To be fair, the Universal Yums entry is one I've been continually updating over the months. So I haven't been on a COMPLETE hiatus.
I've also been taking care of a bby for the past 7 months. So that's also been a bigger priority than blogging. When I have blogged, it has been in his baby blog.
Also in the meantime, I've been making a ton of macrame jewelry (mostly due to growing seriously tired of watching Baby Einstein) and have opened my own Etsy store!
Geeky Gringa
Monday, March 13, 2017
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Universal Yums Favorites - August '16 (Brazil) through January '17 (Ukraine)
This isn't a review of the Internation Yums boxes. Those are a dime a dozen on YouTube. This is just my way of remembering my favorites for future reference.
Flint Bread Sticks/Bread Snacks

Brazil
August 2016
Torcida Pimenta Mexicana
- These are like jalapeno flavored goldfish with a thinner shell and more air in the middle. Crunchy, savory, and adddicting.
Thailand
September 2016
Fashion Food Tomato Flavored Cracker
- I was surprised that I liked these. They look like chips but have a styrofoam-like texture similar to some crackers, and they taste like ketchup. Seriously amazing.
Sanghai Strawberry Cream Wafers
- Just like the strawberry wafer cookies here in the states, but better somehow.
Hanami Shrimp Crackers Hot Chili Flavor
- Less of a cracker, and more like Andy Capp fries. Spicy and not really all that shrimpy.
Russia
October 2016
Skazochniy Strawberry Mini Sponge Cake
- Cakey outside, slightly tart strawberry filling inside. More like a muffin than a sponge cake.
Indonesia
November 2016
TicTac Spicy Crackers
- Not at all spicy, and super hard (therefore loud to eat) but tastes almost like an Asian version of BBQ and gets tastier the more you eat.....
Chiki Cheese Balls
- Like cheesy poofs, but with a corn base (or so it tasted) and in weird colors!
Germany
December 2016
Fritt Karamell Toffee
- Such a weird flavor, but strangely delicious. It's like caramel and toffee flavors at the same time, but then in a taffy consistency. So weird.
Ukraine
January 2017
Flint Bread Sticks/Bread Snacks
Sour Cream with Herb flavor and Red Caviar flavor
- Kind of like hard Gardetto's breadsticks. Flavoring isn't consistent on each breadstick (some are stronger than others) so it's best to eat it by the handful. The left tastes like sour cream & onion and the left only tastes slightly like roe, mostly like salt.
Svitoch Peach Yogurt Milk Chocolate Bar
- Like orange chocolate, but peach. VERY peach.
Fizzy Boom Hard Candies
- Normal, pleasant hard candy outside, surprisingly sour inside that shoots out like a soda bottle that someone shook up.
Non Universal Yums International Favorites
Nestle Toffe Crisp
- Even though these are Nestle, I only ever found them in the UK. My favorite international chocolate bar yet.

Island Bakery Lemon Melts
- I had these on a couple of British Airways flights, and I loved them so much that the air hostess gave me 8 or so bags!
Tao Kae Noi Tom Yum Goong Flavor
- Like a potato chip, but made from toasted seaweed.
Saturday, October 1, 2016
This Curse I Suffer
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My precious.... |
I've known for a long time that I'm cursed. The curse of disappearing food favorites. Baked Lays had the best chip ever to be made. Southwestern ranchflavor. These chips were out of this world, and I freaking loved them. They were doomed to meet the fate my curse brings. You won't find southwestern ranch Baked Lays anymore. THEY DISCONTINUED THEM.
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You wiley corn chowder, you! |
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RIP asiago roast beef |
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You'll be missed, sierra turkey |
I have tales of my curse occurring in other restaurants, as well. It's a dismal culinary fate. I will never understand why anyone remakes good movies and why anyone discontinues the best menu items.... but it will continue.
Friday, February 5, 2016
7 year ABC's
I have a ton of "surveys" (remember those?) in the notes section of my Facebook. I've made most of them viewable by me only, because they're fun to look back on but not necessary for the general public's viewing.
For one, I can't believe 2009 was SEVEN YEARS AGO. That's when hubby and I got together, and when I moved back home from college. It blows my mind. So I've scrounged up one of these surveys from almost exactly seven years ago. I've kept the original answers and added updated answers to accompany them. Here we go.....
ABC's
Give it a try, but you have to do it right. Copy this whole thing, go to your profile/notes/new note, right click and paste, put the subject back in the title line.
Then comes the hard part. Replace my answers with your own! Then over to the right you can tag as many of your friends as you'd like…include me too, please, so I can see.
