It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas......

Inspired by the Holiday Home Tour last Saturday, I decided I would decorate a little. Very little that is, cause most of our decorations are still packed away in totes and boxes. Three and 1/2 years in our house now, and those boxes are still in "cold" storage in the greenhouse. Cold, cold, cold. 30 some degrees the last few days. I can feel it in my bones.

So I improvised with what I had in my craft room. An old, mini muffin tin and some scrabble tiles. But I only had one set of game tiles cause the rest of the tiles - several sets I've collected over the years - are in "cold" storage. I really need to unpack once and for all - don't you think?

Anyway, A.J. and I had fun racking our brains trying to spell 3-four letter words or 4-three letter words that relate to the holidays or winter. We ultimately came up with what you see here - HOME, SNOW, LOVE, and HOLIDAYS. OK, so holidays doesn't qualify as a 3 or 4-letter word, but I thought it was fitting.

So there it is. My make-shift holiday decor on the little table by the fireplace!

Happy Holidays!!!!

Congrats to my Phillip

So today is an exciting day for me. Phillip is shipping the first 3 pieces of his limited edition Clearly Art / Porsche art pieces. Two to Joe Cavaglieri - the classic Porsche master fabricator and one to Jerry Seinfeld. Way to go Phillip! I am SOOOOO proud of you. I've always loved your creations, but this one is my favorite because not only is it automotive related, but it has your signature on it - FINALLY!!!!

It's a happy day!!!

Flat Cat

Flat, Cat Burglar, that is. When he first "broke" into our home, he was vibrant in color and full of stuffing. Now, he is just a dirty, flat, cat burglar. No wonder he has that look on his face! We've found him down the driveway, in the culvert, and in the yard. Muddy, cold and wet - sometimes just the rain, but most times, wet with slobber.

Today, he is taking a much needed rest on the floor in the dining room. Traveling always sounds like fun, but it's great to be home. (I know how you feel Mr. Burglar!)

Wonka-Doggish, has so many toys lying around this place. The black Kong toy, the chewed-to-smitherines yellow squeeky toy bone - well, it used to squeek. I don't think he ate it??? Wouldn't he squeek when he barks? Like in the cartoons? That would be funny to hear. As is, we joke about him learning to talk. The things he says. ARR-Arrr-arrr- r- rrr. Sounds a bit like whale-speak.

Then, there WAS the bright yellow WalMart smiley face volley ball. Frank, our contractor, got a really cute picture of Wonka holding it in his mouth - smiley face forward. Wonka was even in the newspaper ad for Frank's business venture - Pet Photography by Frank. Wonka had his 15 minutes of fame! Way to go boy!!!

And they call him SANDY CLAWS.....

Gotta love the Disney Haunted Mansion this time of year. The mansion is great anytime, but this is my favorite season - the celebration of the Nightmare Before Christmas - complete with Jack and all his friends.

I love the theatrics, the music, the whole experience. I wish there was a Cirque de Soleil - type stage show of Nightmare. That would be a ticket worth buying - if done right, of course. I've seen a few Disney productions on stage and by far the best one, in my opinion, was Cinderella on ice. What a great production that was. The costumes, the music, the effects - it was wonderful. So enchanting. Now, Beauty and the Beast on ice - another favorite movie - was awful. It was set to the exact same soundtrack as the animated movie and Beauty was a Beast!

Then there was Lion King. Great beginning, great ending. A yawner in the middle.

DISCLAIMER: These comments are only my opinion. Please do not get mad at me for my way of thinking. If you do not agree, that is fine. I just know I like to be entertained and know what I like and if it puts me to sleep it must not be too entertaining to my brain!

Anyway, the Mansion was great. Pirates was great. Even the new Nemo submarine ride was cute. Much more entertaining to my brain than the original subs. Although, compared to the much shorter lines for Pirates or the Mansion, the enormous Nemo line wasn't worth the wait.

P.S. I think this is the only time I've gotten a "rebate" on going to Disneyland - This last photo is the $$$ I found whilst walking around the park. A whopping $ .49. Not too bad, huh? PLUS, the next morning I found a quarter in the parking lot outside the hotel!!!

