Saturday, January 03, 2009

Adventures in Driving....

Lots to tell you, but the first thing I can think of, that drive in sure did SUCK. Total suckedness. Perfect storm of SUCK. I know I could put that more eloquently, perhaps " Due to extreme weather conditions, the driving was somewhat hazardous" or even "Most treacherous tonight, driving-wise" but I am going with It sure did suck.

Took a little over two hours to get there, a 55 minute drive, and I kept thinking that I would go to the next exit, and then call it, but by the time I reached halfway, I realized it would suck as much to go home as it would to go on, and if I went on, I would get paid. And the owner, Judy, whom I quite like, was having her Big Family Dinner, and we were very much on the agenda and I really didn't want to disappoint her. I was late, but it worked.

Gig was fun. Dr Wicked came down, which is always fun. The guy knows my music better than I do, ALL my songs from all the cd's. We pulled out a few I hadn't even thought of in yonks. He has also offered to re-do the Paul and Lorraine site, and to take on Fabulouslorraine.com, at a price I can afford. This is very exciting. I so want my site!!!!

And even cooler, when I mentioned the live feed to St Pats Day, his response was "Well, yes, easy, let's do it.."

We love Dr Wicked.

One moment of the gig I loved was when I had to nip off the stage to get a prop (we do a song where we use a Thing) and it was one of those shows where people are way into us, and not anything else and just wait for us to move on, and as they were all looking at me , I saw a quarter and reached down and picked it up and announced "HEY I found a quarter!"

Someone asked "can you put it in Paul and make him play?" and I got to sing ...Of course..

"Coin, operated Boy......"

Always lovely to channel AFP......

Drive home was nasty. Stillwater was pretty calm, so I thought I may as well go for it, wrong idea, total Millennium Falcon going for Hyperspace, by the time I got 20 miles or so from home, there were no more lanes on the Hwy, just sort of had to shoot for the middle and hope for the best. Didn't like it one BIT.

But all's well that ends well, they do say.

I told Boss today I wanted to join him on the fitness quest, and he showed me Wii. I love Wii Fit! Really fun, and a great workout. I am going to keep it up, despite the fact that Wii Fit thinks I am a 58 year old Obese women.......

And that is something we will have to work on.

The best news is last. When I got home I fed the starving hordes. (despite the fact I had left enough food to see them thru til morning should I not be able to return, they WERE starving hordes! As anyone with Bengals knows...)

And Magic ate his while I was in the room. Came right out for it. He has never eaten while I was there.

Then we played Feather Stick.

Life is good.

Love and No more snow driving,
Lorraine

63 Comments:

At 12:26 AM , Blogger Dragonsally said...

Yetch, I was right to feel worried about you driving...I am SO glad you are home safe.

Yah for Dr Wicked. Far Flung Fiends (FFF) will be able to join in the fun.

That is brilliant news about Magic - just the sort of gift you deserve after harrowing driving.

 
At 12:30 AM , Blogger Dragonsally said...

Sometimes being a FFF means you are the one and only!

 
At 12:34 AM , Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Well, I am glad you are here...My one and only.

Just remembered something I wanted to say in the post, going back to edit..

 
At 12:35 AM , Blogger ariandalen said...

Nope, Sally. I stayed up for the new post, though I will surely regret it tomorrow.

YAY! Magic ate in front of you! More trust. :)

 
At 12:36 AM , Blogger Dragonsally said...

trickery, now I'll have to reread closely

 
At 12:37 AM , Blogger Dragonsally said...

Oh good, we won't feel so lonely now.

 
At 12:41 AM , Blogger ariandalen said...

Hee, hee, hee, hee!

Coin Operated Boy, indeed! ;)

 
At 12:41 AM , Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Oh, so glad you stayed up Adrialdalen!

Yeah, I for got about channeling AFP...Always fun...

 
At 12:54 AM , Blogger ariandalen said...

Sorry, ladies, but I have to go to bed now. My eyes are not happy with me, nor are my knees.

Night.

 
At 12:59 AM , Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

I ought to go to bed myself...Both Merry Housekeeper and Spooky Daughter are coming in the morning to help me with Spooky House Things....

Hopefully I will get to ride too...

 
At 1:05 AM , Blogger Lexocat said...

Coming through with a quick "Hi and bye!"

Channeling AFP is grand. Snow driving is not grand. Magic update is exceedingly grand! Sleep is neither grand nor not grand, merely necessary. And so I'm off, too.

Later, Fiends.

 
At 1:09 AM , Blogger Dragonsally said...