A
- Age: 21
-NOW: 28
- Annoyance: I have quite a few pet peeves...
-NOW: still true
- Animal favorite: Kitties. Second to kitties are ferrets, guinea pigs, and mice.
-NOW: Kitties and penguins. Looks like I was going through a rodent phase....
B
- Beer: No thanks.
-NOW: Ditto.
- Birthday: August 7th.
-NOW: Well that's not changing.
- Best feeling in the world: I'd rather not say here.
-NOW: Making someone else laugh.
- Blind or Deaf: Blind. I already am, to a great extent.
-NOW: Yeah, still holds.
- Best weather: Partly sunny, 70 degrees, slight breeze.
-NOW: Mostly cloudy, high 60's.
- Been in Love: That I have.
-NOW: And I still am.
- Been on stage?: Yes... when I was very young.
-NOW: And at my bachelorette party at a piano bar. Ugh.
- Believe in Magic: I'm not sure.
-NOW: Anything is possible.
- Believe in Santa: No.
-NOW: Nope.
- Best friend(s): Jessica.
-NOW: My mom.
C
- Candy: I <3 almost all candies.
-NOW: Still maintaining this love affair.
- Color: Purple
-NOW: Black.
- Chocolate/Vanilla: White chocolate.
-NOW: Chocolate.
- Chinese/Mexican Food: Chinese.
-NOW: Always, always, ALWAYS Chinese food.
- Cake or pie: Cake. I dislike pie.
-NOW: Still true.
- Country to visit: That I have been to - Costa Rica. That I want to go to - Spain.
-NOW: Been to: Scotland. To go: Iceland.
D
- Day or Night: Are both just fine.
-NOW: Still not much of a preference.
- Dancing in the rain: I used to enjoy rolling and dancing in the rain some years back.
-NOW: I just strongly dislike rain.
- Dress or sweats: I don't really own any sweats...
-NOW: Sweats. But I still don't own actual sweatpants.
E
- Eyes (color): Brown.
-NOW: Also not likely to change.
- Everyone's got: a nose. ?
-NOW: problems.
- Ever failed a class?: Yes, I have.
-NOW: Unfortunately unchanged.
- Embarrassing fact: Oh boy. Um... I'm terrified by any kind of bug. Even ladybugs. Does that work?
-NOW: Still true, but no longer embarrassing, really.
F
- First thoughts waking up: What time is it?
-NOW: I wanna be asleep.
- Food: Yes? I enjoy it...
-NOW: We're now frienemies.
G
- Greatest Fear: Any kind of bug, ever. And being eaten alive.
-NOW: Bugs. All of the bugs.
- Goals: To find a job that I love, a man that I love to marry someday... and to be happy.
-NOW: To be a good mama and live a happy life.
- Gum: Spearmint is the best.
-NOW: It sure is.
- Get along with your parents?: Most of the time.
-NOW: I do.
- Game: Mafia Wars. I'm addicted.
-NOW: Covet Fashion. Though I'm on haitus....
- Go out or stay in: I do both... Doesn't everyone?
-NOW: Yes, everyone does both, but I'd rather stay in.
H
- Hair Color: Brown for quite some time now.
-NOW: Still brown, but I'm an aspiring ginger.
- Height: 5'3"
-NOW: I haven't grown.
- Happy: Is a good thing to be.
-NOW: And I am, mostly.
- Holiday: Any that involves getting presents and/or candy. :-)
-NOW: I like Christmas.
- How do you want to die: Peacefully.
-NOW: Peacefully, old, and loved.
I
- Ice Cream: Coldstone Creamery's cake batter ice cream. Ohhh yeah.
-NOW: Yes, please! (still the same)
- Instrument: Piano.
-NOW: I still like piano, I suppose.
J
- Jewelry: I usually always wear my two spinner rings on my thumbs. One is a Celtic design and the other is Roman numerals.
-NOW: Earrings. I feel naked without all seven earrings. And my wedding ring.
- Job: I should be starting after the 23rd.
-NOW: Housewife and soon-to-be SAHM.
K
- Kids: Are great most of the time...
-NOW: One on the way ;-)
- Kickboxing or karate: I'm okay without either.
-NOW: Yeah, I'm still good without.
- Keep a journal?: Online, but I don't update very often.
-NOW: Only if blogging counts!
L
- Love: Is complicated.
-NOW: Is essential.
- Letter: L. ?
-NOW: I don't know...?
- Laughed so hard you cried: Not in a very very long time
-NOW: Also comes with not being able to breathe. Hilarious turns scary. lol
M
- Milk flavor: Flavor? Um... chocolate?
