Amber & EOY 2010

It's official: next year will be 2011.

So far, it looks like it will be a year full of possibilities.  Lots of opportunity to define the year and organize my priorities.  One might even call it a blank slate.

Now, all it needs is a theme song, a rhyming resolution and a some goals.

Also, my birthday falls on a Thursday next year.

Amber & Baby Kevin

It was on this day in history that baby Kevin entered the world.  He was very small and probably wrinkly, like babies are, but I imagine he looked something like this.

Only maybe he didn't have glasses then.  But that scarf is from his heritage and so it seems likely they swaddled him in that in the hospital.

Well, today we celebrate that day, long, long and almost six feet tall ago.  Several rotations of the hands of this clock have passed, anyway.

(Photo by Jimmy)

And, now Kevin is my professional colleague in addition to being my morale booster, musical entertainment, life advice coacher, and truly wonderful friend.  He is also a snappy dresser--this jacket is also heritage, so maybe this was what he wore to his Christening?

(Photo by Jimmy)

Kevin is the kind of loyal, heartful friend that you need for your first chakra.  If someone is going to pack up the contents of your life and present them to you in a U-Haul truck, you want it to be Kevin.

(Photo by Jimmy)

 Kevin will present you with the truth (maybe that you are a hoarder) with humor and caring.  Kevin understands that you're just a regular person and he respects you for it.

Thanks, Kevin, for being born, and for being one of the smartest, generous, funniest, most celebratory, best-haired, book-lovingest, tallest, most dedicated, strongest, and kitty-lovingest people I know.  Had we not met sometime in between your birth and now, I would be much, much less and not at all who I am today.

So, Happy Birthday, Baby Kevin.  And Big Kevin, too.

Amber & Even Bigger Birthday Booty

Last night, in addition to a quieterly breathing Woody, I got this novelty t as a present from Nick.

See?  There's a doggie riding a bike with a kitty in the basket.  And, under my pointing hand, there is a birdie flying along with them and some trees.  (It's like this shirt and this one got together and had a green baby.)  Nick pointed out the doggie can't really reach the pedals, but we know they must be coasting because there is a little motion cloud coming out of the back tire.  Cute, and dynamic.  (Also note I am wearing the Alison hedgie today to mix it up, cutie-animal-style.)

Also, I got Thai food and this book from CRD.  It has that poem in it that makes me cry.



But really, everything makes me cry this week.

Amber & Birthday Booty Update

I got this Birthday Text from Kirk.

And, I got this gorilla ecard from Kevin and Diana.

And then this follow-up.

And then Other Kevin and James stopped by and gave me this peach donut.

And then my mom and dad sent me an ecard featuring this elephant singing a birthday song.

I just cannot believe what a bounteous birthday this has been.  And it's not over yet!

Amber & Birthday Booty

So, today is also my birthday.  And I got some stuff.

Yesterday, I got a very sweet card from my Auntie Carol.  It was so heart-felt that it made me super happy inside. Also, I got this super heart-felt post from CRD.

Then, this morning,  I got this super cutie hedgie necklace from Nick along with a rubber hedgie stamp.  (Just you wait until I mail you something.  Stamp!)

Then, I got this pretty headpiece (they call these "fascinators" I think) and some kitty highlighters from Alison and this loaf of yumminess and a burping cloth for after I eat the loaf (see my shoulder) from Emma.

And, I this awesome handy-crafted lavendar and flax pillow from Emma.  I think it supposed to be for eyes, but it smells so good I might use it as a nose pillow.

And, then I got this adorable hedgie necklace (! the sign of the perfect gift is multiplicity!) and some chocolates which I am eating right now from Alison.

Thank you, everybodies.  And, if you are wondering what a girl does with TWO hedgie necklaces?  I think she celebrates that she now has an earring option, maybe wears one as an anklet or keeps one in her hedgie shrine at home, but is really, really delighted to have friends that know her so well and are so thoughtful and giving.

