Random Thursday: Random Dietary Oddities and Assorted Cats.

Posted in Random by Sarah W

Random Thursday (ˈrandəm ˈTHərzdā): the day on which Sarah plunks down all the odd bits and pieces she’s been sent by friends or has otherwise stumbled upon this week in an effort to avoid writing a real post, the assembly of which usually ends up taking twice as much time as sitting down and creating actual content.

The unofficial theme of this including the interview I had yesterday, Jane’s unexpected attack of bronchitis, and my MIL’s cancer surgery tomorrow.

Wish us all luck, please—the good stuff, if you can spare any.

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I suppose a free-range Boca Burger is out of the question?

No Tofu for You!

My friend ‘firstmausi is visiting the States from Germany this month
and is currently in Oregon.

When she sent me this awesome pic, I thought she’d accidentally arrived in Texas . . .

oooooooooOOOOOooooooooo

GIl Ham Chay

The thing that really bugs me about this?

Lamyong is based in Australia.

But at least the “u” in “flavour” makes sense.

oooooooooOOOOOooooooooo

My Cat’s Birthday

This is for indy’s Miss Kitty and my Toby, who are both sixteen
(though they aren’t being particularly sweet about it).

I love Cheryl Wheeler.

I love her so much, I’m gonna share my favorite version of my favorite of her songs.

Yes, again. ‘Cause it fits the theme.

oooooooooOOOOOooooooooo

Hold it.

Chocolate Salad

You mean, I’ve been a vegetarian this whole time?

(thanks, Siobhan!)

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The Answer: Nineteen Seconds

The Question: At which point in this video does Simon Tofield
justify my core belief
that the toilet paper should always go under?

There you go.

12Jun2014

Random Thursday: Smiles for Miz Phyllis

Posted in Random, Tough Stuff by Sarah W

One of my favorite readers from my library’s short story group died this past Saturday, at the age of 87. Today is her funeral.

I thought about cancelling Random Thursday—which was only half done, anyway—but among the reasons this lady became a favorite was her irascibility, her love of clashing colors, her diabolical sense of humor, and her absolute refusal to miss a thing.

When she became too ill to come to our group, she had Dorothy—her best friend of half a century and official Partner in Crime—bring her a copy of the next story up for discussion. Her son read it to her and she dictated her reactions, which he gave to Dorothy, who would bring them to me before our meeting, so I could give the Monthly Phyllis Report.

If I’d told her I was skipping a blog post for her out of respect, she would have rolled her eyes at me and said, “Well, that’s dumb. I like to see people smile.”

So this is for Miz Phyllis, who appreciated randomness in all forms, thought Hemingway was overrated, and tolerated my coffee with a grimace and liberal doses of French Vanilla creamer.

We’ll take care of Dorothy for you, ma’am. Promise.

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Painting Brazil

Soccer + Brazil = All The Colors. Everywhere.

Since 1986, World Cup fans in Brazilian cities and towns have painted their streets in support of their team.

This year, Google maps put the images up in an interactive gallery.

Go look.

It’s awesome.

oooooooooooooOOOOOooooooooooooo

Baby. Goats. Running.

(Thanks, Watson—I needed that)

oooooooooooooOOOOOooooooooooooo

Happy Turtle

Because anthropomorphizing animals
based on random physical attributes
that mimic human reactions
and have nothing to do with their actual emotional state
makes me feel good.

Okay?

(Click the image, or here, for more happy animals—and I don’t want to hear it)

oooooooooooooOOOOOooooooooooooo

Just a Norman Episode

Phyllis liked to tell stories about her cat,
usually ending with a declaration of gratitude that she owned her house and therefore didn’t have to worry about losing a security deposit.

His name was Norman—“As in Bates,” she’d say—and she spoke of him with such exasperated affection, it was three or four months before I realized he was a cat, and not her husband.

Phyllis’s son took Norman in around March, when her health worsened.

When her best friend Dorothy came to visit a week or two later, her son was there, saying that Norman had pulled an Xbox apart with his bare, declawed* paws and chewed up the insides of it.

According to Dorothy, Phyllis had smiled and said, “Oh, good. I was worried he wouldn’t feel at home.”

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* Miz Phyllis told me once that she was against declawing cats, but Norman had come that way from that shelter—and she’d come to be grateful that he had.

16May2013

Random Thursday: Sad Cats, Cool Cats, and Simon’s Cat

Posted in Random by Sarah W

It’s Random! It’s Thursday! It’s Random Thursday!

Several of you sent me a lot of cats this week. So I’m giving ’em back.

Don’t tell Mike Allegra.
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So That’s how it Happens . . .

Watson sent me this—she’s a bit worried, but only because she’s deathly allergic.

Cat Future

I told her my mother has been married for fifty years and has never had fewer than four cats since we kids left home.

On second thought, that probably wasn’t as comforting as I’d hoped.

ooooooooooooooOOOOOoooooooooooooo

The Great Catsby

A mash-up of The Aristocats and that new movie adaption starring What’s His Name from Inception.*

It’s amazing how well this works.

The original is here, if you’d like to compare—it synchs with the above video about 38 seconds in.

(thanks, Kev!)

ooooooooooooooOOOOOoooooooooooooo

Imminent Betrayal vs. Snuggles

Tough call.

Though I should probably mention here that our cat Toby is the reason I know from experience that when someone jabs you in the eye unexpectedly,** you really do see red cartoon stars.

(via Siobhan, whom I forgot to thank for yesterday’s image as well—sorry, Vannie)

ooooooooooooooOOOOOoooooooooooooo

Sad Cat Diary

This made me snort so loudly, Jane said “Bless you.”