-NOW: Ditto.
- Movies: I watch them all of the time. Last one I watched was Hellboy 2.
-NOW: are everything! Just to follow suit, the last one (I think) was Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- Motion sickness?: Only in cars/buses when on them for an extended period of time.
-NOW: Ditto.
- McD's or BK: McDonald's, definitely.
-NOW: Ditto.
- Major: I graduated already. No more of that for me.
-NOW: Still out of school, but my majors were psych and education.
N
- Number: 7
-NOW: 4
O
- One wish: To have all the money I could ever need.
-NOW: More wishes? ;-)
P
- Paris or Tokyo: Tokyo!!
-NOW: Still Tokyo. What a dream that would be!
- Pepsi/Coke: Pepsi.
-NOW: Pepsi and I have an intense relationship. It might be love.
- Perfect Pizza: Ham, bacon, onion.
-NOW: Hand tossed, very light sauce, lots and lots of onion, some really nice sausage.
- Piercings: Anymore, all I have is my ears and my nose.
-NOW: I put my tongue ring back in and took out the nose. Seven in the ears.
Q
- Quail: Quailman!
-NOW: I can't believe that this is the only thing under "Q."
R
- Reality T.V.: I like the shows on Bravo....
-NOW: Hubby and I watch the chef shows. I also like Project Runway (<3 Tim Gun! <3) and that one interior design show from Bravo, but I haven't been able to find the latter on any streaming service.
- Radio Station: 107.7 fm... I'm so mainstream.
-NOW: NPR or The Arch.
- Ring size: 6.25
-NOW: Probably something similar.
- Run or walk: Walk.
-NOW: Always walk.
S
- School: Graduated from SIUC... going for a second degree at SIUE in fall.
-NOW: Yeah, that's not how it happened. BA from SIUC, and MAED from McKendree.
- Sport: Bleh.
-NOW: UK Wildcats in the NCAA is all I've really ever paid attention to.
- Song: Too many.
-NOW: I like them mellow.
- Shoe size: 8ish.
-NOW: 8.
- Salad Dressing: Caesar.
-NOW: Caesar, or those flavored ranch dressings (like Garlic Rnch)
- Sushi: Spider rolls are the best. And sushi restaurants in general rock my world.
-NOW: Philly rolls, or Vegas rolls without the fried. I like them with cream cheese, wrapped in seaweed, and garnished with tons of spicy mayo.
- Strawberries/Blueberries: Strawberries. Blueberries are only acceptable in muffin form.
-NOW: Exactly!
T
- Tattoos?: I've got just the one. But I love it. :-)
-NOW: I have 5 now, and I'm not stopping there.
- Time for bed?: Lately my on-the-dot bedtime is 4 am. No earlier, no later.
-NOW: Those were the days. If it make it to 11 pm, it's a miracle.
- Thunderstorms: I like lightning, but I don't like rain.
-NOW: Ditto.
- TV show: Heroes! And Scrubs!
-NOW: Ooh, no. Current obsessions are Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries.
- Unknown fact: I'm very superstitious.
-NOW: I'm color deficient (it's a step down from color blind).
V
- Vacation spot(s): Costa Rica. Colorado. Alaska. Florida.
-NOW: Alaska, Scotland, China....and I'm still dreaming of a million others.
W
- Weakness: I'm a pushover with those close to me.
-NOW: I can have a bit of a temper.
- Which one of your friends acts the most like you: None of them, really.
-NOW: Hubby. That's the consequence of knowing each other for 14 years.
- When do you cry?: Under the same circumstances that normal people cry....
-NOW: Well, I'm currently pregnant, so... at the drop of a hat. lol
- Worst feeling: Unreciprocated feelings towards someone.
-NOW: Being way too hot.
- Wanted to be a model: Haha. I'm short and chubby - you kidding?
-NOW: I've watched a ton of ANTM and I'm going with no.
- Worst Weather?: Wretchedly hot weather. 90+ degrees with humidity. I can't stand that shit.
-NOW: Super hot and super humid.
X
- X-Rays: I've had a few.
-NOW: Yeah.
Y
-Year it is now: 2009
-NOW: 2016
-Yellow: is an annoyingly happy color.
-NOW: Still not a fave.
Z
- Zoo: I was supposed to go on Valentine's Day, but didn't. So I wanna go. Someone take me!
-NOW: One of my favorite places in STL, especially the penguin house!
Then comes the hard part. Replace my answers with your own! Then over to the right you can tag as many of your friends as you'd like…include me too, please, so I can see.