Should've Had A V-8

I should've, but I didn't! Pictured here is tonight's dinner. It was a very long week and an even longer day at Disneyland today. I know, I know - call the WHAAAAMMMMbulance. Anyhow, these were the healthiest options in the hotel vending machine. One five dollar bill, change to spare, and it fills the belly till morning - Pop Tarts, Trail Mix, Gardettos. Then "frosted" donuts for dessert. Gross? Maybe, but it's late, I'm tired, and I'm not up to going out.

So, I guess the diet starts tomorrow. No, that won't work. I'll be on the road home all day. I can't start then. I'll start it on Monday. No, wait. That won't work either. This week is Thanksgiving. So after Thanksgiving would be best. How could I possibly diet through Thanksgiving? But then the Christmas "season" starts. Parties, lots of chocolates and dessert gifts. Looks like it'll have to wait till after New Years, cause our New Year's Eve plans with Kris and Jeff always includes a yummy Italian dinner. Then there's the chocolate dessert at the theatre. So it will have to be after New Years. Yeah. It'll be my New Year's resolution. Yeah, that'll be really, really good. I'll start on Jan 1, 2008. Yeah, RIGHT!!! Here's to all the women in the world who still eat!!! Even the ocassional fill-the-belly "meal-substitute".

Bon Appetit

Always a scrapbooking moment ...but not always my idea!

So, in a house of all boys, there is always something to laugh about, to blog about and to scrapbook about. The guys are catching on quickly. It seems lately, they are saying, "Mom, take a picture of this", "Mom, do you have your camera?", "Mom, you need a picture of this to scrapbook."

The other night, Ty was sitting on one of the micro-fiber sofas in the living room using my laptop - which he seems to be doing a lot lately since I've gone wireless. He got up to go to the kitchen and when he came back into the room, he asked me where my camera was. He got it and came back in the room and began taking pictures of the sofa seat. I asked him, "What in the world are you taking a picture of?" He was laughing that he left his butt print in the cushion. I thought he was talking about an indentation of his weight. Little did I ever imagine that he meant it, literally! With so much detail - waist band, belt loop, pockets, seams! (obviously, he was slouching on the cushion!) But I'll tell you what, I will pay real close attention next time I sit on the sofa, it could be scary!

I "Heart" You

I recently saw an art piece on display at a local art gallery. It was a framed collection of

heart shaped rocks of various colors, sizes and textures. I voted for it for a "people's choice" award. I'm not sure if it won the award or not, but it reminded me of the various heart shaped items in nature that I have taken notice of.

This rock, I found on the beach in Oregon. I love collecting rocks at the beach. I always seem to lug a few pockets full home with me. I used to collect shells, but rocks just seem to have more meaning to me. What meaning? Who knows! I just bring them home and add them to the shelf. The shelf in the family room that houses all the little things of nature. The dead bug carcasses, the sticks, the piece of shedded snake skin, the hornets nest, the big beetle, the bee, the leaves. Weird? Maybe. But, someday, I'll use them in some sort of shadow box collage and it won't seem so creepy.

Then, there is the big oak tree in our sloped, front yard. When we moved in, it was hidden and dwarfed by the cedars and the pines. You could only see the tippy top of the oak. So we made the decision one day to hire the tree surgeon to cut down the surrounding trees so we would just have this one tree as a focal point. Little did we know, it would reveal such a beautiful tree.

After all the trees were cut down, my mother's husband asked, "Why would you cut down all those trees and leave just one old scrub oak?" Well, the answer to that is - we love our oak! Especially in the fall when the colors are this brilliant and it looks like a big yellow heart!

I think the oak is happier too!

Soup's On

Potato brocolli cheese soup. So fast and easy, even a caveman can make it. Under an hour and in one pot! Our pot is huge. It is 16 quarts! - all the better to feed the boys!

Begin by slicing 1 to 1-1/2 lbs. bacon into 1" pieces. Put into your soup pot and begin frying until it is a bit crispy. I prefer to use a large stainless steel pot cause the bacon burns a little as it sticks to the bottom. That is brown broth goodness once the water is added. While the bacon is frying, peel the potatoes. Six to eight should do fine. Rinse then chop them into medium bite sized pieces.

