Viva: Escape from the Patio

There was a bit of excitiment in the Casa this weekend. As many of you probably do, there are certain daily routines Viva and I go through that become habitual without even trying. In the mornings I wake up, open my patio door, turn on the coffee maker, then sit down to check email, blog, etc. During this time Viva goes outside and chills out under the table for awhile, tries to eat the plants, etc. Before I leave for work, I check to make sure she's back inside, then I shut and lock the door. At this time, the cat normally retires to her morning nap under my bed (because laying on the porch and trying to eat plants is such a strenuous activity). There she stays until I get home, at which time she usually comes out to join me in the living room while I am trying to do yoga.

So Friday I am 1/2-way through my yoga when I think gee, where the heck is Viva? I stop and go look under my bed. No cat (you know where this is going, right?). I check my closet. No cat. To my horror I check the patio. NO CAT!

At this point, I begin to freak out. The tears start to flow. I realize that she isn't wearing a collar because she hates it and I was trying to be nice like that. So I run outside and start calling her name like a crazy woman. I've got sunglasses on but it's apparent to anyone who gets close to me that I am bawling behind the lens. My 18 year old neighbor tries to console me, but all I can think to myself is "I'm a bad mom! How did I forget my cat on the patio?!?!?".

Fast Forward 20 minutes, and I finally find her in a bush about 500 feet from my unit. She's scared as shit and covered in sticks, and I had to drag her out by her back legs because she has obviously been traumatized by something and WILL NOT leave the bush. So I carry her back, walking back past all the people who watching me wandering and calling her name for 20 minutes, but am now covered with dirt and sticks and getting clawed by a cat who supposedly loves me so much.

I get her in the apartment and am able to wipe her down slightly, but she bolts under the bed and didn't come out until last night. Freaking cat.

Freaking cat. I love/hate you.
Saturday night I was up at the cabin with a few friends, which was a debaucle as always. Dinner was fabulous - New York Steaks, Tabouleh, and Asparagus w/ Tomatoes. And of course, lots of yummy wine and champagne. However, you know it's time to put yourself to bed when you realize you are drinking Muscat straight from the bottle and smoking a rum-flavored cigar, while the new man in your life is playing beer pong down the hill with a bunch of 18 year olds. I swear, we are in our late twenties. After retriving the said boy from the said drinking games, we all promptly passed out by 11pm and slept till 10am. Hey you're only young once, right?

And of course I knitted. Lots.

Aline Jacket. I think I am going to leave the sleeve at that legnth, but I'm not casting off till I see what it looks like with the collar. After that, only 1 sleeve to go!

Mandarin Shirt. I really wish the V was a bit deeper in this - because it is now less "beached whale" and is instead more "holy crap look at her boobs!"

Re-Orged the stash last night while I was recovering. This is the 'future project' shelf, i.e. all this yarn has a designated project. All that Main Line in the center was a recent splurge - I fell victim to the $1.79 sale over at Knit Picks last month. That's for a Fair Isle Sweater, to be started when Aline is finished.

Happy Monday!