A
- Age: 21
-NOW: 28
- Annoyance: I have quite a few pet peeves...
-NOW: still true
- Animal favorite: Kitties. Second to kitties are ferrets, guinea pigs, and mice.
-NOW: Kitties and penguins. Looks like I was going through a rodent phase....
B
- Beer: No thanks.
-NOW: Ditto.
- Birthday: August 7th.
-NOW: Well that's not changing.
- Best feeling in the world: I'd rather not say here.
-NOW: Making someone else laugh.
- Blind or Deaf: Blind. I already am, to a great extent.
-NOW: Yeah, still holds.
- Best weather: Partly sunny, 70 degrees, slight breeze.
-NOW: Mostly cloudy, high 60's.
- Been in Love: That I have.
-NOW: And I still am.
- Been on stage?: Yes... when I was very young.
-NOW: And at my bachelorette party at a piano bar. Ugh.
- Believe in Magic: I'm not sure.
-NOW: Anything is possible.
- Believe in Santa: No.
-NOW: Nope.
- Best friend(s): Jessica.
-NOW: My mom.
C
- Candy: I <3 almost all candies.
-NOW: Still maintaining this love affair.
- Color: Purple
-NOW: Black.
- Chocolate/Vanilla: White chocolate.
-NOW: Chocolate.
- Chinese/Mexican Food: Chinese.
-NOW: Always, always, ALWAYS Chinese food.
- Cake or pie: Cake. I dislike pie.
-NOW: Still true.
- Country to visit: That I have been to - Costa Rica. That I want to go to - Spain.
-NOW: Been to: Scotland. To go: Iceland.
D
- Day or Night: Are both just fine.
-NOW: Still not much of a preference.
- Dancing in the rain: I used to enjoy rolling and dancing in the rain some years back.
-NOW: I just strongly dislike rain.
- Dress or sweats: I don't really own any sweats...
-NOW: Sweats. But I still don't own actual sweatpants.
E
- Eyes (color): Brown.
-NOW: Also not likely to change.
- Everyone's got: a nose. ?
-NOW: problems.
- Ever failed a class?: Yes, I have.
-NOW: Unfortunately unchanged.
- Embarrassing fact: Oh boy. Um... I'm terrified by any kind of bug. Even ladybugs. Does that work?
-NOW: Still true, but no longer embarrassing, really.
F
- First thoughts waking up: What time is it?
-NOW: I wanna be asleep.
- Food: Yes? I enjoy it...
-NOW: We're now frienemies.
G
- Greatest Fear: Any kind of bug, ever. And being eaten alive.
-NOW: Bugs. All of the bugs.
- Goals: To find a job that I love, a man that I love to marry someday... and to be happy.
-NOW: To be a good mama and live a happy life.
- Gum: Spearmint is the best.
-NOW: It sure is.
- Get along with your parents?: Most of the time.
-NOW: I do.
- Game: Mafia Wars. I'm addicted.
-NOW: Covet Fashion. Though I'm on haitus....
- Go out or stay in: I do both... Doesn't everyone?
-NOW: Yes, everyone does both, but I'd rather stay in.
H
- Hair Color: Brown for quite some time now.
-NOW: Still brown, but I'm an aspiring ginger.
- Height: 5'3"
-NOW: I haven't grown.
- Happy: Is a good thing to be.
-NOW: And I am, mostly.
- Holiday: Any that involves getting presents and/or candy. :-)
-NOW: I like Christmas.
- How do you want to die: Peacefully.
-NOW: Peacefully, old, and loved.
I
- Ice Cream: Coldstone Creamery's cake batter ice cream. Ohhh yeah.
-NOW: Yes, please! (still the same)
- Instrument: Piano.
-NOW: I still like piano, I suppose.
J
- Jewelry: I usually always wear my two spinner rings on my thumbs. One is a Celtic design and the other is Roman numerals.
-NOW: Earrings. I feel naked without all seven earrings. And my wedding ring.
- Job: I should be starting after the 23rd.
-NOW: Housewife and soon-to-be SAHM.
K
- Kids: Are great most of the time...
-NOW: One on the way ;-)
- Kickboxing or karate: I'm okay without either.
-NOW: Yeah, I'm still good without.
- Keep a journal?: Online, but I don't update very often.
-NOW: Only if blogging counts!
L
- Love: Is complicated.
-NOW: Is essential.
- Letter: L. ?
-NOW: I don't know...?
- Laughed so hard you cried: Not in a very very long time
-NOW: Also comes with not being able to breathe. Hilarious turns scary. lol
M
- Milk flavor: Flavor? Um... chocolate?