Chop 1 large stalk of celery and 2 large onions into bite sized pieces. Spoon drain the bacon grease, leaving a little in the pot for taste. Add the onions and celery. Add seasonings. I like to add Lawry's season salt, black pepper, Lawry's garlic salt and just a couple sprinkles of poultry seasoning - sage, thyme, marjoram, etc. My personal rule of thumb for seasoning is to sprinkle a light layer over whatever is in the pan. Stir fry until onions and celery are cooked and a little browned. Add the potatoes and cover to about 2-3 inches of water. Turn up heat until boiling. Boil until potatoes are fork tender, but not mushy. Turn down the heat and add 3 cans of evaporated milk (not condensed!), 3 cans of cheddar cheese soup. Make sure the heat is on low to medium at this stage so as not to scorch the dairy! Add 2 bags of frozen brocolli. Adding the brocolli at this stage serves two purposes - 1. it helps cool the soup so you can eat it 2. it keeps the brocolli from getting mushy.

Do a taste test and add more seasoning, if you so desire.

At this stage, if the soup is too soupy (watery), I add just a cup or two of mashed potato buds - instant mashed potatoes. Just beware, don't add too many, as the soup will thicken upon standing or as leftovers, but it really does taste better the next day. The flavors just meld together so nicely.

Ladle into a bowl and serve with fresh grated cheese garnish and crusty bread.

Enjoy!

Toilet Training 101

Subject: THIS IS VERY VERY REAL!!!!!!! I AM SO NOT KIDDING!!!!

This is totally NOT a joke.

There was no school on Friday for A.J. and so he was having a friend stay the night (I will not name names to protect the innocent!)The friend's mom brought over his motorcycle so he and A.J. could ride around the house. They were outside, down by the shop/garage building unloading his bike and the mom mentioned she needed to go pee. She said she could go pee in the woods. Keep in mind that it was already dark outside.I'm going to preface this by saying I was in the house while this was happening....After she mentioned this, Ty, who was working on his car, told her there was a bathroom in the building and showed her where it was. Now, keep in mind that in this bathroom - it's a shop bathroom - it has a toilet and a sink. But there is also another, new, but NOT still in the box, toilet that we intend on replacing the "old" toilet with. It is sitting on the floor right in front of the sink.She went into the bathroom, shut the door. Then came out a few minutes later and told Ty that she thinks she peed in the toilet that wouldn't flush!!!! She actually peed in the "new" toilet!!!

Much to her credit however, apparently the "flushing" toilet hadn't been used in a long while and wasn't too clean. I know, when given a choice, I always pick the cleanest potty too!

Lesson learned: I think it would be a good idea to do a test flush at any toilet that is not maintained by you in order to avoid an embarassing moment (or two) for everyone.

These are just a few of the comments I've received from friends so far:

"I need to see a picture to believe it.....LOL (just kidding, no pics please) Gees is she on drugs? was there a light in there?? no way! And who offers to go out in the woods to pee anyway?? Wow!"

"The addage here is "Who's on first, what's on second". Amazing you need to send that into "Reader's Digest" w/ no names. I bet the poor women wanted to crawl into the other toilet."

"Yuck!!! Are you going add this to your scrapbook page???People are strange. It was strange when she said she needed to go in the woods????!!!!!!Who has to clean it up???"

"Please tell me that SHE cleaned it up!!!"

"You have got to be kidding!!!!! Have fun putting in your new toilet!"

The picture with this post is of an old historic bathroom in Tahoe - it is NOT of my bathroom. Clearly! It does not have 2 toilets!!!!

54 Days Until Christmas

So where did the time go? These photos are from Christmas 1998. Phillip had been in California working on the Tokyo Crystal Cavern project for 2 months prior. It was very hectic. The boys and I flew from Seattle to Burbank the week before Christmas so we could go to Disneyland and Medieval Times then drive home to Washington. We packed up the temporary apartment that Phillip was staying in, loaded up the '56 Chevy truck on the trailer we were towing and headed home. Approximately half-way home, Phillip says "Shit! I forgot all of the presents in the closet of the master bedroom!" He had hidden them so the boys wouldn't see them. So, I immediately got on the phone and called the apartment manager and told him the situation.

Once we were home, we dropped off the truck, took the boys to Grandmas house in Westport, and drove back down to Valencia so we could pick up the work trailer and the presents! Christmas was saved!!! We got home around midnight on Dec 23rd - after driving straight through from California and back out to the coast to pickup the kids. On Christmas Eve morning, we went to the local nursery to look for a Christmas tree. Luckily, there was one left - the counter display. The nice clerk even threw in the little wooden ornaments. We've always referred to it as the Charlie Brown tree. The kids have fond memories of it. Every Christmas they bring it up.

