Amber & Special Gifts

On this day 40 years ago, something very special happened to me in utero:  an amazing person was born who would prove to be a fantastic friend 19 odd years later.

Happy Birthday, James.

Thanks for being such a special gift from the universe to me.

Sabrina offered James her own special gift in the form of a reedonkulous sleeping pose.

So much goodness, all around.

Amber & But How Long Will We Last?

I know this: when it comes, it's either going to be apes or birds.  One of the two.

Why is Jimmy always on the front lines?

Amber & I'm Still Here

Just FYI: I didn't get Raptured.  (Unlike Kaiser Rolls.) Woody didn't either, and if anyone was going to get sucked up to heaven, wouldn't it be that sweetie guy?

So, what to do since we're all here for a while longer?  Suggestion:

Amber & Leaving Work Now

My friends over at Island Rescue Natural Care Center took this video of me leaving the office today.



I am very excited for the weekend.

Amber & Kevin Started It

I swear he said, "Monchichi," randomly.  And then I had to sing the theme song.  I had to.



I love you, Monchichi.

Amber & First Third 2011 Search Traffic

I have really been neglecting my sidebar gadgets-- especially the Search Traffic.  I've posted the top search terms from January to April.  Finally.

It's nice to see so many primate friends make the top of the list, including Amy and our friend the kinkajou.  Somebody has been searching for some of our friends by name, too.  I hope they've found what they are looking for.

(Don't worry friends, I've already removed the errant surnames from the photo credits on the offending post. Still, I wonder who is looking for you.)

Amber & Orange You Glad

Relief in sight.

If by "relief" you mean "Med-High" levels of what my system thinks is deadly poison floating around in the air. My ribs hurt from sneezing, so any port of Med-High calm in a tree seed storm.

Really, the best thing for allergies are otters.

I love that guy so much, I might die from his cuteness. Which, you see, is good for my allergies.  Because dead people don't choke on their own post-nasal drip.

Amber & Tip of The Iceberg I Live In

So, my toilet is broken.  It's not like that other time when there was a giant sink hole in my floor and I could see my downstairs neighbor.  This seems pretty minor.

Forgive me if I get all plumber technical on you, but the rubber string thing that goes from the handle to the rubber stopper thing that keeps the water is, well, broken.  Victor came this morning and said, "This needs a part.  I will get it and come back tonight."  The part he needs is the "rubber string thing that goes from the handle to the rubber stopper thing that keeps the water in."  Because that part is broken.

It's not so bad having to remove the lid and yank the part up manually but it definitely needs to get fixed.  But, it's hard to be upset about given the fact that the whole building is about to go off the grid according to this notice Con Ed posted on the main door.

That's right, readers, as of May 25, I will be blogging by magic-markering my posts (by candlelight) on poster paper and then wearing them like sandwich boards and walking up and down Broadway.  Or, maybe we'll get a treadmill and hook it up to a generator and let the kitties do some jogging?

The "hazardous condition" needing correction might be somehow related to the hole in the road in front of my house that ConEd made last winter.

And the cables running from that hole across the sidewalk--but with this nice rubber ramp so nobody trips (safety first!)

--up into the basement of the building.  (Look at the hand-crafted box with the cable running along the edge of the road!  Craftsmanship.)

So, really.  You have to have context when your toilet is broken.  And not panic.  But also maybe get a lawyer.  (Anybody know where I can find the number for Dodge and/or Minikes?) Because May 25 is fast approaching.  And it takes a least one full laptop battery to watch two or three episodes of Columbo.

Amber & What Time Is It?

Time to hop home.

I am out of here like a bunny rabbit on a hurdle course designed for Santa and his sleigh?  Um, yes.  Like that.

Amber & The Winner(s) Is

Remember my bag of coins?

Well, Erl sure gets bragging rights as the person to come closest with her guess of $12.34.

 Actual total?  $12.12, which included 54 dimes, 83 nickles, and 257 pennies.

If we are playing by Price Is Right rules, and I did fail to specify which rules we were playing by, Alison wins with her guess of $9.67, closest without going over.

Kevin, with his guess of $400, gets honorable mention for being completely crazy pants.

Thanks for playing, even if you did not win a prize (any of you, because there were no prizes).  See you back here next year for more coin redemption fun!

Amber & Help Me

And it feels like it.

Amber & Guessing Game

It's that time again!  Time for a trip to the Penny Arcade!

(Although James warned me and I have now confirmed that they charge a fee for their non-customers, so I may end up rolling or going elsewhere.)

Care to guess how much?

Tips:  That's a quart-sized baggie and there are no quarters (laundry): just pennies, dimes and nickles.

James guessed $7.25.  One last shot to help.

Amber & Hump Day

I believe in tomorrow.  Tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms futher.... Or, at least, by Wednesday morning?  My allergies will be a little better.

It seems all dependent, though, precariously and potentially elusively, on some orgastic rain that, thus far this week, day by day receded before us. It elduded us yesterday afternoon, but that's no matter.  For tomorrow, it really may rain.  Or at least 70% may rain.

So I beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into that cloudy allergic state where I can't muster up enough brain power in between sneezes to blog about any good books I just reread.