-NOW: Ditto.
- Movies: I watch them all of the time. Last one I watched was Hellboy 2.
-NOW: are everything! Just to follow suit, the last one (I think) was Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- Motion sickness?: Only in cars/buses when on them for an extended period of time.
-NOW: Ditto.
- McD's or BK: McDonald's, definitely.
-NOW: Ditto.
- Major: I graduated already. No more of that for me.
-NOW: Still out of school, but my majors were psych and education.
N
- Number: 7
-NOW: 4
O
- One wish: To have all the money I could ever need.
-NOW: More wishes? ;-)
P
- Paris or Tokyo: Tokyo!!
-NOW: Still Tokyo. What a dream that would be!
- Pepsi/Coke: Pepsi.
-NOW: Pepsi and I have an intense relationship. It might be love.
- Perfect Pizza: Ham, bacon, onion.
-NOW: Hand tossed, very light sauce, lots and lots of onion, some really nice sausage.
- Piercings: Anymore, all I have is my ears and my nose.
-NOW: I put my tongue ring back in and took out the nose. Seven in the ears.
Q
- Quail: Quailman!
-NOW: I can't believe that this is the only thing under "Q."
R
- Reality T.V.: I like the shows on Bravo....
-NOW: Hubby and I watch the chef shows. I also like Project Runway (<3 Tim Gun! <3) and that one interior design show from Bravo, but I haven't been able to find the latter on any streaming service.
- Radio Station: 107.7 fm... I'm so mainstream.
-NOW: NPR or The Arch.
- Ring size: 6.25
-NOW: Probably something similar.
- Run or walk: Walk.
-NOW: Always walk.
S
- School: Graduated from SIUC... going for a second degree at SIUE in fall.
-NOW: Yeah, that's not how it happened. BA from SIUC, and MAED from McKendree.
- Sport: Bleh.
-NOW: UK Wildcats in the NCAA is all I've really ever paid attention to.
- Song: Too many.
-NOW: I like them mellow.
- Shoe size: 8ish.
-NOW: 8.
- Salad Dressing: Caesar.
-NOW: Caesar, or those flavored ranch dressings (like Garlic Rnch)
- Sushi: Spider rolls are the best. And sushi restaurants in general rock my world.
-NOW: Philly rolls, or Vegas rolls without the fried. I like them with cream cheese, wrapped in seaweed, and garnished with tons of spicy mayo.
- Strawberries/Blueberries: Strawberries. Blueberries are only acceptable in muffin form.
-NOW: Exactly!
T
- Tattoos?: I've got just the one. But I love it. :-)
-NOW: I have 5 now, and I'm not stopping there.
- Time for bed?: Lately my on-the-dot bedtime is 4 am. No earlier, no later.
-NOW: Those were the days. If it make it to 11 pm, it's a miracle.
- Thunderstorms: I like lightning, but I don't like rain.
-NOW: Ditto.
- TV show: Heroes! And Scrubs!
-NOW: Ooh, no. Current obsessions are Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries.
- Unknown fact: I'm very superstitious.
-NOW: I'm color deficient (it's a step down from color blind).
V
- Vacation spot(s): Costa Rica. Colorado. Alaska. Florida.
-NOW: Alaska, Scotland, China....and I'm still dreaming of a million others.
W
- Weakness: I'm a pushover with those close to me.
-NOW: I can have a bit of a temper.
- Which one of your friends acts the most like you: None of them, really.
-NOW: Hubby. That's the consequence of knowing each other for 14 years.
- When do you cry?: Under the same circumstances that normal people cry....
-NOW: Well, I'm currently pregnant, so... at the drop of a hat. lol
- Worst feeling: Unreciprocated feelings towards someone.
-NOW: Being way too hot.
- Wanted to be a model: Haha. I'm short and chubby - you kidding?
-NOW: I've watched a ton of ANTM and I'm going with no.
- Worst Weather?: Wretchedly hot weather. 90+ degrees with humidity. I can't stand that shit.
-NOW: Super hot and super humid.
X
- X-Rays: I've had a few.
-NOW: Yeah.
Y
-Year it is now: 2009
-NOW: 2016
-Yellow: is an annoyingly happy color.
-NOW: Still not a fave.
Z
- Zoo: I was supposed to go on Valentine's Day, but didn't. So I wanna go. Someone take me!
-NOW: One of my favorite places in STL, especially the penguin house!
Monday, January 11, 2016
Nerd Hatchery Debut
There is a really exciting reason as to why I haven't posted here in so long. I've been working hard on one of my other blogs. One that has been secret - until now!
