Priorities...

What do I do first?  Clean up the insulation in the basement left by the contractor, shovel, start and clean off the cars, exchange the cable box, assess the broken limbs of the dogwood tree that now have to be chopped up and dragged to the curb, clean up the broken patio table, handle the moisture issue in the basement before it gets worse, buy Advil, or ask the kids who built a snow ramp in my backyard to leave?  Homeownership.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

Well, it happened.  I finally went back to school today.  And then something else happened.  Less than an hour ago, they closed school for tomorrow.  I guess it stands to reason seeing there is currently somewhere between 2 - 3 inches of snow on the ground and, apparently, it is expected to get worse overnight with high winds.  I am going to have to visit News Channel 12's website to see what the situation is.  Notice how I said visit their website, as oppose to actually turning on channel 12.  There is a reason for this.  Yesterday, I received cable back, however, there was no signal to the TV from the cablebox.  After spending a less-than-productive, but friendly online chat with a technician (or so they call themselves), it was determined that the box was fried during the power outages over the past week.  I offered to drive to their store to swap it.  And so I did.  My Howell to East Brunswick journey took one hour and twenty minutes.  Proud of driving safely in the weather, I put on a devenir (sp?) smile and approached the lady at the window.  However, she didn't exactly have the 'how may I assist you' kind of face on today. She curtly said, "Go to Eatontown."  Interesting how the word 'curt', which is my name, means rude and brief.  I hope the vocabulary term doesn't correlate to the disposition of the people who actually possess the name.  Nonetheless, having a term that is a homophone of one's own name deserves a place in their lexicon.  Anyway, as I was saying, Eatontown had just gotten power back and were open, and apparently East Brunswick doesn't carry my type of box.  Interesting.  It IS all the same company.  And the website said nothing about specific models for specific stores.  So there is no TV until tomorrow or possibly Friday.  Oh well.  All in all, I got home safe and it really is not the worse thing in the world.  After hearing some of the stories from teachers at school who literally lost their homes, I am actually grateful for my broken cable box.

I have to say, although early in the season, the snow is quite beautiful.  It is a wet, sticky snow.  The kind that sticks to the tress, draping over the branches like delicate strips of white linen.  The kind of snow used for snow balls and building snow men...or snow people to be PC.  It suits Monmouth Avenue quite nicely.

I never really cared for winter or the cold.  The stinging of the wind against your face, or that moment of shock when you sit down in the car in a pair of cold jeans.  You know that feeling, admit it.  But I do love that crisp, cold, almost minty feeling you get when you take in a breath of air.  Or throwing on a sweatshirt or robe while having something warm to drink and stretching out on the couch.  And who can argue with sleeping in or catching a nap when school is called off.  One of the many benefits of being a teacher.  As I have gotten older, I have learned to appreciate winter in a new way.  Although it gets darker earlier and takes a little longer to warm up, there is something to be said for a warm home and a home cooked meal on a cold, snowy, winter night.  Those are the things we should be grateful for when life is pulling our attention in a million directions. 

With all this talk about snow, below are a couple pictures of the current state of Monmouth Avenue.  It will be interesting to see what is to come in the next few hours.

Happy Blogging!

-Kurt

What is up with the cat?

As you may know, Casey and I travel a lot.  Sometimes for pleasure, perhaps a family trip or weekend getaway, but most often, traveling tends to be for work.  Something interesting happened upon my return from California last week.  Apparently, our cat finds his accomodations, while we are gone, less than stellar.  You see, I found a set of instructions on the table and he demands we provide them to his next caretaker.  So, if you happen to be the one we choose to take care of this high maintenance animal, please make sure you obey his request.  I am not sure what consequence he would impart.  It reads...

Ah, hello, sexy people.  Hello from Hemingway.  I am, how do you say, de sexy.  Welcome to my sexy kitty cat lair.  I see that my human has left me in your care.  Fool.  Probably went to visit blonde lady, who I hear is working for a mouse.  Who would work for a mouse?  I spit on mice, I eat them.  Ptooie.  Anyway, back to my sexiness. 

I will require nutritional substance twice a day.  ½ cup of dry sexy kitty cat food, and one spoon of canned food from my sexy monkey spoon.  De monkey, he is sexy too.  I also must have fresh cold water twice a day to maintain my sexy coat.

I am happy to say I am content to be with you and not at de spa.  Last time I went there, it was not de spa.  Stupid humans.  Ah, what can I say.  They clean my, how do you say, my poopy stinks.  Speaking of poopy stinks, please clean mine once per day.  Brown bags are available for you to put my poppy stinks in.  If you do not clean it once a day, I will punish you.  Not with lack of sexiness, but I will be forced to play with my poopy stinks and you will be cleaning poopy stinks all around de sexy kitty lair.  Haha.

I sleep, on de bed.  On my blue blanket.  I like to stretch out and fill the night air with my sexiness.  Please carry me around the apartment and pet me so I may spread my sexiness to all the rooms.

My human is a generous man.  Stupid, but generous.  You may use anything in this sexy kitty lair.  (Check expirations dates, my human, he does not clean the fridge).  We may share in spirits, food, and sexy company.  Clean towels are in the skinny closet.  Skinny and trim like myself.  Open the windows if you would like so I can spread my sexiness around the world.  A clean towel and wash cloth are available for you on the towel rack by de toilet.  Clean my bowl after every meal and remember, throw my poopy stinks in the garbage can outside, not de kitchen garbage.  Remember I am de sexy.  I look forward to your company, sexy people.  Now, give me a sexy kitty massage.  Oh yes, and I dig de plants all over the carpet (cue evil laughter).

De Sexy,

Hemingway