We're off to see the wizard.....

I loved my last blog posting about seeing double, if I may say so myself. Unfortunately, on a "can you top this" note, I haven't posted since because I am quite sure I can't top that post. Not that it's a contest, especially a contest of me against me, but I just really liked that post so I hesitated to post again. But it's time to move that post down one slot and have a new post.

Sometimes things work out better when they aren't planned. Yesterday we got a call from a friend who had two unused tickets for last night's screening of "The Wizard of Oz" at the lovely Paramount Theater in Oakland, and she wanted to know if we were interested. I don't usually like going to movies - it's a long time to sit in the dark with people who I wouldn't invite into my living room (our friends are NOT part of that, of course); people who are loudly chomping on popcorn, may smell of cologne, or who knows what, and sometimes talking in their "outside" voices, but when Will said yes, I agreed that it was a good opportunity. This isn't just any movie. I'm betting if we had been asked to go when the tickets were originally purchased, we probably would have declined. We were both glad we went. Is there a lesson here? Probably not!

The Paramount is an old theater built in 1931 and renovated in 1973. Even the outside marquee is beautiful.

We took BART up there. The BART station left us off across the street from the theater.
When this movie is on TV I never watch it. I've seen it many times, and since I don't have great recall after I see movies, it's apparent I must have seen it many more times than I remembered because I knew MANY of the lines and song lyrics! When it's on TV it's easy to walk away and say "I'll watch next time" but on the big screen, it's really cool.

There was some idiot sitting two rows in front of us who was recording part of it on his phone or mini-video recorder (just like the Seinfeld episode). It was fun watching with an audience of about 3,000. People clapped at parts, booed the wicked witch, and occasionally recited specific words, such as "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" - one of my favorites!

When we got home we had to do some "maintenance" on Alex. This is where one of us holds him down and the other helps him clean up with a wet paper towel or rag. I am the holder,and I was holding his head and front paws rather well, or so I thought, until he got those hind legs going and nailed me between my thumb and index finger, which hurts A LOT! It doesn't hurt this morning, but at the time, it was enough to make me not want to see Alex for awhile. He's still a little stinky this morning. He may need a sanitary shave like his "brother" Ziggy got a few months ago. TMI? Too much information? Probably, but it's my blog and I'll post what I want to. Wasn't that a song?

It's hard to believe that both of these cute kitties (who love it if they can get onto our bed and settle before we make the bed, and love it even more on days we don't make the bed) have nailed me but good with their sharp claws.

In case you're wondering, that's Alex on the left, and Ziggy on the right. It's RARE that they are together like this, but more common lately, and even rarer that both have their faces toward me and their eyes open. Is it Christmas?
We stayed up past midnight last night. Can we do it again tonight?

Happy New Year to my many readers. LOL! OK, Happy New Year to my 5 readers! May there be peace, prosperity, good health, and happiness in 2011.

Are you seeing double?

No, you're not seeing double. Ziggy is eating wet food, while Alex watches. Alex is the only cat I have ever known who doesn't like wet food, and his vet says it would be good for him since it is less fattening than his dry food.
Yes, you are seeing double here. That's Alex looking at himself in the mirror. Or is it Ziggy? White in the ears means Alex, but the file name says Ziggy. The closer I look I think the white in the ears in minimal and it's Ziggy.

We actually bought two of these bookcases from a store in town when we first moved here. We had one in the living room, and one in the guest bedroom.
Then today someone posted on Craigslist to give away this tall bookcase. We put it in the place of the shorter bookcase pictured above. It's not as good quality as the shorter bookcase, but it works perfectly in the spare bedroom. I'm told that next time I respond to an ad for something, I should first ask what floor they live on. This was on the third floor, no elevator. Oops.
No, you're not seeing double. We moved the shorter bookcase that was in the guest bedroom out into the living room next to its twin.