The hubby and I are going to have a baby!! Before even getting pregnant, I started a blog to chronicle the adventure. Here it is!
The hubby and I are going to have a baby!! Before even getting pregnant, I started a blog to chronicle the adventure. Here it is!
The Nerd Hatchery
Friday, November 13, 2015
Chronicle of Furbabies: Beaumont
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Adoption website photo |
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Just pulled from AC |
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Settling in @ the shelter |
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Me & Beaumont |
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Fostered! |
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Vet visit! |
"Speaking of his ears, Aaron and I thought he was a Scottish fold, but I was told the vet at Horseshoe Lake thought they were a result of frostbite. Our vet at Northgate said it could be his breed, but she thinks it could've been multiple hematomas, aka cauliflower ear, from fighting as an intact tom cat. Whatever the case, we think they give him personality. He loves to be brushed and he talks to us all day long. He's been such a great kitty these last few days, so he will probably most definitely be a foster fail."
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His foster mom says he has a mismatched tail! |
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Adopted! |
So our boy Beaumont is now living happily ever after with his adopters, three kitty siblings, and puppy brother! He runs around playing with toys, snores underneath cuddly blankets, snuggles up on the couch, and even has a fireplace for the winter months ahead. His really is a "Happy Tail."
Even more pictures of Beaumont.......
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Beaumont & his puppy brother |
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Cozy fireplace! |
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This is an excerpt from the Fall newsletter issued by Partners for Pets. They publish stories about several remarkable cats and dogs in each newsletter, and Beaumont made the cut! |
Chronicle of Furbabies Part IV
Still catching up (as in part III). Some older ones from the earlier part of the year, some more recent ones, too.... But this is the last of the older stash. I'm all caught up!!
Denny - I think this tuxedo tomcat may be the very first shelter kitty I ever truly fell in love with. He came during a really busy time at the shelter and was in an area that we used for "overflow," so to speak. He was super talkative, even a bit whiny. I'd always give in to him and open up his crate. Since he wasn't in the cat room, he couldn't run around, though. Denny was okay with it. He was happy with me holding him and talking to him, and I'd walk him around so he could look out the window and watch the birdies. Being a shelter newbie, I so badly wanted to take him home with me. I was super jealous of the very lucky people who took Denny home on adoption day, and still remember my vocal little tuxedo boy.
Flint - It'd hard to bond with a litter of kittens at the shelter. They're hard to tell apart, and you don't roll around on the floor with them or spend hours watching their shenanigans like you would at home. You take them from their crate, put them in a carry crate, clean up their awful kitten mess, reassemble everything so they can just mess it all up in record time, and then put them back. Not to mention trying to prevent escapees. They're a lot of work. So when I do mention a kitten, it's really saying something. This litter of 5 were all black and white, except for one: Flint. She was the only black cat in her litter. Convenient, but that isn't why I instantly fell in love with her. This litter wasn't as rambunctious or omigod-messy as some tiny terrors I've had. Everytime I got to Flint, she'd melt in my hand. I'd feel her purring, and hold her close. Even if she'd been playing or attempting to tumble out of the cage mere moments before, as soon as I held her, she'd want to be nowhere else. She'd paw at my fingers, look up at me with that darling face, turn her head to the side so I'd pet her chin, purring all the while. She melted my heart and made me fall in love. I wanted to sneak her out in my tote bag and never look back.
Like most kitten litters, Flint's got fostered within a matter of weeks. The foster mom was a newer foster, but she still posted a few times about her fosters. After having the litter for a week or two, she decided she had to give in and keep one of the kittens (I hear this is quite common among newbie fosters). She ended up picking Flint, and I smiled smugly to myself, thinking, "I'm not surprised!" It was a good pick!! One of her sons renamed my little midnight girl "Isavella." So Flint/Isabella was unofficially adopted November 8th, 2015.
Hampton - I think he was only at the shelter for two or three weeks at the end of October (2015) and into the beginning of November. The first thing I noticed about him was that he looked like a Siamese in his coloring, but not in bone structure or size. He was gorgeous! He was also quite long, filling up most of his crate without being a fat cat at all. I introduced myself, and he was instantly friendly. He wasn't the type to come out and wander around, but was still a very good boy with a very sweet personality.
I don't know if the events correlate, but after posting his picture to the volunteer group, Hampton scored a foster home! Of all of the pictures I posted, his received the most comments, most of which were about how handsome he is. I foresee a bright future for this good-looking boy!
