Wanted to make something with a maple tree in it, so I did:

(crossposted to cats' 'blog)

Today, Spook died.

She'd been falling quickly for the fast couple of weeks, not eating as much, only wanting attention. I tried once to pick her up to take her to the vet but she didn't like that one little bit, so I let her be.

This morning when I left for work Spook was laying on the sidewalk. She didn't get up and come to me like she usually did. She just looked at me and gave her pathetic meow. I figured that she would be dead by the time I got home, so I spent a few extra minutes petting her and telling her what a good kitty she was.

When I got home from work, Spook was on the deck and she raised her head to watch me pull into the garage.

I took a can of food out to the deck and poured it into her bowl. She came over and took a bite, purring loudly. She always liked to be petted while she ate, and this always made her purr.

After she took a bite of food, she fell over.

She died with her eyes open, so the last thing she saw was me. The last thing she felt was me petting her. The last sound she made was a purr. The last sound she heard was me saying

You like that food, don't you Spooky? What a good kitty!

I tried to dig a hole for her, but ended up putting her into the hole I'd discovered in my yard the other day.

It's under the Japanese Maple. She always liked it there.

I'm sure this will hit me harder at some point.

I added a small bit about her to my Cats of the Past page.

...the recognition I deserve!

Here we see the lovely MisunderstoodGirl modelling the next big thing in fashion.

Also, the NABC surprised us by unveiling a new beer today.

NABC Blonde Abbey

This is what I've been waiting for! A Belgian that won't kill me if I have more than one in a night! Very good, it reminded me of NABC's Tunnel Vision except not quite as sweet. Could use a little more carbonation, and it lacks the appley taste I've become accustomed to from Belgians. I liked it a lot, and I'm looking forward to the next batch to see if they up the carbonation a little.

Just a quick note to say I drank some weird stuff after work today.

Mestreechs Aait Flemish Red Ale

The board at Rich O's said "Flemish Sour Beer" and that's as good of a description as any. Tasted like somebody had dissolved a Green Apple Jolly Rancher candy in it. It was actually pretty decent for about the first 7 ounces. After that it got a little old. Definitely different, and definitely worth a try.

MisunderstoodGirl, RealTrainGirl, and GreenBeerDude came in while I was choking down the last ounce of the above beer. I had a couple half-pints of Newcastle while we all bullshitted for a while.

I'm also quite pleased to note that I'm not detecting that fuck you asshole vibe from MisunderstoodGirl at all anymore. Perhaps she's mellowing in her old age.

That was a joke.

Please don't kill me.

(response to messages)

Several people keep asking me the same questions regarding my upcoming Vegas trip. I figure I'll answer them here all at once. Use your imagination for the questions - it's fun!

Let me know what you think the questions are. Maybe I'll post the funniest guesses.

Did absolutely nothing today except yard stuff.

Mowed with the rider, then mowed with the walker, then ate weeds with the weedeater, then sprayed vegetation killer where it was needed.

All just to have to do it again in a week.

And I've got this huge hole in my backyard where a groundhog or a bear or something has its burrow. The damn thing is a foot wide and seems to go all the way to Hell. My first thought was to just get a bunch of dirt and/or concrete and fill the hole, but that just seems mean if the creature is down there with a bunch of offspring.

I'm such a fucking softie.

Maybe I'll lower a radio playing heavy metal music down the hole. Isn't that what we did to Noriega?

I used to love making new images.

These days every time I make one it reminds me of one I've already made.

I guess you could say I'm in a rut.

Anyway, here's my newest:

Yesterday I went to a Derby party at my friend Eric's house.

I really only knew Eric and Terri there, but there were also some people from high school that I at least remembered. There were a lot of kids running and screaming. All of the kids were boys. I thought that was a little strange.

Drank some Blue Moon and threw some horseshoes. I now officially suck at horseshoes. Not that I was ever great but I was always better than that.

I drew two horses in the $5.00 pool. One was the favorite and the other was like a 12-1 shot or something. I think they're both still running.

Left the party at seven-ish to get showered and head down to Rich O's.

Rich O's was moderately dead. I sat alone in the living room area for quite a while, drinking a Founder's Red Rye and feeling a little depressed. I think it was seeing all the happy families at the party and feeling like that life is something I'll never experience again.

There's something you say to only a few people in your lifetime. To feel it in your heart but be unable and/or unwilling to say it is kind of a pain. Plus it'd be kind of nice to think that the other person would at least be listening.

After a while this dude that looks like Buddy Rich sat with me. I had a Newcastle Brown Ale and we just talked about various crap.

I came home at about 11:00 and played pool until 4:00.

So this morning I'm a little irritated with myself for letting my mood slip last night.

Stolen from this guy's page.

1. What is the geekiest part of your music collection?
I guess American Idol Greatest Love Songs, but I also have Mr. Spock's Music From Outer Space and some Devo on LP.