No, you're not seeing double. The picture on the wall was painted by Will's mother. She has several paintings in her house that she painted, and I really wanted one, so when we were up visiting in October, I asked her if she had any that weren't hanging up that she wouldn't mind giving us. I think she was flattered, at least I hope so. That was my intention. It is unframed, but actually, I like it that way. It is reflected in the mirrored closet door, so it looks like two pictures, so you are seeing double. I didn't even realize this fit in with my "seeing double" bit today until I started typing!
This doesn't really have anything to do with seeing double, except there are several pictures of this scarf/shawl item that I started to knit with the lovely yarn below that I bought last year at Stitches West. I guess it was actually earlier in the year, and not last year. I was looking at yarn with greens, but my two friends who were with me and strangers standing in line convinced me the color I bought looked better on me. It's beautiful yarn to knit with. The picture is on my laptop, and the actual knitting and yarn are on the laptop's keyboard.


When looking around for a place to put the tall bookcase, I was afraid we'd be moving furniture in the guest room. Is this a cat's house (or 3), or what? The towel protects the cover which protects the couch. It's an old 1970s nubby fabric couch, but I don't want it shredded. No, you're not seeing double. Those are two cat beds on the couch. One has a lot of dark cat fur on it.

Nature at its most interesting ..and other random pictures

Who says we don't get beautiful color from changing leaves in CA? Of course it's not as dramatic as the East Coast, but I think this counts.

The crepe myrtle has lost all its leaves. We have some raking to do!
Looking out our home office window the other day, we were able to watch a blue jay and a woodpecker.
The blue jay was trying to get the woodpecker to leave


but the blue jay finally flew away, leaving the woodpecker...

Wow - those critters can sure do some damage to a tree.
Ziggy has discovered that our retro green bathroom also has a sink where he can get water to drink. Here he is waiting for one of us to use the bathroom (and turn on the sink faucet for him).

This is where all three cats hang out when I am alone on nights Will goes to band practice. Ziggy has decided that he likes to sleep right up against my pillow. Can you see the can of air on the night stand behind him? That's for bad kitties who scratch at the bed or try to open the closet. It's hard to see all 3, but they are there. Alex at 7 o'clock and Ziggy at 11 o'clock. Mow needs no point of reference.
I don't like dressing up cats or dogs, but I couldn't resist putting these cat ears that I've worn for a Halloween costume on the actual cat.
I finally got a decent close picture of Ginger Snap. This little kitty seems to like it outdoors, although if I let her, she'd come in with me to our house. That wouldn't work, of course.

How did the cat toy get outside on the welcome mat? I think Will knocked it out when dragging his bongos out last week.

It's always random things, isn't it?

It's gray outside, and the drizzles come and go. It will probably rain the hardest when we're finally ready to leave to do errands, but that's okay.

Last night we celebrated the 3rd night of Chanukah at a church! OK, so it was the 3rd night of Chanukah and we were at a church but the two aren't related. Will played with his friend Eddie and other musicians at a concert. We got there too early, so a visit to the Costco across the street was mandatory. Much to my surprise, the Costco in Livermore just a few weeks before Christmas at 6:45 pm was a very good Costco experience. That Costco has our favorite coffee (SF Bay Decaf French Roast by Rogers and Co) so I bought 4 of the 3 lb bags. I found everything I need and then some. I went with the S.O. of one of the performers and she was completely overwhelmed since she's not a Costco shopper! Things ARE huge and many there. I know exactly what I need and I went for each item. It helps to be an experienced Costco shopper!

It looks like the first quarter of 2011 will be busy for me with clients if one who mentioned she will need me comes thru. I might even be working 5 days a week - that's good news and bad news, mostly good! Ha ha. Since it will be split amongst two clients, with a work-at-home client in between, it's not like a real job, so therefore all good.

Will had his old laptop refurbished for me to use, and when the AT&T guy came to fix our TV he told us we actually have wi-fi, so we can access the laptops from anywhere in the house. That's the good news. The bad news is that we're both sitting in our robes on the loveseat each with a laptop on our laps. A little pathetic if you ask me! I guess it's better than leaving and going into the office to check email and Facebook and anything else such as looking up an actor that I just saw on TV.

The holiday season is in full swing and I had a good experience. I hope everyone who reads this has a lovely holiday season. Good health, happiness, and all the good stuff.