Coin operated Paul...hehe
Night all-sweet dreams

 
At 1:10 AM , Blogger vampi said...

ok that mittens webtoon was od. of course i had to show boy what i was giggling at. and now i'm saying catty cat cat at gordon ramsey on the tv.

me thinks its bed time

 
At 1:26 AM , Blogger spacedlaw said...

Glad to know you made it safely but that was taking a lot of risks!
But coming back to an always more amicable Magic was a great thing.
(As well as singing Coin Operated Boy - LOL).

 
At 1:34 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

You gotta wonder about whoever it was got to Minneapolis and said "Yup,-this-will-be-a-great-site-for-a-town".
Melbourne had a few starts before it became what (and where) it is. And we don't even have snow!!!!

Happy New Year Quiche and everyone. Thank you to everyone who wished me the same.

Quiche it was great news that made my heart warm about your Magic boy. I love those stories.

I love coin operated boy. Does Paul act the part well?

 
At 1:42 AM , Blogger BirdBite said...

I just wanted to de-lurk to congratulate you on Magic's progress. :) It's obviously taken a lot of patience and dedication!

 
At 1:48 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Finchstalker,
Your lucky Adrianalen has gone to bed. She likes spicy new brains.

You're up late. It's still early here.

Once you de-lurk, there's no going back. However, you may fade now and again :)

 
At 3:20 AM , Blogger Phiala said...

Oh, new Fiends!

And Bengals!!

And snow!

Okay, maybe that last one doesn't merit the exclamation points...

I am up far too early for a Sunday, but was lying in bed contemplating all the things I have not gotten done, and figured I might as well get up and do some of them.

 
At 3:58 AM , Blogger Stardustgirl said...

Snow driving = scary!!! I woke up to rain pounding on the roof and my first thought was "I'm SO glad that's not snow".

But Magic had dinner with you! And you found a quarter! And you're getting a spiffy website! Whooo! It's all good. What does that silly Wii know anyway. :-D So far I've not seen anyone blog about a complimentary comment from their Wii Fit.

 
At 4:35 AM , Blogger Marjorie said...

Your drive sounds very scary, so glad you're home safe again (and that it was a good gig, but we knew that it would be)

Welcome, Finchstalker!

Off to read the 100+ comments on the last post that appeared after I went to bed...

 
At 7:36 AM , Blogger Siri said...

Gotta say, Q, I'd rather have Hyperspace snow than the ice we have to drive on this AM. My driveway is a hockey rink, and the street isn't much better. I'd rather have 8" of snow than 1/10" ice. Grrr.

Off to prep for going out in it.

 
At 7:40 AM , Blogger Siri said...

At least the sun is shining, even though it's 8 F here. Windchill -12F.

That's cold

 
At 8:03 AM , Blogger EmilyLady said...

Oh, so happy to know that Magic is eating with you in the room!

I never want to drive. Ever. I think I'll have to some day, but I'll wait for as long as I can. I want to live in NYC someday, and walk and ride the Subway.

I love NYC.

 
At 8:19 AM , Blogger ivenotime said...

Boo to bad snow driving weather, glad you made it home safe! We are a bit icy ourselves today, but it should melt by the afternoon. I love Wii Fit - i play a couple of times a week, and the balance games are my favorite, my daughter loves the yoga and strength exercises - i haven't tried them yet. my wii age varies all over the map, once it even laughed at me. humph. yey, glad you have one to play with, it is so much fun. we got cooking mama world kitchen for christmas too, but haven't tried it yet. and Yey for the kitties! good for magic, sounds like that is going well.

 
At 8:31 AM , Blogger dabbler said...

Nothing like long drives in nasty snow to cause whole body aches the next day, just from the tension! At least, that's been my experience. Hope it doesn't apply to you, Quiche.

I so have Bengal envy, but won't betray my poor 15 yr old Calico by adding another cat at this stage in her life. She has outlived three, not very graciously, and is so certain that the Universe has finally gotten it right. SHE is the CAT.

And she has reverted to a kittenish love for tickle sticks.

But, have been wondering if Bengals must be indoor cats, as I have always had indoor/outdoor cats, save a brief stint of apartment living. I realize this may be an idea exciting passions, so fire away...gently!

 
At 8:31 AM , Blogger dabbler said...

Clicky ticky tock box

 
At 8:45 AM , Blogger spacedlaw said...

