Amber & Tomorrow Will Be Pretty Much Like Today, Only Maybe A Little Snowier

When, on Monday morning you check the weather as you are leaving the house to make sure you are wearing enough socks and you see this...

...you are not then surprised when you step outside and see this.

It is pretty and grounding and good for your soul and Robert-Frosty, and you enjoy it.  (You come, too!) And then by the end of the day it is over.

But then, the next day when you wake up and bundle up (two pairs of socks, Expedition Weight long johns, a thermal shirt under cashmere and fingerless gloves) and step outside into this...

...you are a little surprised.  It's less of a "wintery mix" and more of a full-on snow storm.

And then you check the weather again, and find this.

I love that the NWS releases are in all caps.  It conveys a sense of URGENCY and also vaguely suggests an old teletype machine.  Highlights:

* HAZARDS... HEAVY SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS... 8 TO 12 INCHES OF SNOW.

Huh.  Even an unreliable weather app is right, although perhaps understated, twice a week.

I wish the weather app had little icons showing you which level of Capilene to wear.

Amber & Diversity and Ancestry

Kevin and I were talking today about species diversity.  You know: horse, pony, mule, donkey, zebra.  And maybe Przewalski's Horse.

And that made us think of Homonids.  And how there used to be so many more of us: Humans, Neanderthals, Homo Florensis.  And now we are all alone.

And that made me think back to when Neanderthals had pets.  You remember the part in The Inheritors where Fa and Lok are petting their pet pint-size Eodromaeus?

A little known fact about the Eodromaeus is that its full name is the Homo Bigtiggula, which is actually--and you can totally tell by looking at it--one of Tiggy Winkle's ancient ancestors.

See her there?  Walking in the footsteps of her wild, woodland ancestors?  Or, see the similarity here?

Science and history.

Amber & Breaking (and Sassy) News!

Ever-vigilant Kevin sends this breaking news from CSM about two of my favorite (and most blogged species):


Monkeys...

...and Squirrels.

The headline SLAYS me.

And, I found this conclusion fascinating.

"It is more likely that a simple misunderstanding about the squirrels' nature underpins the melee."

It reminded me of two other animals with a similar antagonism:

Tiggy...

...and Pickles.

Tiggy just misunderstands that Pickles is a baby and just wants to snuggle, or maybe attack her and chew her head, in the most loving way possible.

Amber & Multitasking

How do I do it, you ask?

Work full time for Mother Goose Inc. (and pretty darn well if my department's contribution to the bottom line is any evidence)?

Stay in touch with both my friends and pop culture (my BFF)?

Maintain compelling web content meant to maximize audience engagement on this blog, a go-to source for serious journalism on topics as broad reaching as Hat Hair, Kitties, and Television?

And, all the while, manage to kick the behind of my own Sudoku score?

I have an amazing muse, darling reader.

Muses, even.

Amber & Tiggy Pooja

It's that time of year again (or, really, the first time since this is the first ever observance) to honor and devote ourselves to the grace and majesty of the Ultimate Dainty Paw with Tiggy Pooja.

There are so many fantastic stories about Tiggy to be retold on her special day.  We can remember the harrowing tale of how Tiggy did battle with the metallic silver thread, protecting our household from really bad fashion choices.  And then there is the tale about how gravity has no effect on Tiggy and so she grew to be the size of a mountain once to protect us during our journey through the dark, cold lands of Wisconsin.  (For much of that journey we actually rode on Tiggy's back, or at least I rested my head on it.)

She was so big then!  But she also has the power to be as small as a mouse-- almost invisible if the challenge (the vacuum cleaner) calls for it.

Tiggy knows not every battle needs to be fought.  Sometimes, when your brother wants to chew on your butt, you are better off just going in the other room.  It's the lesson of Tiggy's non-violence.

Also, for Tiggy Pooja, we listen to alot of David Bowie because, in certain lights, Tiggy, too, knows the magic of the green and blue eyes.

For Tiggy Pooja, we spend most of the day (except the laundry offering) at home.  Tiggy frequently reminds us that the home is where her heart is.  How badly do we  really need to leave the house?  With our bag?

Tiggy is small, but full of love.  She likes her chest rubs in the morning, she likes to sit on the toilet to make sure I am surviving the horrors of the shower, and she often purrs just being next to me.  I love her, and I am thankful for the chance to honor her on her special kitty holiday.

Amber & I Love Pooh

And not just Classic Pooh or Pooh from those Taoist books.  I was raised on Sears & Roebuck Disney Pooh with the red half-shirt, and Piglett in the pink-stripe leotard.  And I love that Pooh.  I loved my aforeblogged Talking Viewmaster Viewer with the amazing depth to the images, but I also loved the flatter hand-painted animations.  Like with the Heffalumps and Woozles.

(Yes, that Pooh nightmare gave me nightmares, but it was a growth experience.)

So just imagine my excitement, when Jimmy directed my attention to this.



I cried. That is how excited I am.  Who is in for a midnight screening on the day it opens?  Huh?

Come on, people.  It's Pooh.  And there seems to be a honey dream/dance sequence.

Love.

Amber & But He Can't Glide!

But holy bologna is he cute.

Amber & Fall Wardrobes

Now that Hurricane Earl (not to be confused with Erl) has ushered in cooler, more fall-like weather, I found myself staring at my armoir, completely unable to figure out what to wear.

I mean, which one of these outfits is the snuggly and warm, but also fun for a September Sunday?

