Can we still be friends?

Internet, here's the thing: I moved to Portland, I now go to church in a bar and I've recently stopped shampooing my hair.  I totally understand if you want to see other people.  If, however, you are willing to love me even though I've gone off the deep end, I just want you to know I love you back.

Reading cookie recipes

I stop reading as soon as they list margarine or butter in the ingredients.  I can't take your recipe seriously if you would consider using fake butter, even though you're allowing me to use the real thing.  Sorry.

My weekend

I know what you're thinking... same day pictures?  There must be something wrong with her.  But don't worry, there will be a total lack of blogging to accompany these photos.

I heart you, Portland

I live in the best place.  Even when I'm having a rough time, all I have to do is step out into my city and I become apart of it.  It's constantly moving and breathing and changing.  The community is rich with of the things that are important.  Not to mention, I'm pretty in love with the gorgeous fall we're experiencing.

Portland is all kinds of weird, and it's mine!

Annie B.

It was just before summer, 1997, and I was spending a lot of time at my boyfriend's house.  One day a calico cat showed up on the property and much to every one's dislike: I fed her.  Naturally, she stuck around and eventually grew on everyone.  I even caught her in the house a time or two because they took pity on her (and secretly liked her).  A few weeks later the new cat had kittens.  Six of them!  Right there in the shed.  My boyfriend's parents were thrilled.  Sadly, days later, before the newborn kittens even had their eyes open, we found the cat dead by the cow barn.  One of the brother's girlfriends helped me take care of the kittens.  We fed them special milk out of tiny little kitty bottles and washed them with our finger in a washcloth to simulate the feeling of their mother's tongue, we played with them and cuddled with them all the live long day.  There were two all black kitties, two black with white markings and two calico girls - one long haired, one short.  When they were ready to break from the litter we had to find them new homes right away.  One stray cat was one thing, six were another.

I begged my mom to take one of the kitties.  We already had Stubby, but I convinced her he needed a friend.  She only wanted a calico.  The cutest by far was the long haired, but a little girl wanted her, so she took the short hair - which was really my favorite anyway, she was the most playful.  And so was the beginning of Little Orphan Annie.

  

We called her Annie B., Annie Bananie and Stinky.  She was the best!  She would purr and purr and purr so loudly.  She loved to be rubbed right under her little white chin and her spotted, leopard belly.  She had beautiful markings, especially the black lining around her eyes.  She was just the sweetest thing, which I always thought was because she had been handled so much since she was born and didn't grow up learning about hunting for food or defending herself.  She learned quick enough with Stubby around!  They were so cute together.  But unlike Stubby, Annie took everything in stride whether it be golden retrievers or moving and road trips.  Nothing phased her, she just kept on purring.

She was eleven years old when she died this morning.  She had been my comfort through divorce and moving and starting over more than once.  It was always wonderful to go home and see her.  I'm so thankful to have had the kitties with me this summer.  I miss them both so much, but I have an extra sadness today.  I love you, Annie.

Texting

me: Listening to Oh Boy, lusting after that harmonica.  GOOD LORD... pretty sure this album could be the end of my salvation.

ae: Just downloaded Oh Boy last night.  See you in hell!

Emergency twenty

I was probably ten or so.  My mom has her wallet out.  It's black and when you open it it flips up over the top and there are two rows of cards side-by-side.  In the pocket of the first one on the left there is a twenty dollar bill folded up and tucked behind her Costco card.  It's her "emergency twenty" and she tells me when I have money that I need to always keep a twenty dollar bill in my wallet just in case.  I still do it to this day.  I even fold it up just like she did and tuck it in a hidden spot in my wallet.  Tonight someone asked me for a twenty, and although I don't really carry cash, I had my secret stash thanks to my mama.

Ten-four

When I was little my dad had a huge shop in the way back of the property.  He'd spend hours and hours back there working on Beauty, his 1941 Willys coupe.  We had intercoms in the house and the shop, and occasionally my mom would tell me to call Daddy and let him know dinner was ready.  So I would and I remember he would always respond "ten-four."  I had no idea why he liked those numbers so much or what made him pick them every single time.  I just thought he was funny.  So then I would say back, "ten-six!" or "ten-eight!" and giggle like crazy.

Don't act like you didn't know this was coming

It's frickin' freezing in Portland!  I heart the fall, I really do.  But it's so damn cold in my apartment that my toes are about to snap off.  I just want to snuggle into my new fleece sheets and come back out next June.

Feline email exchanges

from: stubbyandannie@gmail.com

to: mom@gmail.com

date: Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 12:46pm

subject: Where is "home" really?

Annie and I have talked, and we decided we'd like to stay here at Katie's awhile longer.  Annie loves the chicken here and is afraid she won't get the same home cooked meals in your kitchen.  I mean lets face it, you don't even like to cook for humans.  I don't want to live with those rambunctious, blonde beasts again.  And don't even get me started on traveling with them.  Why don't we say we'll stay at least through the end of the year.  That way you can get to Arizona and get settled and then we can talk about this again.  And besides, Katie really needs us here.  She'd be SO lonely without us, and we really like it here.  We enjoy being "city kitties" and all the attention she gives us.  Please consider...

Love you (but not the dogs),

Stubby-butthole

from: stubbyandannie@gmail.com

to: katie@gmail.com

date: Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 12:51pm

subject: Please don't make us go!

Oh-so-lovely Katie,

We got word that we're being taken to Redmond, held captive for a couple of days, and then being taken on that dreadful trip back to Arizona.  Please don't let it happen just yet!  We want to spend more time here with you.  We love being here in the city!  Remember when we lived with you for a whole year before Mom & Dad moved?  That was the best!  And we want to stay with you for a while longer.  Please, please can we stay?

Love,

Stubby and Annie

from: katie@gmail.com

to: mom@gmail.com

date: Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 12:56pm

subject: Fwd: Please don't make us go!

Look what I got from the kitties...

They must really want to stay to go through all the trouble of creating an email account without opposable thumbs.  How can you deny them?  And you know I really, really , REALLY want them to stay longer!  Plllllllllllease?  Pretty please with sugar on top!  I love Stubby and Annie SO much!

from: mom@gmail.com

to: katie@gmail.com

date: Sun, Sep 21, 2008 at 6:03am

subject: kitties

My darling Kathryn:

Valiant attempt, but not happening!