Our cats live inside and outside (oustide during the day and inside at night). Keeping them in would seem too cruel (and not feasible in summer when everything is open).
The down side of this, of course, is that they are bent on slaughtering the local fauna, in particular the lizards, which is a sad thing.
Also we have some bad neighbours who once threatened (verbally - they are very verbal) their lives (they - and all other cats in the neighbourhood - dirty their walls with paw prints and someone has been using the child's sand pit as a bathroom), so there is also that risk. Or cars. In fact, cars are more likely a bigger risk.
But keeping them in when they can see, hear and smell so much of the outside would be just too cruel.

 
At 8:49 AM , Blogger gaypet said...

My good friend just posted this on my facebook wall. :)

Really glad you made it home!

 
At 8:55 AM , Blogger AletaMay said...

Oh I do hope there will be more Coin Operated Boy!

So glad you got home safely Q. And Magic eating with you must have made the drive seem worth it.

 
At 8:55 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Glad you got home safely, Quiche. Snow is Evil.

And you got to sing "Coin Operated Boy!" That could NOT have been a better setup. lol

Aww, and mister Magic is just getting more trusting every day, which is Very Good News.

na - I'd never eat Bengals, but that phrases like that happen when I should be sleeping instead of typing.;)

Bleh, back to the laundry so I don't have to call in to work naked. (no clean clothes)

 
At 8:58 AM , Blogger spacedlaw said...

That was a little creepy, Gayle...

 
At 8:58 AM , Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Morning FIends. I'm up. Sort of. A little. Kind of.

Tea. Tea is my friend. Make tea. Yess....

Welcome to Sunday of a three gig week. No brains.

Bengals, Dabbler, are generally indoor cats and don't seem to mind. I take Venus and Mim out on leashes in the summer, but they would be to scared on their own. Benglas are a little more nervous about the world than regular cats.

At Boss's our cats have always been indoor out door, and they takes their chances, but Bengals stay in.

Come to the Bengal light.....I will find you one....You will love it forever...

 
At 9:18 AM , Blogger Na said...

Isn't one annual harrowing driving experience de riguer in these snowbound places? Love the hyperspace metaphor. But "uff da", too.

What joy over Magic! From here it seems like he hid and concerned you for ever so long, and then bang, an exponential curve of learning to play and trust.

We have a Wii, but not Wii Fit. Am getting mighty tempted. Although Adri has also inspired me to seek out Tomb Raider.

kali, indeed, I should have been sleeping not typing so late last night. But I was also playing scrabble with my brother online, and kept popping over here to read. Hey, I saw your fridge magnets on NYE, kali. So cool! And I thought, there's coolness in Fort Wayne! My dad's family is all from Coesse and Columbia City, and my aunt lives in Fort Wayne. And of course, there are people of all kinds everywhere. Just that area, I always feel like I stick out like a sore thumb, which is probably just snobbery of a sort, I know.

 
At 9:23 AM , Blogger Na said...

Oh! Went back to see Gayle's link. Ackk. LMAO, but then really creeped out, too.

 
At 9:29 AM , Blogger gaypet said...

I just went to the main site that image came from. Don't go there. Seriously. Don't. It's not a good place.

 
At 9:35 AM , Blogger EmilyLady said...

Goodness, Gayle -- equally gruesome and artistic.

 
At 9:39 AM , Blogger Na said...

I believe you, Gayle. When I clicked on the link to show my guy, I saw the title of the pic this time, and that was disturbing.

 
At 9:58 AM , Blogger vampi said...

yeah i could have warned you, but i was still asleep. ytmnd is a den of depravity. there is some funny there, but most takes things a step too far.

good morning fiends and welcome new fiends. more spicy brains :)

i might no be able to fiend in june. i'm going back to orlando the last week in may for my friend's daughter's graduation, and that might be too much travel for the budget. we'll see. i'll keep watching fares. there isn't a lot of direct flights from la to there.

one of my earliest memories is driving back to west layfayette from chicago in a snow storm like that. i guess i has seen star wars because i said something about light speed that was precocious and my parents still laugh about it.


and how did i forget to comment on magic eating with you. that's awesome:) also better than magic eating you for spicy brains :)

 
At 10:04 AM , Blogger Dr. Wicked said...

Here's a video I took of Paul singing the Firefly theme:
http://flickr.com/photos/drwicked/3165423849/
Thanks Paul and FabLo for playing, awesome show! And I'm honoured that I can do your website and looking forward to St Patrick's Day, we will get all the Far Flungs in on the action.

 
At 10:15 AM , Blogger Marjorie said...

Excellent video, Dr W. (I especially like the "Grrrr Aargh"...