Amber & The Storm Before The Calm

1.  Go to Schaubhut to pick up more meds for Pickles.  Check.

2.  Go to Whiskers to get calm drops for travel and gut-pills for barfy Woody.  Check.

3.  Get, but do not eat, a chocolate croissant for Nick's Birthday Breakfast treat.  Check on the getting...

...and we'll see about the eating.

4.  Work.  (In Progress)

5.  Pack up work laptop, stuff at office, including books to read and bike helmet.

6.  Whole Foods for last minute purchases: sunblock, citronella spray, face scrub and shampoo.

7.  Stop by Spoiled Brats to place order to pick up tomorrow on way out of town.  (Rather than lug two cases of food, 35 lbs of litter, and other supplies up the stairs and then back down tomorrow.)

8.  Buy $5 gypsy skirt on the street.

9.  Laundry.

10.  Pack and clean apartment.

11.  Go to River House.

 Breathe.

Amber & More Birthday Wishes

I totally almost forgot that this guy says Happy Birthday to Nick, too.

And so does Petey!

You can tell because he is licking the air to taste the excitement.

Amber & Birthday Boys

Happy Birthday to Nick!

Nick has so many great qualities.  He is a fantastic watching programs companion, he is good with kitties (being one of the only three of Pickles's people friends) even when it means selflessly giving up his own pillow for old guys.  Nick is creative, kind, and forgiving when you eat all the sorbet he brought back from Fretta's without him.  He is also extremely brave when it comes to throwing out weird food in the fridge-- he even sometimes postpones doing it so that it is even more challenging.  He also has great taste in eye glasses and has some of the nicest hair I have ever seen.  Also, he is a great director for my interpretive dance.  He is incredibly supportive of all of my talents like that.  Even my newfound belly dance obsession.  Also, he is good at gently warning you if you are about to eat too much salami.

Nick wears a number of professional caps.  His main job is as a trainer for telephone operators.

In this photo, taken by the very talented James, Nick is showing an operator how to plug in the telephone.  You will note his work uniform matches the phones.  He is good at matching.  That is another admirable quality.  He has great socks.

Happy Birthday, Nick!  I am glad you were born.

Amber & Surprise for Kevin's Cats!

Surprise, kitty boys!

Erl baked you a cake!

But, since you live in New York and your cake is was in San Francisco, and also since you don't eat chocolate cake, she gave it to Alison for her birthday.  (Happy Birthday, Alison!)

But, just pretend, boys, that you got cake when you eat your wet food tonight.  Nom nom nom.

(James photo)

Still: Surprise!

Happy Birthday, Kitty Cousins!

Today is the birthday of the Kevin cats.  They are turning 11 which makes them officially Old Guys.

Good thing this one is already a wise, distinguished gray.

He is so handsome I could die.  Look at that first-class daintiness with the one paw outstretched.

And I am glad to hear this inky one shows no signs from retiring from his career as a super hero, The Silky Torpedo.

Last year on their tenth birthday, they got sardines and the black cat sure got to practice being a torpedo under Kevin's feet.  I wonder if Kevin is repeating the treats, or if he got too torpedoed.

I love these kitties.  It's nice to think of them as part of the extended family.  They are such loving, special beasts.

I know they bring Kevin and Diana lots of joy.  And they do me as well.

All photos are by Cat Photographer, James.  There's an amazing set here.

Amber & It's All In There

This weekend, a new kitty environment was added to my household.

This Super Fabulous Kitty House really sums up the weekend.  It was made by my fantastic sister.

Candice is seen here prepping for her trip to the Gulf where she helped out with the oil clean up efforts by wrapping herself in toilet paper and then rolling around on the beach.  See?  She is not only very giving of environments to the kitties, but she also helps out the other Al Gore kind of environment.