It seems that just yesterday it was New Years 2007. Now, here we are past Halloween and into the month of Thanksgiving. Time to start making the Christmas card list and thinking about the gifts we'll be giving. I've decided to celebrate this year with homemade gifts. (hopefully, I'll be able to pull it off in time) I've always loved homemade and 2nd hand presents. Much more thoughtful than the mass produced goodies from the mall - except of course the new flannel jammies and slippers, but a homemade set might be funner!???

Some of my favorites over the years have been the little clay snowman family - complete with real twig arms - that Ty made me when he was in elementary school. And the Nightmare Before Christmas watercolor painting that Kyle made for me two years ago. It actually made me cry! Crying on Christmas morning - I was so moved. Then there is the 2nd hand little dictionary and heart shaped ring box A.J. shopped for and bought for me with his own money. I love them boys! They are by far the greatest gift ever! Thanks Phillip! I don't know how I would have survived if we had had girls.

I like being the only girl in the castle.....

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone!! Phillip and I spent the evening together - alone! No kids, no trick or treaters way up here on the mountain. I miss the knocks on the door. I miss the screams of "TRICK OR TREAT!" I miss the creative costumes. One of these years we should have an awesome Halloween party or Haunted House. Wouldn't that be so much fun? We could all dress up for the night and be someone else.

I loved Halloween as a kid. I always had the best, thrown-together costumes. I even won a few contests! Mom always dressed up as a witch. Complete with wax warts, long red fingernails homemade from layers of clear tape and fingernail polish, green food coloring mouth/tongue and the creepiest witch-y laugh you've ever heard. It was more like a screech, but it was always convincing.

A few times, we even had a haunted house - in our house. The whole place was transformed. The kitchen was a surgeon's lab, the living room was the morgue, and the enclosed from porch was a maze of creatures and scary "boos". One year, I laid on the kitchen counter and had real raw meat pieces and tons of fake blood on my exposed stomach that the "surgeon" operated on with real knives. What were we thinking? Another time, I was a crazy, dirty, barefooted, screaming cave girl behind bars - complete with burlap tunic and teased hair full of sticks. I yelled and screamed for hours. The next day, I could hardly talk. That was the last year I played that part!

Times are changing. The little costumes I threw together for the boys are packed away in the Black and Orange Halloween totes. I can't bring myself to throw them out or donate them. The Kermit the Frog, the Dopey, the pirate, the clown, the bone man, the pumpkin head.....Maybe someday, there'll be other little ones (grandkiddos) that might want to wear what their daddy wore???? Probably not, but it's fun to dream.

Until then....RIP little costumes!

Can you imagine?

So, as I was rinsing out the bird bowls this morning, this little face appeared in the bottom of the sink. They are Hooligans fruity bird pellets all soggy from his water bowl. For some strange reason he has always "dunked" his food in his water bowl. Funny how three of the soggy, wet, bloated pellets formed a cute little smiley face. I can't stand cleaning the water bowls, but at least this cheered me up and made me smile! Maybe cleaning the bowls isn't so bad after all...NOT!!!

On the flip side, the other photo is of a piece of honeycomb-like cereal that A.J. found in his bowl several months ago. I don't know why we felt compelled to save this little piece of cereal all these months, but we did and I couldn't help but share the picture of it too. Believe it or not, it IS a conversation piece that sits on a shelf in the breakfast room.

I guess if you look closely enough, you can see emotion even in inanimate objects. You just have to use your imagination. Kind of like being a kid - laying in the grass on your back looking up at the clouds and seeing all sorts of imaginary things.

Imagination is more important than knowledge. - Albert Einstein

10/31/2007 PS - if you look closely enough, the little soggy yellow pellet has a face too! It looks like a sad face on a crescent moon.....I didn't notice before. Am I crazy or just plain bored???

Fall Favorites.

Canvases are so much fun. I love being able to add details that I wouldn't otherwise use on a scrapbook page - like sticks from the yard. Poor little, unsuspecting stick! One minute it's lying peacefully in the front yard and then WHAM! into the pot of boiling water - boiled within an inch of its life! But it was a necessary evil to get it to lay straight on the canvas. I apologize, little stick, but at least you didn't get mulched!