 
At 10:21 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

vampi - West Laffalot? I grew up in Lafayette (though I spent most of my free time across the river). That 2 hour corridor from Chicago is a heck of a windy one. Hyperspace indeed!

I had a scary drive myself up from Indy to Lafayette last week through an ice storm that polished I65 and 52 to a high sheen.

Drat. Gotta head for work now. Would much rather stay here with the fiends, but the copy machines won't run themselves.

 
At 10:33 AM , Blogger Stacy Hurt said...

Gayle; that link was too funny; I love the one in the oven's face!!!

Coin operated boi? Don't even want to know where the 'coin slot' is...

The mittens link made me laugh too. Catty cat cat... LOL

I have 4 cats; one is permanent in/out door and like Nat's I couldn't 'trap' her inside forever if I wanted to come out of it alive. The other three do in/out daytime rarely (we have a cat door) and it shows! little chunks they are!

I just found out that my boss had her 4 cats declawed and she rarely let's them in the house!!! I honestly don'k know if I can even tolerate that knowledge. She said; "Oh, they have their back claws so they can still climb trees" Like that makes it all right??? I nearly came unglued; and even though she and I are friends; I'm not saying a word; but rest ye cat lovers assured; I think that is unconscionable hoomin behaviour.

 
At 10:36 AM , Blogger spacedlaw said...

Declawing is illegal in Europe. Poor kitties!
Alas we do not have a cat flap so in Winter we are foreever opening and closing the door for our furry masters.

 
At 10:43 AM , Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Cool on the vid!!!!!! Hurrah for having a Dr Wicked, I say!

De-clawing is evil, poor Magic has ALL his claws removed, and I know how badly it hurt him, no wonder he is so scared....

 
At 11:02 AM , Blogger Stacy Hurt said...

Nat; That is a GOOD thing for Europe! Wish the idiots here would take the cue from our friends across the pond. ugh; I can't even get started on this...

Q, that is the most horrible, awful, nastiest thing I can think of for poor Magic and it breaks my heart to think of him back then in his alone self feeling his pain on all his feets and thinking to the great Bastet "Why?". Really, it makes me cry even now. (ya; i'm that far gone) This is where too good an imagination can be harmful. I want to scoop him up; shoot those bas***d owners and run! Makes me feel so good to know he's with you now; on his terms and in his time and even eating with you in the room & playing with his feather stick.

I still lol when I remember what you said about Lear biding his time; then coming out; pouncing the feather, ripping it to shreds & leaving! I can hear his thoughts; 'There, job done, what's the big deal? I want my treats now.'

 
At 11:19 AM , Blogger Na said...

Thanks Dr Wicked! Loved that.

I wish declawing would be made illegal here, too. I once heard a vet office worker answer a lady's question about declawing. Seriously, there was "It doesn't hurt them much." And then a lot of discussion about the pain meds they take after. Hello!?!?!? Disconnect!?!?! I had to say something, said of course it hurts them. I got dirty looks. And stayed far from there after. Now wish I had said more.

 
At 11:23 AM , Blogger Stacy Hurt said...

ya; and what they are doing is mutilating a living being who only wants to give them unconditional love for the sake of some pathetic thing like their sofa which, i might add, will probably be tossed out the moment it's out of fashion! people wonder why I'm so misanthropic?

 
At 11:30 AM , Blogger Stacy Hurt said...

um;k. so on a lighter note...

Edgar Allen Poe's 200th birthday is coming up. So in honor of that there is a group of quilters online who are doing 'Raven' postcards. Those will be donated to the Breast Cancer foundation as auction items in a 'collage media' category. I will tell you that the gal doing the organizing this last year alone accepted fiber art (she is a fiber artist herself) and raised over 300K for that year that was donated. Yes; you read that right; $300,000. A worthy cause; I'll try to get the photos of some of them so y'all can see. One in particular so far is by far and away my favorite but I can't share it because all work stays under wraps (unless you belong to the 'yahoo group') till the auction. I'm going to save the pic on my machine & will share it only if you ask me to see it via private email.

I haven't designed mine yet. They are due end of January.

 
At 11:33 AM , Blogger Dan Guy said...

I salivate at the prospect of webcasts. I wish I was closer so I could have long since set them up.

 
At 11:40 AM , Blogger Adri said...

good afternoon, fiends! I just had lovely taco brunch after sleeping 'til 11. Woken up by an upset kitty at 7:30am (the one that only uses his litter box if we take him, otherwise, it's early morning freakouts and changing our sheets) but went right back to sleep after new bedding.