Kitten Litter #1 - like Flint (above), there was something special about this litter. They weren't crazy rowdy or super messy. They were all fluffy and sweet and the perfect Hallmark moment that you think of when you think of the quintessential box of kittens. It was summertime, so we were inundated with kittens galore, but this identical litter of 5 itty bitty tabbies were the stand-outs. To prove my point, they were fostered, as kittens often are, and four of the five were adopted TOGETHER! The fosters couldn't choose!!! They were named Sir-Pounce-A Lot, Nanako, Barnaby, and Kotetsu (don't ask me - I didn't name them), but how they ever tell them apart is beyond me!
Kitten Litter #2 - Currently, at the shelter, we have a litter of 5 that have essentially grown up in a crate. They are only a few months old, but we've had them for a while. We're currently looking for someone to foster them. Why they're memorable and in the "Chronicle:" they are the craziest, rowdiest bunch of furballs I've ever seen. They are constantly wrestling, tumbling, and flying across their cage. One of the three orange tabbies is the craziest, always pinning littermates, pawing at the walls, kicking all the food out of the bowl, or attacking your hand even though he's barely bigger than it. They are the messiest, loudest, most insane bunch I've seen. They keep me on my toes, and the only picture of them is one that someone else took of them during the only time they stand still - food time. These munchkins will eat 4 cans of wet food in one sitting!!!
Margaret - When she first came in, I was so taken with how pretty Margaret was. When she came up to me with affection and a demeanor that was as sweet as her face was pretty, I knew she would be an instant favorite. Laid back, but affectionate to a fault, she wasn't at the shelter long before she found her forever home.
Martin - yet another kitten who invalidated my "I don't normally bond with kittens" mantra. Yet another one that I very nearly brought home. I had a soft spot for this little grey and white face, and would carry him around. When I would have spare time after a shift, I'd lift him out of his crate and snuggle him, wishing I could keep him and snuggle him every day.
Mary Ann - this mama cat came to us with her two baby kittens, who were so little that they were still still nursing at the time. She wasn't the best mama, as she liked to sit on the crate's shelf (tiny kittens are too little to get up there) and she would get so excited for attention that she would walk over her babies. But I didn't judge - Mary Ann wasn't cut out for motherhood. She was cut out for cuddle time. That was her #1 priority, whether you paid her attention or not, she was going to headbutt the heavens out of you! She was sweeter than sugar, a definite attention monger, and I loved her for it.
She found a foster home, but ended up back at the shelter when her kittens were old enough to not need her anymore. The foster held on to the kittens, though, and I felt sorry for such a sweet girl. I was sorry she lost her foster, but glad I could give her love again. She did find a home afterwards.
Robert - During the kitten-crazy days of summer, Robert also joined the ranks. He was no kitten, but a lanky tomcat. I don't know why I was so taken with Robert. He was quite the laid-back, cool cat. He loved to stroll around, get a pet here and there, but most of all, he loved to chow down. He would even eat the dog food that was set out for one of the dogs in the iso room. Something that I can't quite put my finger on struck a chord with me about this handsome guy.
Denny - I think this tuxedo tomcat may be the very first shelter kitty I ever truly fell in love with. He came during a really busy time at the shelter and was in an area that we used for "overflow," so to speak. He was super talkative, even a bit whiny. I'd always give in to him and open up his crate. Since he wasn't in the cat room, he couldn't run around, though. Denny was okay with it. He was happy with me holding him and talking to him, and I'd walk him around so he could look out the window and watch the birdies. Being a shelter newbie, I so badly wanted to take him home with me. I was super jealous of the very lucky people who took Denny home on adoption day, and still remember my vocal little tuxedo boy.
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Denny and his adopters |
Flint - It'd hard to bond with a litter of kittens at the shelter. They're hard to tell apart, and you don't roll around on the floor with them or spend hours watching their shenanigans like you would at home. You take them from their crate, put them in a carry crate, clean up their awful kitten mess, reassemble everything so they can just mess it all up in record time, and then put them back. Not to mention trying to prevent escapees. They're a lot of work. So when I do mention a kitten, it's really saying something. This litter of 5 were all black and white, except for one: Flint. She was the only black cat in her litter. Convenient, but that isn't why I instantly fell in love with her. This litter wasn't as rambunctious or omigod-messy as some tiny terrors I've had. Everytime I got to Flint, she'd melt in my hand. I'd feel her purring, and hold her close. Even if she'd been playing or attempting to tumble out of the cage mere moments before, as soon as I held her, she'd want to be nowhere else. She'd paw at my fingers, look up at me with that darling face, turn her head to the side so I'd pet her chin, purring all the while. She melted my heart and made me fall in love. I wanted to sneak her out in my tote bag and never look back.