These are just a couple of canvases I've made this year. The 12"x 12" is one of Ty when he was so very young. It's hard to believe that he will be 20 in December. This was always a favorite photo of him from a Cub Scout field trip in Washington state. That leaf he found was huge. I don't think I've ever seen a leaf that big.

The other is of Maggie, Brian and Sandy's pride and joy. It was a gift for them and they could not believe she sat still long enough for me to get these pictures of her. I forgot to take a photo of the finished canvas before I mailed it to them, but fortunately when we visited them at their "cabin" in Tahoe, I was able to get a picture of it.

Old Soul????

Sometimes, I think I'm an old soul re-born. I just love the old country farmhouses, fresh eggs, the thought of a simpler life. Although, I'm sure life "back then" was much harder. Up at dawn, bed at sundown. Real bucket-drawn well water, outhouses, wood stoves, ice boxes, candlelight, oil lamps, gardens and farm animals.

This kitchen and laundry are two of my favorite photos I took at the Tallac Historical Site in So. Tahoe last month. Any fellow old soul should visit the buildings and walk the grounds to get a flash-back of life back then. What a great place to reflect on a "simpler" time.

Someone's in the kitchen with Tiiiii..na....

Someone's in the kitchen, I know.oh.oh...oh....Someone's in the kitchen with Tina, but there's NO BANJO!!!! Can you believe these two. Wonka-doggish and Lil' Dude just laying in the walkway - the ONLY walkway into the kitchen whilst Phillip and I make dinner. Neither one of them have ever had a table scrap handout, (that we know of!), yet here they both are, just in case we change our minds???!!!

Too dang cute. I was only hoping to grab the camera quick enough to not disturb them. Of course, one shot, then it was like Dude was looking at Wonka as to say, "Did she really just take our picture? Oh, there she goes again! What's with her anyway?"

I have to admit, I am really a cat person, but after we got Wonka a little over three years ago, I actually like dogs - well, I like Wonka anyway. I'm still not much of a "dog" person, but he can stay!!! He is really part of the family - just like "dog" people always say about their dog(s). I don't dare ever get another one though, cause no other one could have a place in my heart like this one has. He doesn't beg. He opens and closes the front door all by himself. He sits patiently for his food and then he doesn't gobble it up like it's his last meal. He sits perfectly still for the vet to draw blood and/or get his shots. He just the perfect dog that I never thought existed!!!

Way to go Wonka!!! Then there's Dude! We'll since the futon has been exhiled from the house, he hasn't had any more pee-pee "on-purposes". Thank goodness!!!

Gotta go. Dad's home with Pizza. (The kitchen is in shambles. No cabinet doors. Contents all over the counters. Well, how else would I prime and paint the insides? Huh? Tell me, Huh?) It's the make-shift re-muddle until I can afford the demolition and re-build!

Off to enjoy pizza with paint fumes!!! See ya!

Tea Anyone?

So, I can tell it's October at our house. The leaves are turning all sorts of beautiful colors - red, yellow, orange AND I'm finding all sorts of creatures out and about. Like this guy.

Actually, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays so Phillip surprised me with this guy last Saturday. He seems to fit nicely on my Black and White hutch display. Although he may seem a bit creepy, he is very lovable and just wants to share a teeny, tiny cup of tea or hot chocolate????

I found the "Made in Germay" tea cup with the saucer (on the left) at my favorite local Salvation Army for pennies on the dollar. There was only one. Then, as fate would have it, the very next day, after dropping A.J. off at school, I saw the sign - BARN SALE. I had never been to a barn sale, so of course I was curious. Good thing, cause I found a mate for my little german cup. It has no markings but it was a perfect little companion cup. I wonder how many hot chocolates I could drink at this size and not feel guilty.

Here's to Fall. Cheers little creepy fellow!

Chocolate Sedation

So this little ditty hangs on the wall at a very good friends home in Tahoe. It is so fitting for any chocoholic I know - that would be every woman I've met!

I had to take a picture so I would remember these words for my own sign.

I truly believe you can never have too much chocolate. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, chocolate ice cream, hot chocolate. Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. There's my three wishes!!! Sometimes I wonder what a chocolate bath would be like. Not chocolate milk-y water, but creamy, thick and rich chocolate. A whole claw foot tub chock full. I imagine it would be warm and smooth. Ok, so much for day dreaming again.