I'm trying to catch up on comments (I got behind on the other post, as well), but first I'll say, Q! I'm glad you made it both ways safely in the snow. It sounds harrowing and not for the faint of heart. Sounds like the Rock was worth it, though.

dabbler (et al, re: outdoor cats)-- The ASPCA recommends all US cats be indoor only due to risks inherent in outdoor living. Obviously many people disregard this, especially in rural areas. My parents live on 100 acres, for instance, and have indoor/outdoor cats. The RSPCA, in the UK, on the other hand, frequently requires that people adopting cats allow them outside to roam. So, there are vastly differing philosophies on this issue. Bengal breeders and rescues are likely to require that bengals be indoors-only or have an enclosed/safe cat run available for outdoor exploration. Taking them out on leashes is another good option. Either way, with plenty of exercise and entertainment, bengals live long and happy lives completely indoors.

Declawing on the other hand, is something I go into a frothy rage about, so will skip. Illegal as cruelty in civilized countries.

Loved the Paul-Sings-Ballad-of-Serenity video!

 
At 12:17 PM , Blogger dabbler said...

Declawing is utterly barbaric...far rather have shredded furniture than mutilate a cat...

Almost all my cats, over many many years, have been serendipitous...showing up, or being dumped on our country road. the one exception, a Siamese names Entropy, was an extremely inbred sweetheart who died at age four of a mysterious neurological illness, most likely genetically based.

he's the only cat I've ever had leave a message on an answering machine!

The two reasons I'm not telling Lorraine to find me a bengal yet are my old girl...and the fact that there may be an outside chance we'll get to live in Ireland for a bit sometime in the next couple of years. And adopting a rescue bengal and then leaving the country would be bad and evil. (not to mention really stupid!)So we'll see.

 
At 12:32 PM , Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

That's how I got Lear and Mab, their first owner decided, after having them only a little less than a year, to leave the country. Bengals do not like change, wait till you are SURE.

Lear and Mab are getting the new cat tree ! Merry Housekeeper is setting it up right now! And we are making the Forest Bedroom into Bengal Heaven.

This of course required Vacuuming, their least fav thing.The are currently on the top shelf of my closet, hissing...

 
At 12:33 PM , Blogger spacedlaw said...

PICTURES!

 
At 12:35 PM , Blogger Phiala said...

And along those lines: there's a pair of bengals for sale near Pittsburgh.

No pics, not much info, $250 each.

 
At 12:37 PM , Blogger Stacy Hurt said...

NONE of my cats like the 'giant sucky thing'. When I see pics on the web of folks 'vacuuming' their cats to their cats utter adoration I am always suspect... LOL

 
At 12:39 PM , Blogger Marjorie said...

Oh yes, pictures please!

 
At 12:48 PM , Blogger Adri said...

I think cats can adapt quite well to change if you give them the opportunity. I've moved several times with my boys, and my tabby boy actually enjoys travel.

More Tomb Raider now. I had to backtrack a level, so no unique deaths for a bit!

 
At 1:15 PM , Blogger Marjorie said...

Tybalt hates the acuum cleaner, but is fairly relaxed about travelling - he settles in very quickly in new houses (this was about 15 mins after we arrived at my parent's house, which was the first time he'd been there) On the other hand, Coco (the cat we had for 22 years as I was growing up) didn't travel at all well, got very stressed when we moved house and took months to settle in - I guess the clever part would be predicting in advance how your own cat is likely to react . .

 
At 2:01 PM , Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Greedy Fiends, that's what you are!

Yes, I will get some pics for you..

 
At 2:02 PM , Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

My house is clean again!

 
At 2:20 PM , Blogger martha said...

Congratulations on Magic coming out to eat with you.

I totally agree - declawing is obscene. People who have that done to a pet should have an important part of their an anatomy cut off.

Your weather sounds scary-much worse than ours. We finally have snow, but it's clean and fluffy and white and fun to play in.

Re: St Patrick's Day party - any chance of including SKYPE / web cam link-ups?

 
At 2:44 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

So happy about Magic! Seems like he's starting to believe in you as friend (*not* fiend, in this case) and helper -- how cool. And really glad that you made it home safe. Eeeeek to icy roads! You northern folk scare me...

 
At 2:51 PM , Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

De-clawing is evil, and Magic has NONE now, poor guy. And if it is furniture, there are WAY easier ways to stop clawing going on.

Speaking of Magic, I got some pics of him while I was shooting the new cat tree...

And they are up on a new post....Nip over and see the love!

 

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