Like most kitten litters, Flint's got fostered within a matter of weeks. The foster mom was a newer foster, but she still posted a few times about her fosters. After having the litter for a week or two, she decided she had to give in and keep one of the kittens (I hear this is quite common among newbie fosters). She ended up picking Flint, and I smiled smugly to myself, thinking, "I'm not surprised!" It was a good pick!! One of her sons renamed my little midnight girl "Isavella." So Flint/Isabella was unofficially adopted November 8th, 2015.
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Flint (center) with her litter at the shelter |
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Flint |
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Flint, in her foster mama's arms |
Hampton - I think he was only at the shelter for two or three weeks at the end of October (2015) and into the beginning of November. The first thing I noticed about him was that he looked like a Siamese in his coloring, but not in bone structure or size. He was gorgeous! He was also quite long, filling up most of his crate without being a fat cat at all. I introduced myself, and he was instantly friendly. He wasn't the type to come out and wander around, but was still a very good boy with a very sweet personality.
I don't know if the events correlate, but after posting his picture to the volunteer group, Hampton scored a foster home! Of all of the pictures I posted, his received the most comments, most of which were about how handsome he is. I foresee a bright future for this good-looking boy!
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Hampton |
Kitten Litter #1 - like Flint (above), there was something special about this litter. They weren't crazy rowdy or super messy. They were all fluffy and sweet and the perfect Hallmark moment that you think of when you think of the quintessential box of kittens. It was summertime, so we were inundated with kittens galore, but this identical litter of 5 itty bitty tabbies were the stand-outs. To prove my point, they were fostered, as kittens often are, and four of the five were adopted TOGETHER! The fosters couldn't choose!!! They were named Sir-Pounce-A Lot, Nanako, Barnaby, and Kotetsu (don't ask me - I didn't name them), but how they ever tell them apart is beyond me!
Kitten Litter #2 - Currently, at the shelter, we have a litter of 5 that have essentially grown up in a crate. They are only a few months old, but we've had them for a while. We're currently looking for someone to foster them. Why they're memorable and in the "Chronicle:" they are the craziest, rowdiest bunch of furballs I've ever seen. They are constantly wrestling, tumbling, and flying across their cage. One of the three orange tabbies is the craziest, always pinning littermates, pawing at the walls, kicking all the food out of the bowl, or attacking your hand even though he's barely bigger than it. They are the messiest, loudest, most insane bunch I've seen. They keep me on my toes, and the only picture of them is one that someone else took of them during the only time they stand still - food time. These munchkins will eat 4 cans of wet food in one sitting!!!
Margaret - When she first came in, I was so taken with how pretty Margaret was. When she came up to me with affection and a demeanor that was as sweet as her face was pretty, I knew she would be an instant favorite. Laid back, but affectionate to a fault, she wasn't at the shelter long before she found her forever home.
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Margaret |
Martin - yet another kitten who invalidated my "I don't normally bond with kittens" mantra. Yet another one that I very nearly brought home. I had a soft spot for this little grey and white face, and would carry him around. When I would have spare time after a shift, I'd lift him out of his crate and snuggle him, wishing I could keep him and snuggle him every day.
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Martin |
Mary Ann - this mama cat came to us with her two baby kittens, who were so little that they were still still nursing at the time. She wasn't the best mama, as she liked to sit on the crate's shelf (tiny kittens are too little to get up there) and she would get so excited for attention that she would walk over her babies. But I didn't judge - Mary Ann wasn't cut out for motherhood. She was cut out for cuddle time. That was her #1 priority, whether you paid her attention or not, she was going to headbutt the heavens out of you! She was sweeter than sugar, a definite attention monger, and I loved her for it.
She found a foster home, but ended up back at the shelter when her kittens were old enough to not need her anymore. The foster held on to the kittens, though, and I felt sorry for such a sweet girl. I was sorry she lost her foster, but glad I could give her love again. She did find a home afterwards.
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Mary Ann (during her 2nd stay at the shelter) |
Robert - During the kitten-crazy days of summer, Robert also joined the ranks. He was no kitten, but a lanky tomcat. I don't know why I was so taken with Robert. He was quite the laid-back, cool cat. He loved to stroll around, get a pet here and there, but most of all, he loved to chow down. He would even eat the dog food that was set out for one of the dogs in the iso room. Something that I can't quite put my finger on struck a chord with me about this handsome guy.
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Robert |
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Robert |
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