Scotland for the purpose of killing rodents and other pests around the castle. And boy, can they ever get after just about anything that moves! She was even known to kill a scorpian or two at the lake. She'd chomp down on it like it was an appetizer as we watched in horror. Then she'd give us this look that said "What?".


The picture isn't very good, but here she is in all her watermelon chomping glory. The culprit herself... with hang dog look and all. I miss that crazy, funny dog and probably always will, rest her little soul.

To read about the history of Cairn Terriers Click Here.

Crazy Eights.... The Meme -->EDITED<---

So, I'm finally getting around to doing the meme I was tagged for by Asthma Girl, as promised. I'm certain that if you happen across any of my other memes, you'll find different answers to the same questions since I barely have the brain cells it takes to remember what I said five minutes ago, much less what my preferences were five minutes ago. You might start thinking I'm some kind of pathological liar, but the truth lies within my aging brain. It is the one telling lies, not I. It lies to me every day, so why wouldn't it lie to my Dear Readers as well? Anywoohoo, I'm diving in head first and hoping I don't wind up with further brain damage. Yes, that would be such a tragedy at this stage of the coach. Or is that gameboy? Whatever.

Crazy Eights:

Eight Things I have a passion for:

1. My family, unconditionally
2. Good Friends, unconditionally
3. Snow & Water Skiing, but not necessarily at the same time...
4. New clothes, new shoes, and new purses, albeit rather shallow. I love them!
5. My Cat, Trouble (actually passionate about all animals, give or take a few hundred species)
6. People With Kind Hearts & Souls
7. Silpada Jewelry (actually, love any good jewelry too, of which I have a nice supply)
8. Music, music, music... all kinds


Eight Things I Would Like to do Before I Die:

1. Enjoy grandchildren, if I live long enough (NO, this is not in any way a hint)
2. Travel to Europe, all over
3. Stay in Italy for a whole month
4. Stay in Spain for a whole month
5. Ski the Bugaboos in Canada
6. Sell our big home & buy a more manageable one with nothing but a garage, a pool & pool house in the back. Low maintenance all around would work nicely for me.
7. Swim every day in the nude, in my own private pool
8. Visit the Grand Canyon & do a raft trip down the river


Eight Things I Say a Lot:

1. Who left the toilet seat up? (however, there is only one person to answer that question, so it's a moot point)
2. Hey, we're not trying to cure cancer here and this isn't rocket science. Relax & have fun.
3. A mind is a terrible thing to waste... until you reach my age, at which point you have no choice.
4. Asshole... mostly directed at idiot drivers talking on cells instead of actually trying to drive.
5. Here kittty, kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty... Get your ass in here now or you are out for the night!
6. How was your day, babe? (or honey or darlin' or dear, etc.)
7. Oh Shit.
8. Love ya... Mean it!
9. FUCK (okay, I decided to be honest after all)

Eight Books I Have Read Listened to Recently:

1. Glass Castles
2. True Evil
3. It Ain't All About Cookin' (Paula Deen)
4. The Last Juror
5. You've Been Warned
6. Eleventh Hour
7. Hard Truth
8. Hatch Chile Pepper Recipe Book (available ONLY AT the older Austin Central Market, in person)


Eight Movies I Have Seen Eight Times:

1. Out of Africa
2. Last of The Mohicans
3. The Postman
4. Dances With Wolves
5. Wuthering Heights
6. Under The Tuscan Sun
7. Sense & Sensibility
8. The Day After Tomorrow
9. Saving Grace (Wait! I have more!)


Eight People I Have to Invite to do This Meme: (and actually, if I tag you & you're too busy to do it, then by all means Blow It Off! This is supposed to be fun & it won't ruffle my fur in the least. Also, if you want to participate, please feel free to wait until after Independence Day, but be sure to let me know either way!)

1. Tammy (The Color of Home)
2. Daryl (out and about in new york city)
3. Treasia (Confessions of a Mid-Life Trucker's Wife)
4. Meg (Lucchese to Louis Vuitton)
5. The Queen (Queen of the Planet Hot Flash)
6. Sistah #1 (Holy Crappers)
7. Sistah #2 (Holy Crappers)
8. Sarcastic, Funny and Brutally Honest (http://funnymommy.blogspot.com/)

Anyway, IF you decide to do this, just have fun with it!!