Maureen and Tara: Hairbrained Idea #????

So firstly, John and I went to roller derby Saturday night with Donna to see the Penn Jersey She Devils' Dishonor Roll, and, as expected, we obviously want to join! haha Now accepting ideas for my own derby name/alter ego. I've got a few up my sleeve, not all of them family-friendly. It was fun, mildly violent, and entertaining. If you've got an evening, a few bucks, and are in the Marlton area, do check it out. : )

Today, I went to the 'Ville and spent the day with Tara. We went to Olive Garden for lunch and then spent like 10 hours wandering Target. But I must say the sole purpose of this particular post is share with you:

1. A shameful act
2. Laughter
3. The launch of Tara's and my new business endeavor with 0% of fail, and 100% chance of bringing us riches beyond our wildest dreams!

So, in the order outlined above, I present:

1. Tara...bought...a two-pack...of Shamwow!
2. So we had to try them out when we got back to her place. We did poor and giggly recreations of two of the tests you see in the infomercial:

3. Tara brilliantly observed that we should author a weblog performing consumer reviews. We find the latest wonder product, test it, post a video where we try some of the things in the ad, and then write a review of how the real deal compares to the hype.

In related news, WHAT THE CRAP WITH BILLY MAYES?!?!?! Did anyone see that coming? I'd like to say it's sad that I'm more shocked by his death than by Michael Jackson's (and yes, some of you will turn on me...), but it's just the truth.

That's all for now, I believe. Next softball game is tomorrow night, and it looks like my parents will be coming up to watch! Hopefully I'll have good news to report following the game. Fingers crossed!

Hammy Recouperates

Well, it's been more than 24 hours now, and Hamlet seems to be bouncing back. We gave him dinner around 8:30 (we had to wait at least 2 hours after getting him home) and he SCARFED it. He hadn't eaten since dinner the night before, so I imagine his tummy was rather empty.

Just look at this face!

I think Tara's description of him as a drunken sailor was pretty accurate. Apparently he was all wet from the dental cleaning--like people, water and stuff sprays all over the place--and so his fur was sticking up like he had lots of cowlicks. He started to socialize a bit around 9:00 and let me brush him around 10, so at least he started looking a little less like Oliver Twist. haha

I must say that since he was still getting medicine out of his system, I slept VERY well since he was quiet and didn't start yelling at at 5:30 AM for his food like he usually does. Ah, sweet sleep.

So I came home today to a much better kitten. He's still bouncing back to his usual self but his personality is definitely coming back. I took the bandage off his back leg where the IV was and so now he's free as a bird. And for those of you wondering what his bald patches look like, please enjoy my still somewhat under-the-weather kitten:

Not enjoying the camera's flash one bit...

"MUH-OM! This is just embarassing! How undignified."

Like I said, the real show was yesterday but since they did an eye exam as part of the comprehensive, his pupils were still huge and I didn't dare use a flash around him. Plus, he looked so pathetic I couldn't publish that.

Well that's all for this installment. : )

Toodles.

The latest in the Saga of Pet Ownership

Now, maybe it's because after his declaw, Hammy was kept at the vet overnight so he was a little more coherent by the time we got him back. He still looked like my kitten, despite his mangled paws and his sleepy face. So I'm just saying that when he came home from a comprehensive physical exam and a dental cleaning and he looked like he was tossed out of a car and into a giant puddle...::sighs::

First of all, I knew he'd be a little out of it cuz they have to anesthetize (spelling, please?) him, but he looked like a bobble head--a funny description, I know, but it was unnerving--and what alarmed me most was the fact that his two front legs and one of his back legs were SHAVED. He looks like someone tried to make him into a poodle! I guess they needed to do that since they had him on IVs and even had to catheterize him...but oh my God he looks like such a mess. Not to mention he was terrified of anything that moves. So of course all I wanted to do was hug and squeeze and kiss him, but now I'm just happy that he's laying under the bed and resting. He wanders out every now and then to check up on us, and he's looked a little better each time. He even let me pet him and gave me some nuzzles.