Back to reality. I always grew up thinking bubble baths would be the best, but as I've grown up, I'm not really fond of the bubbles. I've tried all brands of bubbles. After much experimentation, I prefer salt baths. Hot water, salt baths. Ooooh, just the thought makes me crave one. Now all I need is a nice soaking tub - with a view of course. Someday soon the master bedroom/bath addition that I envision will be a reality.

Dreaming and planning all we want to do with the house is so much fun. I just wonder, what ever will I think about when it is all done???? Will I still read Better Homes and Gardens, New Old House, Country Living, Cottage Living, Country Home magazines?

Or, will the new magazine of choice be Conde Nast Travel, Budget Traveler, etc...
because everytime we travel, my mind goes on overdrive and I can't wait to get back home to try some comfy decorating or gardening technique. I love my home. I love my family. I love my life!

Husband, Family, Home, Chocolate. Life is Sweet!

What the heck is a Patinamarie???

So yesterday I was asked by a dear friend what Patinamarie means? Well, in short, it's just a play on my name and my most favorite past time - treasure hunting and collecting objects that call out to me to take them home. A home, mind you, that is full of unopened boxes of "treasures" - so many even, that I when I was talking to Phillip the other day, I could remember that I have a stained glass kaleidoscope - like the ones we saw at First Friday Art Walk downtown - and some glass fairies - I think!??? I know I "collected" some kind of glass somethings that were cute and fun...I guess it'll be like Christmas when I finally open the boxes again...someday!

See there I went, off on a tangent. A bit of ADD? Maybe. Not formally diagnosed, but.....??? Off rambling about my treasures and I didn't explain Patinamarie. Well, my given name is Tina Marie and since I love all things with "patina" and a little character, it just seemed fitting - Patinamarie.

The little guy pictured here is a character that I stopped and looked at at the local Salvation Army (one of my favorite places to shop - better than a Mall any day!). I put him down and kept browsing. Then upon walking past him again to the register at the front of the store, I couldn't just leave him there. What kind of person would I be??? He has a tiny little chip in the back of one ear, but who doesn't like a little chip on your mouse with cheese? Even my youngest son, A.J., loved him when he saw him sitting in the hutch in our dining room. A boy after my own heart.

Best of all he was less than $1.00! And he still has his removable red plug underneath to add the Parmesan cheese. Spaghetti anyone????

Ciao

I love Saturdays!

I have to say, Saturday is my favorite day of the week. No school. No work the next day. I just love Saturday.

Today, I made a huge pot of chili, removed all the cabinet doors in the kitchen, laid on the floor in my "someday it'll be finished" craft room and played with Dude with a string. Funny how much a kitten loves a piece of string. Much like the boys loved playing in the boxes at Christmas time more than their toys. Boxes and string - how simple.

Finally programmed our new house phones - everyone still has house phones right? - with the numbers of frequently called and received #'s. Should be a nice addition to caller ID with those
"wireless caller" and 1-800 #'s. We got your number now!!! I hates telemarketers! Especially those who call my cel phone and business #'s now. How dare they.

Got a nice little surprise today - Kyle's senior portraits. What a photogenic guy! I can't believe it. The photos captured his personality so much. Can't wait to get some photos of the two other boys and even some family shots. Maybe then I'd have some professional shots to scrapbook with. Way too cool!!! Thanks Kristin. http://www.kristinmichaelphotography.blogspot.com/ Grants Pass, Oregon.

Oh, and a congrats goes out to my mom. She just entered escrow on her soon-to-be-hers house in California.

PS To my own P.S. - Thanks for visiting. I love you more and more each day. Thank you for all you do for me, being by my side - even when I'm cranky or too emotional for my own good, for always thinking of me and the kind little gifts you always bring me. You are so thoughtful. And yes, I'm always impressed!!!

Good day!

Today is Tuesday

So it is. Started off the day by discovering another spot on the futon. I've bleached it and bleached it. The cat box is clean and the darn cat is loved. Why, oh why then is he doing this to me? To torture me. Or does he really want to be an outdoor cat??? I want him to be indoors. My friend, Sue, in WA says her de-clawed, indoor cat lived happily outdoors for 12 years. I don't want an outdoor cat. I don't. I don't! I'll keep my fingers crossed. Gotta get busy on my altered bottles.....and my scrapbook page challenge, and my "me" club page-of-the-month. and...and...and....so much to do and such a bad management of time...gotta work on that too. See ya.