A cat without balls, toasters and B12's...

I love my cat... we all know I do... but here is the thing... he's crazy.

He got his balls cut out (you know, so he wouldn't be able to make any more cat babies that no one would want to take care of...) and now he's bonkers. A friend says this is just plain proof that now we really know what the males of a species think with. Maybe.

He chews on metal things like the rails on our porch. This he does only at the times when he isn't actually trying to jump off the fourth story balcony. I guess he's never actually tried to jump... but, he sure does scare the shit out of anybody who is home on a daily basis with his balcony antics.

The craziest thing he does now though... well... actually, to be fair to the little guy, we don't know WHICH of the cats is doing it... it could very well be DS's cat as well... but anyway... ONE of them is pooping on my bathroom rugs once a week. Hmmm. Not cool. I've never stepped in it yet... and I better freaking not ever... cause the rug is right next to the box, and I don't care if the box already has some poop in it... you better use the box. I've used outhouses... I've even used port-a-potties that are damn near full... no, it's not the most pleasant experience, but dammit... you don't see me shitting on the rug. :)

But you know what... even if my little guy is crazy now... ok wait, he's not little anymore... he is already way bigger than my old cat ever was. He's a huge cat, and he's only 6 months. But anyway... the thing about him is this... even if he is crazy, he is SO freaking lovable. He is a cuddler. He loves to be pet. He will sit in your lap and purr, purr, purr. He lets you pet his belly and cover him in kisses. And we even have a little thing worked out....he always sleeps on my left side tucked in near my waist.

It is very cool having a cat. And I love my cat. I know I've said this before. But, he is really just so cool. :)

In other news... I bought a toaster yesterday. This may not seem like a big deal to anyone... but, I haven't had a toaster in years. In China, I think they were rare and expensive. I toasted bread in the oven. Do you know how long that takes? By the time you heat up the oven... a long time! Then I moved here, and still didn't have a toaster, and still wanted one. I learned to toast bread on the stove, in a pan... but that more so burns the bread, rather than just toasting it. So yesterday I laid down my 12.62Ls, and I got myself a toaster... but, you know... you'd think this would be easy... it wasn't all that...

We (Ds and I) went to Rimi Hypermarket... it's a superstore with about 1/3 of the stuff that, lets say, Meijer has...but it's the biggest superstore this side of the Daugava. Anyway... I go to the toaster section and find the cheapest one that is made by a name I know. Philips. Good. I can do that. Now, I look on the shelf, and there only appears to be the one display one. No more. Damn. So I look around to see if I can find someone to help me. Hmmm... nope.

So I walk to the next section of the store... there's a guy in a red Rimi shirt working in the sporting goods... maybe he can. So I go up to him and ask, "Can you help me find someone who works in that section?"
He answers, "There is no one."
Me, "What do you mean, no one?"
Him, "No one works in that section anymore."
Me, "So, what should I do? I just want to buy a toaster."
"Well... no one works in that section."
"So I can't buy a toaster today? Toasters are no longer for sale?"
"Well, no, I guess..."
"Can YOU come help me?" I start to walk away, implying that he just better follow...
"I don't know anything about this department..."
"I just need to find a toaster!"

So we go, and look, and he concludes that indeed the display toaster is the last of its kind. So I ask him if I can take it. He says why not. So we start to pack it up! This becomes a team effort because inside the box is more boxy stuff and plastic stuff and papers and you just need more than two hands. I'm just closing the top flap having figured out the right angle at which to insert the toaster and which cardboard went where when a woman in a red shirt walks around the corner.

"The toasters are all here!"

Man from the sporting goods department turns to see his colleague who "doesn't exist" because no one works in this section anymore. He gets all perplexed, "What are YOU DOING HERE? No one works in this department anymore!"

Meanwhile I feel like a bit of a jackass, but mostly, I just want my toaster and to get on with my shopping. So I say to the lady, "What should I do?"

She says, "Just go take one of those toasters. It's ok, I'll unpack this one."

And so I went and got my toaster... which was on an aisle end display, and got on with my shopping.

I bet you never knew it was so hard to buy a toaster. Toasters are the kind of thing I certainly used to take for granted. Not anymore.

When I got home, I made some toast, and buttered it, and put some Vegemite over the butter. Vegemite is my new favorite spread. I like it on bread and crackers. I'm not quite JS yet... I don't put it on literally EVERTHING... but I do like it.... and DID YOU KNOW??? Apparently vitamin B12 is a happy vitamin. It keeps your spirits up. Well, Vegemite is chock full of B vitamins... and I have been feeling quite happy lately! Who knew? Not me! So I figure SOMEONE better get me a LARGE jar of Vegemite to get me through the winter. :) I like being this happy... and while I was attributing it to some other factors in my life... if Vegemite is going to help... then bring on the Vegemite!

So... a cat without balls, toasters and B12's... that's life these days. It's good. Better yet, it's Friday afternoon, and we're off to the bar. See you later...