He also hasn't mewed or spoken, so I'll feel better once he starts talking again. I just want my kitten back. : ( And obviously he's so traumatized at the moment that pictures are certainly a no-no, but maybe I'll snap a few in a day or so and let you judge what's been done to him.

Has anyone else had an experience like this? The only other time he's had a cleaning was when he was already under for his declaw surgery anyway. And so you know, all of this would have cost close to $1200, but because I have him on what is essentially an insurance policy through Banfield, it cost us $42. ::wipes brow:: That $21 month for the insurance feels worth it every time I look over the bills.

Okay, that's all for now. More to come later. Think healing thoughts for my kitty. I never thought it'd be ANYTHING like this just to get his darn teeth cleaned.

A Pictorial Tour of Recent Days

Stop one, Winslow Twp. HS graduating class of 2009, of which my brother was a proud member.

What a handsome devil! And with a new haircut.

What a good-looking family. But wait, someone's missing!

There we go! Brother and sister. : )

Processional. After taking about 3 failed photos of guys I thought were Kevin, I finally had a WIN!

The ceremony was actually really nice. I was rather impressed with the student speakers, and they didn't drag anything out--I couldn't believe how fast it was over. Hey, anything had to be better than mine: thunder, lightning, and pouring rain anyone? And yes, we were out on the football field, near electrical equipment and on aluminum bleachers. Needless to say, it was unclassy, uncomfortable, and maybe a little too memorable. ha

Congrats, Class of 09!

Next stop, Dana and Megan's college graduation party, out in Sea Isle! It was rainy, but the weather did allow us some nice breaks, and even an opportunity to go down to the beach for a while. Perfection.

Best friends since 03. Great, great memories.

LOVE this pic. One of the rare great ones.

Yay.

COMING SOON: pics of my first oceanic fishing trip! My office is having a fluke fishing trip off Point Pleasant this Saturday, and I'm sure hilarity, fishiness, and perhaps some good eats will follow. Stay tuned! Oh yeh, we may also be going to roller derby with Donna Saturday night...yes, please! More stories, I'm sure.

Till next time...

It's almost mid-June.

Sorry it's been so long (again). The last few weeks have been a whirlwind, and they probably won't calm down until after next weekend.

1. In exciting news, John and I have been helping Donna and Rachel get their new house ready for moving in, which they did officially as of yesterday! Last weekend was a painting bonanza and this weekend was the bog move. I can't wait to see it finished and with everything in its place, and I can't wait to see how they'll make it feel more like home. I must say, though, it made me grateful that John and I are settled and not going anywhere for a while. haha

2. This Friday is my brother's high school graduation (holy crap!), Saturday is a college grad party for my two best friends from high school, and then Sunday is Father's Day...lots of shopping is in my near future. haha I feel like I haven't stopped shopping since Christmas.

3. In non-sequitor news, if you know me, you know how much I love bad cinema. Currently we are enjoying a little SciFi Channel flick called, When Good Ghouls Go Bad. I love terrbile scripts acted out by terrible actors with terrible special effects and soundtracks. And I don't know how Christopher Lloyd got roped into this mess, but I say YES and PLEASE! Ah, no better way to spend a lazy afternoon, I say. : )

4. Sadly I don't have any good news on the softball front...we lost our second game 15-4, and I'm blaming the wet field, as it had been pouring rain all day. Plus that team clearly got together and practiced like three times a week. I guess I should just be glad we didn't have to forfeit--at game time we were still one player short of a full team. John pinched as catcher for a pitch or two until two more people showed up. And then the creaming began. This past week was much better, but we still lost, 6-5. At least the gap was much smaller, and John has joined the team officially so now we have one more garaunteed player since we carpool on game days anyway.

Well I think that's all for now...it's lunch time and I'm rather hungry. Hopefully more to come soon!