Return of the prodigal meow

About a year after we got Marsha, I decided we needed another cat. A cat to keep Marsha company. Because I thought she was lonely, wiling away the hours while Rockford and I were at work.

See? Even back then I put far too much thought into what the cat might be thinking. I may have a problem.

So I thought Marsha needed a friend, and so I called a local rescue operation and asked them who they had available. They had a fellow who’d recently been found in a Dumpster behind the Juvenile Justice Center. He was young and very thin, and he was, they said, pretty friendly. Because we had Marsha and Marsha hadn’t lived with another cat since her foster home days, the rescue guy and I decided the cat should come over for a few days to see how well they got along.

They sat on opposite ends of the living room for two full days, staring at each other and making the most horrible sounds a cat can make. So maybe I was wrong about the Lonely Cat thing.

And yet we (by which I mean I) couldn’t send that poor, emaciated cat back to the agency.

That is the story of the first time we saw JJ. He and Marsha never really became BFFs, but they did learn to tolerate one another. JJ was much more of the stereotypical stand-offish cat than Marsha, who is more canine than feline in many ways. JJ, though. Every now and then he’d deign to allow you to scratch his head, but that was about it. We loved him anyway.

JJ went to live with Rockford’s sister six or so years ago when we moved. Then a few years later she moved, and JJ went to live with a friend of Rockford’s sister. And then last year she moved, too, and JJ went to live with the parents of a friend of Rockford’s sister. They didn’t move, but they also didn’t want a cat.

But I did. And last week Rockford’s work travels took him oh-so-close to the home of Rockford’s sister’s friend’s parents.

And so.

Welcome back, JJ. We’re pleased to have you home. (And by “we,” I mean “all of us except for Marsha, who is not happy about it at all.)

A Democratic menu plan

I had a hard time thinking of things to put on the menu this week, so I turned it over to the family. They did a pretty good job of it.
Monday: Fish sticks & macaroni and cheese

I let Poppy pick today’s meal. This is almost always her second choice. (Her first choice is always McAlister’s Deli.)

Tuesday: “Grilled” chicken and corn on the cob

Pete requested chicken. And also “corn that’s still attached.”

Wednesday: Pineapple black bean enchiladas

And this was Rockford’s pick!

Thursday: Potato soup

I’m trying to make Thursday soup night.

Friday: Pizza

And also some things I didn’t wear because I don’t own them

As it turns out, I don’t have enough clothes to wear something different every day for more than about 7 days. Unless that something different is a T-shirt, in which case I could. But the point of this exercise was to wear fewer T-shirts, so I don’t think that would work.

So anyway. I did not manage to wear not-a-T-shirt every day. It has been in some ways a difficult week, and there have been days when I haven’t left the house. It’s been a lot of T-shirts and sweatshirts since Saturday. And also I discovered that I’ve already managed to stain one of my new shirts, which is a bummer. I’m continuing to try to get the stain out.

In the meantime, here are a few things I’ve worn lately. One of them is representative of my uniform since Saturday.

Week Two, and already I need to plan another outing for more Sturdy Togs. But instead of going out and trying on clothes and getting all “Uggghhhhhh” and spending money and then taking half of it back after we get it home and are all “Whaaaaaat,” let’s pretend that I have a closet full of lovely things, and that I’m wearing them frequently, shall we?

Here are some things in my imaginary closet:

“Blouse” is one of those words that makes me shudder a little. Nevertheless, I like this very colorful blouse. I shy away from color, though, so I don’t know if or how frequently I’d actually wear it. But I like it. It’s a start.

Source: oldnavy.gap.com via Leah on Pinterest

I also tend not to wear white shirts. Mostly because I spill things on myself all the time. I’m noticing a trend here: I seem to be defining my “style” (ha ha!) by what I don’t wear. Ah, profound insight! Anyway, I like this outfit. I’m not sure about the scarf/snood thing, though. I don’t know how to wear them.

Source: oldnavy.gap.com via Leah on Pinterest

I don’t know why that head is floating around in there. For the hairstyle, maybe? Is that Katie Holmes? I think that’s Katie Holmes. I would not add a floating head to this outfit, but I like the grey cardigan (because it is grey, obviously) and I like the color of the shirt. And I also kind of like the detail around the neckline.

Source: polyvore.com via Leah on Pinterest

Quirky! I like quirky. I don’t like it when my clothes touch me, though, so this is in my imaginary self’s imaginary closet.

And finally! This one is from my friend Robin, who is “the best stylist everrr.” She calls it “I only talk about crockpot recipes & potty training.” I don’t talk about potty training any more, but I do only talk about crockpot recipes. And I have that bag, but with green trim. But I wouldn’t wear those sandals.

Source: polyvore.com via Robin on Pinterest