we have a winner!

Thanks to everyone who commented on my last post! Who knew there were so many cat lovers out there?

And now for business. I know you have all been waiting in painful anticipation for the results of my cat paraphernalia give-away.

Drum roll, please.

[Insert drum roll sound]

The winner, chosen by Random.org's Random Number Generator, is commenter #2, Jill!

So, Jill, I will send along some cat fanciful treasures to you this week. Maybe Whitney will appreciate them. (If you're willing to share, that is.)

fancy that!

One of my fellow employees recycles her old magazines by leaving them in the break room for break-takers to enjoy. A few weeks ago, I found four whole issues of Cat Fancy, the "World's Most Widely Read Cat Magazine." (I doubt that title has much competition.) Not wanting to be greedy, I took three issues, but went back for the fourth a couple days later. 

Too lazy to take an actual picture, I posed with my cat zines for PhotoBooth. Unfortunately, the mirror image impedes the ability to peruse the headlines. I'm keeping this one in the post because I posed with my best Crazy Cat Lady face and couldn't stand to waste it.

Check out these treasures!

Fascinating Cat Fact #40: "Claws retract automatically to keep them sharp and allow silent stalking."
Fascinating Cat Fact #15: "Kittens in the womb acquire whiskers before body hair."
Fascinating Cat Fact #6:   "Cats hear sounds, especially the can opener, four or five times farther away than humans.

I don't think it's a coincidence that this rather chubby cat is on the cover of the "Diet Secrets Revealed" issue.

Jessie: The issue above has a feature all about hairless cats! This issue also has some compelling opinions about where cats go when they die. 

Have I mentioned that each issue comes with a centerfold cat poster? I'm shocked that the previous magazine owner left these out for co-workers before pulling those out!

My recent possession of these Cat Fancy issues has inspired me with creepy ways to spread cat fanciness around our home. Last week I replaced all of our school pictures on the fridge with pictures of various creepy cats. Do you have a favorite?

Can you spot the hidden cat? This didn't come with Cat Fancy, but we've been hiding a scary metal cat statue around the house back and forth. I'm pretty proud of this particular place.

And now the good news for all you readers, who are dying for a piece of the Cat Fancy action! Everyone who comments (I want everyone who is reading this to comment) will be entered into a drawing to win a centerfold poster and a selection of articles from one of my issues of Cat Fancy! You do not want to miss out on this opportunity.

In the meantime, visit CatFancy.com/subscribe to start getting your own copies today! Also be sure to stop by www.meow.com for some cat-related shopping. They have a "Four Cool Kittens" sweater that is   fabulous.

I'll draw for and announce the winner this Saturday, June 4. Get your entries in asap!

catch-up

I've been home for exactly a month, and just barely found my camera charger. So behold, a photographic recap!

 Melissa and Bennett have been helping me look for a used car. Bennett is The Car Whisperer and is very helpful at weeding out the worthless from the worth driving.

We visited Grandma's grave with flowers for Mother's Day. I love our trips up there. Also, it was our first genuinely warm day, which was then followed by weeks of clouds and rain.

John had two choir concerts that I got to see. I miss out on musical and fall/winter concerts, but I always make it to the spring shows. John and his groups are great!

Sarah finishes sixth grade on Tuesday, marking the end of our family's 17-year era at the elementary school. Mom took cookies and a cute card to put in the staff room on Friday. 

[One last taste of Provo] I'm really proud of this sign I made to warn visitors about the giant, deceptive puddle in front of my apartment. For the last month of school, the drain outside my door malfunctioned and created a huge, deep puddle. It always looked more shallow than it really was, so I made an informative sign.

long-awaited weekend

This weekend could not have come soon enough. Long work week. Tired most of the time. Carsick on the bus. But now I'm home through Monday!

Today started off wonderfully. I woke up around 8:30 to sunshine streaming through my windows and a delightful breeze blowing in. So wonderful. Mom sent Moosey in to get me up a bit later, and Mom, Grandpa, and I hit Costco. [Yes, we were a bit insane for going to Costco on Saturday. The samples are always best on Saturday, though.]

The employees had a fundraising goal for a local hospital and were all dressed up in 80's rocker outfits. At first we thought that the outfits were to promote Lady Gaga's new album. I support the fundraising efforts much more than the Gaga initiative. To further promote their goal, the workers taped fellow employee Stan high up on a pole and declared that they wouldn't cut him down until their reached their goal. When Mom told our checker that she hoped Stan had used the bathroom before they taped him up, the checker said that"knowing Stan, he probably didn't." I really hope they hit their goal soon. 

Costco trip bonus: I called Charlotte and we chatted while I wandered the aisles scouting out samples and potential purchases. I LOVE Charlotte!

After Costco we hit up O'Toole's Nursery and picked up flowers to fill out our front garden. O'Toole's is officially the best place to spend a late Saturday morning. Below is some select photo documentation from our excursion.

And now Mom and I are DPAD (Drinking Pepsi All Day) and hunkering down in the basement for sewing, ironing, and probably some knitting.

I love this weekend.

Bonus news: Jordin and I both got accepted into the accounting master's program! Two years from now, we will be tax masters! I'm really excited.

exemplary

Dear reader: Please forgive me for making you look at burnt cupcakes for almost a full month. Behold, a new post:

I started work at the oil company two weeks ago. Though I am in summer mode, Denver weather hasn't caught the trend and I fell victim. I rushed out of the house my second day of work with only an umbrella, no jacket. I thought that would be enough. Then the snow started. Then my bus didn't come.

I was really cold.

I had yet to see my bus start down the hill.

I didn't have a coat.

I wanted to cry.

I prayed for patience.

I called my Mom.

Mom was still in bed, and Dad had taken the good car to seminary with John, but she got up and drove to my stop in the beater minivan we're borrowing from friends. I was helpless because I couldn't leave the stop and risk missing the bus when it eventually came, so she brought me a long wool coat. The remaining ten minutes I waited in the wet, heavy snow at the bus stop weren't bad because I had a warm coat and a Mom who loves me.

My Mom's Christlike behavior reminds of Christ's love for and service towards us. I was stupid to not take a coat, but Mom got out of bed at 6:10 and came anyway. We make mistakes and Christ still comes to our aid. I am grateful for people in my life who exemplify the Savior's love in such tangible ways.