Elf on the shelf and Christmas shopping

It's that time of year again.  Time for the Elf on the Shelf and Christmas shopping. 

Now the Elf is a new thing for me.  I recently discovered the Elf a couple of years ago.  And he made an appearance at my work.  Yes nothing says Christmas like the Elf on the shelf playing in the bar.  Yes, in the bar.  In fact I couldn't even find the little drunk, so I had recruit another one to handle his duties for the year.  Maybe she won't be found like this.

Or like this

Apparently he had a thing for cognac

He ended up like this looking for money right before Christmas

So here is to hoping that his replacement has a little more restraint.  However, I'm not holding my breath that she behaves.

I started my Christmas shopping finally.  I actually did some on Black Friday, in the afternoon, and only one stop.  I'm not that crazy as to go out at 3 a.m. shopping, for gifts that is.  I've been known to go grocery shopping at the wee hours on my way home, because there is a 24 hour store on the way.  But even shopping in the wee hours is nuts sometimes.  You wouldn't believe the amount of people who have their kids out with them shopping at 2 a.m., but that's a rant for another day.

So I discovered a new store.  Well, it's not a new store. It's been around for years, I've just never gone in there.  I finally went into a Pier 1 Imports.  That's a store that I could spend hours in, and that's not a good thing.  I'm like a bull in a china shop.  I can't even think about how many things I almost ran into while there.  I'm such a klutz.  That is one of those places I should only go into with a chaperone and wrapped in bubble wrap so I don't bump into anything.  

I think I might be able to get a lot of my shopping done in just a couple of stops this year.  Who wants candles?

Insomnia and other late night things

So you would think I'd be used to staying up late.  I am used to it.  But there are times when it'd be nice to not be awake at the crack of dawn.

Tonight is one of those nights I'm hoping to be asleep long before the sun comes up. 

Why you ask?  Well, it's my night off.  I don't need to be up this late.  Ok, in defense of the time, it's still early to my body clock.  1:20am is early for me.  Except I have things that need to be done before I go into to work tomorrow.

This is week two of having only one day off due to scheduling problems at work.  We are short staffed.  So guess who gets to work on one of her days off?  Me.  Love the overtime, but it sucks when you have things that need to get done. 

At least the cats are mellow tonight.  Oh wait, its early for them as well.  In about another hour, the kittehannapolis 250 will be starting.  Yes, laps at 3am.  What is it with wee hours of the mornings and kittehs needing to run like maniacs?  Although when I'm up at that time they will usually wait until I've just fallen asleep to start.  Isn't it nice of them to wait until I can fully appreciate their run?

At least no one has fallen off the porch this week, which is good as I don't have time for them to give me a heart attack at the moment.

For those that don't know or didn't hear, my dipshit kitteh (aka. Stickers) decided during her roll on the porch to roll under the railing and fall to the porch below us.  Except what she failed to consider at the time was the fact that due to the stairs being right under the porch she didn't have a fully flat spot to land.  Needless to say she did not land on her feet.  And quite frankly, both Shortie and myself were shocked that she even fit under the rail as she is on the "fluffy" side.  Amazingly the dipshit tried to roll in the same spot later that night.  And this is why we call her dipshit.

Must try to sleep now, as I feel the random ramblings coming on.  Good night and may the insomnia fairy stay the hell away.

Old lady Whiskers is back

So Whiskers is back.  For those of you that know me, you might remember that Whiskers adopted a neighbor a few years ago.  However, due to health issues of the neighbor, the old lady kitteh is back with us. 

Now I like having my cat back, she started out as my cat and yet left because she liked the neighbor better.  But she's back.  And an even crankier old kitteh than before.  Ok, so she's 16 1/2 years old, she's allowed to be cranky at that age.  What does that relate to in human years?  150+? 

And she is very set in her ways, especially when it comes to food.  Canned?  Ok, as long as it is the one flavor she'll eat.  Dry?  Only if its kitten food.  Really?  I get that you are an old kitteh, but you are seriously picky.  Of course, she was spoiled rotten being the only furbaby of the neighbor.  But she gets the food she'll eat, because if its anything else it ends up in the garbage.

She also has her own room.  Why you ask?  Because she's an old lady and doesn't like the other kitties here.  She, however, is in for a shock when Shortie moves, as she will be having to share the apartment with the others.  Personally, I think she'll kick the crap out of them.  I'm just not looking forward to the literal cat fights while she regains dominance.

Now she knows, and was irritated by the dipshit kitteh before, Stickers used to annoy her she was a kitten.  Stickers just didn't understand that the adults wanted to be left alone.  However, since her majesty has returned, she has not really spent much time trying to get into Shortie's room.  Indie, the demon kitteh, is another story.  That little furball just doesn't get why the old lady won't play under the door with her, let alone wants her in the throne room.  Indie, piece of advice, just leave the old lady alone.  Go pester Stickers for pete's sake.

So to try to get everyone to get along, Shortie and I have been giving the old lady and the demon face time.  What could be wrong with that you ask?  Well, the old lady is armed and knows how to use the claws.  And did I mention she's cranky too?  Armed and cranky, oh yeah let me volunteer to hold that one while Shortie holds the demon.  At least she didn't draw blood, yet.

But they should get along at some point, right?  Or would it more realistic to be hunting zombies and unicorns?  I, however, will be investing in lots of bandaids and catnip.