In addition to being made by the birthday girl, out of the box which contained an air conditioner present from my parents which made my apartment completely livable again, which they gave me on their visit, and which my dad and Bernard installed, the Super Fabulous Kitty House also reminds me of all the fun games the cats played in it all weekend which reminds me that I had a super fun time watching the World Cup Soccer game on Sunday with Nick and Diana after brunch at La Palapa.  And that reminds me of huevos rancheros con salsa verde.  And that pile of green stew and white creamy stuff on an egg makes me happy.

See?  The Super Fabulous Kitty House is really quite representative of my whole weekend.

Amber & Birthday Poose

Happy Birthday, Zachariah!

Make sure that you check our CRD's tribute to his beastie buddy to learn more about my second favorite Awesome Club regular attendee's Qualities which are numerous and cat-like.

If I wasn't on bed rest, I would squeeze you super hard, Zach.

Amber & Birthday Dress

Also, I am wearing a special bonnet in honor of Diana's birthday all day today.

Happy Birthday, Diana!

Amber & You Are What You Love And Not Your Epiploic Appendagitis

Oh hai.  Meet my organs.

I have an internal boo boo.  The good news is that they finally figured it out (remember my ER trip and my "flank pain"?) and I am going to be super duper fine.  The bad news is that I am on bed rest for the next seven days...  although that might turn out to be a very good thing for the blog.  Except that I am all stoned on pain pills.  Again, could be good.  You be the judge.

The sad, sad news about being on bed rest is that I can't go to the birthday party for this gal.

Remember when I gave her all those cats as a present when she came to visit me in Canada? Too bad she forgot to take them with her.

(Photo by Jimmy)

I once noted her signature style was warm hats in the winter.  The real quintessence of Diana is beauty.  Both internal and external.

(Photo by Jimmy)

I love Diana.

Amber & Boys

Did I mention it was the birthday of these guys?  Ginger and Pickles.

Sigh.  They are so photogenic.  Look at this one!

Ginger is a little light-colored in that shot.  Must be the sun glare.

Amber & Terrible Two (s)

Happy Birthday, little guys who are no longer so little!

Ginger has sure grown into those giant ears, but Pickles still thinks that snowman blanket is his momma.

Look at that curly belly!  And that pink nose!  I could just squeeze him to death.

As predictable as Pickles is (thunder?  under bed!  you're awake?  I'll give you fleece wand!), Ginger embodies the art of kitty mystery.

His love of fresh vegetables and fruits is matched only by his love of eating cardboard, shoes, and the leather on my handbag.

Having four cats is often very challenging.  (I wish someone had warned me!)  They don't always get along, they eat five cans of wet food every day, and there is nothing harder than lugging a 30 lb bag of litter up five flights of stairs.  Oh, and I go through about one lint roller every week.

But, it has been so, so worth it.  I love these special babies super much.  I feel so lucky to have such fascinating and snuggly critters live with me.

Also?  They smell like hope and comfort.  And unicorns.

I look forward to celebrating their fourteenth birthday on this blog.  Which, at that time, will just be beamed into your brains.

Amber & Welcome Back, Old Friends

Two exciting bits of foodie news that confirm the arrival of a new summer and, at the same time, harken back to summers of yore:

1.  NYC Icy has returned to a small space on Avenue A with its ever-exciting assortment of flavored ices.

James sends this photographic proof, featuring the flavors matcha and cherry.  He also reports they had a purple carrot flavor.  This?  Is definitely worth an A train ride.  Even if it's going local.  And I'll wear my novelty t.  It will be just like 1999 all over again.

2.  The Tabla Frankie Cart has returned.  Last week, the fellas and I partook of its food and beverage offerings and then sat in the Park soaking up June.

Although this article claims the lamb frankie is a new addition to the menu, it certainly isn't.  I had it last year.  Hello, FACT CHECKERS?

An added treat was that we got to see Taya's little guy having a fun playtime while we ate our sandwiches.  (But, being responsible people, we did not approach or kidnap him.)  Taya, by the way, just turned 40 and reported, several hours into her actual birthday, that it was pretty good.  Happy Birthday, Taya.  And thanks for being the guinea pig on that milestone for me.