Why does it take so long for me to get dressed in the morning lately?  And why is my dresser always so messy?

Amber & Tiggy Two

Blogged last, but never, ever least.

Amber & Six Things At 6 am

1.  What can possibly happen when you are on bed rest and leave your chewy beast alone with two rolls of paper towels?

Shreddy mayhem.  What are those blurs under the drying rack?  Why that is Ginger and Woody rolling around with crazy head in piles of shreds.

2.  Not being as active as I usualy am, I was thrilled to discover this use of my skills while prone.

I am going to excel at this.  I wonder how to interpret Mrs. Tiggy Winkle while asleep.  I bet Miss Tiggy Winkle can help me.

3.  Why am I craving a chili dog at 6 am?

(Photo of my hertiage food, a Capitol Lunch dog, by Candice)

4.  Who knew some kitties had boggled eyes?

5.  What did we do when we had insomnia before LOLcats?

6.  Remember when we went to the River House last year and Pickles was the bravest and came outside to explore before any of the other cats?  Think he'll be that brave again this year?

Amber & If The Ballet Shoe Fits

I present you, on this fine Sunday, with some Culture.

You see now why I wanted to be a ballerina.  This was made the year I was born.  It was, you might say, the Role I Was Born to Dance.  Coming soon to an office where I work?

Amber & Cute Quest June 2010

I am trying to convince Kevin to take me with him to Detroit so I can meet this guy.

He's ready to meet me!

Amber & Kitty News

So, Pickles is sickie.

Well, okay, not quite that sickie.  My curliest, babiest cat has a urinary tract infection.  He was up all last night mewing at each of our many litter boxes, which, thanks to my mothering brain chemicals, made me start awake repeated.  But, today we saw our amazing and always wonderful Dr. Schaubhut who was, as always, amazing and wonderful.  He gave the baby an antibiotic and a homeopathic drop to take.  Since it's his first infection like this, those should help, but the doc suggested the boy would do better without his beloved dry food.  I'm not sure how Pickles will adapt, but I bet without his bowl of dry to visit every ten minutes he might lose some of his "density," if you've ever held him and know what I mean.  His density is at a rest right now.

The boy seems to be doing a little better, but since he is so super shy and doesn't come out from under the bed for strangers, he gets to come with me to the beach this weekend.  I think he'll enjoy it once we get there.  And probably alot more if I remember that he has to go in his carrier butt first.  I had to relearn that lesson this morning.

I've got matching ones of those on my décolletage, belly and--most incredibly ouchily--on the palm of my left hand.  Amazingly those were all done through the shirt I was wearing, which is now just a shreddy mess of rags.  Lesson learned.  Tomorrow will be better for both of us.

Amber & Four Reasons I Am Happy to Wake Up in the Morning.

1.  Just call her Tiggy of the Morning, darlin'.  She sits patiently waiting for chest rubs.

2.  Pickles is my perfect purry pal, curled up and curly waiting to be rubbed.

3.  Luff, luff, luff.  Even if mostly he is waiting for sink hands.

4.  If I didn't wake up and then get out of bed, how would I get to snuggle this guy?

Amber & Favorite Places

Birthday girl Tiggy Winkle, who doesn't look at day over seven although she's just reached her twelfth year, loves the River House just as much as I do.  Sure, she likes all the extra space and takes advantage of it to be as far as possible from her meddlesome brothers, but laying outside in the sun may be her favorite activity ever-- even more favorite than chest rubs.

Look at her soaking up the sun and squinting with joy!  I look forward to fulfilling TeeDub's birthday wishes again this summer.

Amber & Hallwalks

Even though Jesse Burgers are no more, there are lots of great things about living in what some Southern friends call "Canada," although I prefer to think of it as just "upstate Manhattan."  Namely, rents are what passes for reasonable, I have THREE closets (one just for coats), and there are amazing Dominican pastries.  But, one big downside is how long it takes to get anywhere thanks to the wholly unpredictable A train.  Of course, a little known fact is that about five minutes is added on to every commute for hallwalks.

Tiggy has passed the mantle of hallwalks on to her baby brother, and no departure from the house can be accomplished without first allowing Ginger to rub his face on every available surface on the stairs between our apartment and the roof.

He makes a mad dash up to the top of the steps to sniff the door to the roof, eat any dead spiders or flies he can find, and rub his cheek and tail on every available surface.

And then he plops down and plays "Vertigo Lookout" from the very highest point.

That usually lasts for a few minutes and then he decides he has had enough excitement and makes his "squee" noise and runs down the steps and back into the safety of our home.

Usually, Pickles and Tiggy are just inside the door, curious but happy to let Ginger explore on their behalf.  Woody is completely disinterested in hallwalks these days.  Sunshine is so much more enticing.

So, next time I come late to a function, just know that five of the tardy minutes were spent chaperoning important expeditions into the Great Unknown Hallway.  In Canada.

Amber & Alexander Technique: UR DOIN IT RITE

Forward and up, little buddy.  Your head is moving forward and up.

Amber & Don't Read Too Much Into It

Last night, I had a dream that I went to See John Cleese who was busking in Washington Square Park.

He recognized me from an episode of Murder She Wrote and came over to talk to me.  I told him my hobby was my desktop rock garden.

He said he thought that was a boring hobby with no future and should take up the cymbals.

I thought that was good idea, but was worried about where I would practice since Sake Hausman was sleeping.

And then this guy was there.

And then I woke up.  Or did I?