2. What do you eat when you raid the fridge late at night?
A pack of ramen noodels if I have any. Usually if I eat late it's because I stopped at White Castle on the way home.

3. What is your secret guaranteed weeping movie?
Major League. When they win the game at the end.

4. If you could have plastic surgery, what would you have done?
I'd have the fat sucked out of my head.

5. Do you have a completely irrational fear?
Afraid to write it, lest it come true.

6. What is the little physical habit that gives away your insecure moments?
Staring at my feet. Used to bite my nails but haven't been able to since the dentist replaced a filling in my sharp tooth last month.

7. Are you a pyromaniac?
Nope. I like to watch fires, but not enough to go around setting them.

8. Do you have too many love interests?
Sometimes one is too many, if it's the wrong person. When I'm in a relationship I find that one is plenty for me.

9. Do you know anyone famous?
I know a couple of pro pool players. Does that count?

10. Describe your bed
This super thick Sealy that's too soft. In the guest room the mattress is too hard. My sofa is just right.

11. Are you spontaneous or planned?
I plan things then spontaneously change my mind.

12. Who would play you in a movie?
I did an entry about this recently.

13. Do you know how to play poker?
The same way I know how to play chess. I know the rules but I suck.

14. What do you carry with you at all times?
My stupid fucking cell phone. God I hate that thing.

15. What do you miss most about being a kid?
Summer vacation. Trusting people. The whole innocence thing.

16. Are you happy with your given name?
I never really cared for my middle name. Don't know why. It's Shane by the way.

17. How much money would it take to get you to give up the Internet for one year?
A lot.

18. What color is your bedroom?
Kind of a girlyfied light blue. I need to paint it something more manly. Maybe black.

19. What was the last song you were listening to?
Heard Hell's Bells by AC/DC on the radio last night.

20. Have you ever been in a play?
No, but I wish I would have. I think it would be fun. Not a musical though.

21. Have you ever been in love?
Yes.

22. Do you talk a lot?
With one other person I never shut up. In a group I usually just listen to everyone else.

23. Do you like yourself and believe in yourself?
I guess I'm okay. Kind of a sad sack sometimes. Kind of a sarcastic asshole at other times.

24. Do transient, homeless, or starving people sometimes annoy you?
By their existence, no. By asking me for handouts, yes.

25. Do you consider yourself to be a nice person?
I suppose I'm a pretty nice guy. I'm hardly ever intentionally mean.

26. Do you spend more time with your girlfriend/boyfriend or your friends?
Not applicable right now, but in the past, definitely my girlfriend or wife.

27. What is your ideal marriage location?
I like the idea of a wedding somewhere outdoors, somewhere beautiful. Anyplace but a church, really.

28. Which musical instrument do you wish you could play?
Guitar I guess. Piano would be cool too, but it would be harder to carry a piano around to parties.

29. Favorite fabric?
Denim.

30. Something you love and hate?
At the same time? Being in love with the wrong person.

31. What kind of bedding do you use?
Umm, sheets and pillows.

32. Do you tell your friends about your sex life?
No. At least not in any detail.

33. What's the one language you want to learn?
French. I don't know why. My Spanish could use some refresher courses as well.

34. How do you eat an apple?
Peel it, cut it into wedges, then eat the wedges.

35. What do you order at a bar?
Beer.

36. Have you ever pierced your body parts?
Nope.

37. Do you have tattoos?
Nope.

39. Do you drive a stick?
My truck. My cars are both automatics.

40. What's one trait you hate in a person?
Insensitivity.

41. What kind of watch do you wear?
A Fossil.

43. Do you consider yourself materialistic?
I like nice things.

44. What do you cook the best?
I like to make up my own Hamburger Helper recipes. I also make great grilled chese sandwiches. Nothing too fancy for me.

45. Favorite writing instrument?
A pen. This was a stupid question.

46. Do you prefer to stand out or blend in?
Blend.

47. Would you ever go out dressed like the opposite sex?
Maybe for Halloween, though I never have.

48. What's one car you will never buy?
That ugly-ass Honda Element.

49. What kind of books do you like to read?
Science Fiction.

50. If you won the lottery, what would you do?
Retire and travel.

51. Burial or cremation?
Cremation.

52. How many online journals do you read regularly?
A couple dozen.

53. What's one thing you're a loser at?
Love.

54. If you don't like a person, how do you show it?
Walk away.

55. Do you cry in front of your friends?
Nope.

56. What kind of first impression do you think you give to people?
Perfect strangers are always asking me what's wrong, so I guess I come off as sad.

57. What's one thing you like to do alone?
Besides the obvious bathroom activities, I don't really care.

58. Are you a giver or a taker?
How about both?

59. When's the last time you cried?
When I realized that I had to start something over.

60. Favorite communication method?
Telephone. I also like that whistling language I saw some natives use on TV.

Diane Kruger is my Hottie of the Day for today.

Just a classic beauty. I liked the way her character in National Treasure evolved from a bitch to a sweet girl.