Merry Christmas to all my family and friends. Is it December already?
Closed early New Year's Eve, kissed the cats at midnight, and went to sleep. New Year's Day I had off so I had a Cocoa Day where I sit on the couch wrapped in a blanket and drink cocoa. New Year's Day was also our first snow for the kittens and paws flew in all directions over the ice. No injuries though, except pride. They despise wet paws so we didn't play in it for long. Mom had her knee replacement replaced and had the luxury of nursing home care after surgery this time around for frequent physical therapy. She didn't have to cook, clean, or wash, but had to tolerate being awoken by alarms when patients fell out of bed. Soon she came home and lived on the couch while Dad did the cooking, cleaning, and washing, for a while. Precious celebrated his 1st birthday making him a fully grown adult tomcat. He got a can of salmon and new placemats for the food dish and water bowl.
Despite the Brown Christmas of 2006, it snowed through March until Mother Nature copped an attitude and gave us an ice storm, then a snowstorm. Most of the ice storm hit eastern Iowa, but we got plenty of trouble during the snowstorm. We say in Iowa that winter is never over until a snowstorm hits the Girls State Basketball Tournament, no matter what Mr. Groundhog says. In southeastern Iowa, 20 miles of utility poles fell down under the weight of the ice hanging on the power lines. I had to call my brother Ronnie in Fairfield to make sure he had heat and electricity in his house. He did. Even better, the Governor issued a No Towing Ban over the entire state so we had to inform every car renter that if they get stuck, they have to call 911 cause we can't rescue them. One Arizona guy exploded at us when we explained he isn't getting to his destination that night, flights are cancelled and roads are closed, and if he stole a snowmobile from the neighbors he will freeze before leaving the city. It was so cold that we needed a sweater over our sweaters. I told many people that they have to lodge their complaints to the Governor's office. On a better note, a friend at work gave me the email address of a single guy, he was her friend's cousin living in Muscatine. For once I had a Valentine in the male single form not covered in fur, not that I'm complaining about fur-covered Valentines.
Spring came bringing birds the cats love to chase. The airport turned on the air conditioning too soon in this nice weather that we had a space heater on to keep warm. The apartment put in a new exercise room that is very nice and gave us keys so it can be used 24 hrs. Frodo celebrated his 1st birthday and he was ready to take on the now equal-sized Precious in their cat games. Precious is slightly bigger, but slightly enough to Frodo to challenge. Frodo got a can of crab meat and a new water bowl to aid in hydration during the upcoming heat of summer. The great pet food scare erupted and I carefully watched for any changes in behavior. I changed brands not under the recall list and hoped for the best. Frodo got stuck behind a neighbor's fence during one of our daily outdoor walks and I ripped my sweatpants retrieving him, then he hides from me. I chased him down and tossed him back over the fence. Then the cats started squinting and soon got goop oozing out of their eyes so got to chase both cats around the apartment to give them eye drops for their inflammation, in both eyes. I took Mom to the Dexter Cemetery (her side of the family) so she didn't have to drive that far. Dad took her around Milo (his side). Cats begin getting fussy about ending their daily walk outside and once got rained on before returning. Poor Frodo slipped on the sidewalk and Precious had to swim across the parking lot. At least they were very soft after their shower.
Summer came with my niece Alex's dance recital, my sister Sylvia's knee surgery, 4th of July in Milo, and Brooks family reunion (Mom side). My niece Annika slept over my place while Mommy Sylvia was in the hospital for her first knee replacement. Sylvia didn't get the nursing home care my Mom had and went straight home after surgery. Her husband Lance was quickly tested on his nursemaid skills. I took Annika to the zoo and the swimming pool in the apartment complex. I introduced my new boyfriend to my family on the 4th of July and family reunion. As the heat turned up, the cats looked dead so I turned on the air conditioning to bring them back to life. Frodo caught his first bird and carried it in his mouth like a trophy. I stole his new toy and carried the frightened bird back to a tree limb. We took trips to the vet for our annual checkups and booster shots. Frodo learned a new trick spreading all four paws to keep from entering the cat carrier. Both cats are healthy, but Precious should not gain anymore weight (15 lbs. is top weight for a tomcat and he was 14.7 lbs.). He has been on an exercise regiment of chasing squirrels and racing Frodo down the stairs. Frodo is shortly behind him at 12.5 lbs. I visited my boyfriend's hometown and met all his family and friends there.
Autumn brought a promise ring given for my birthday present and 3 weeks later boyfriend got cold feet and ran away. He was weird anyway so I'm not feeling too bad about it. Soon after learning I'm available again, two guys chased me around the airport and quit talking to me just before Halloween. I had to ask my friends if I'm being dumped because neither guy wanted to dress up in a costume and go out for Halloween. It's okay because their idea of a date was turning into hanging out in my apartment watching TV. I do that every day of week so that is not MY idea of a date. I took niece Annika to my apartment manager's Halloween party and she got a bag of candy. She was Cinderella and I was Little Red Riding Hood. This year we have been practicing parental separation with monthly sleepovers to accustom Annika for their impending trip to China to pick up Annika's soon to be adopted baby sibling. Mom announced that Dad got her a pretty door to go on the outside of the new kitchen addition so Dad is making great progress towards completion. He has the walls and ceiling up, but needs to cut out the windows.
We had a white Thanksgiving with me working. My dinner was a hamburger in the cafeteria because turkey was not on the menu. Precious has a longer coat of fur so he can stand being outside longer than Frodo. Most of our daily walk has been running up and down stairs pouncing each other. I decorated my apartment into a Winter Wonderland. December will bring my niece Alex's Nutcracker performance, nieces Tory's and Alex's church program, and spending the family Christmas at Aunt Mary's this year. Then kissing my cats at midnight on New Year's Eve, again. We Wish a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Love Always, Jordan
Precious and Frodo say Meow.
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