and the drum roll . . .

fades. Technical difficulties ensue. Gremlins in the hardware. Does this mean I have to . . . gasp . . . clean, to stay occupied?

drum roll, please . . .

Basic Grey is launching a new website sometime today and offering all it's kits in digi!!!!

OK, so if you are not into digi, that statement probably left you rather . . . blah. But if you are living in the parallel world of pixels and dpi's, there's a chance your blood pressure just spiked and you felt light headed. Just imagine: Urban Couture, Scarlett's Letter, Sublime, Phoebe, Blitzen, Dasher, Figgy Pudding, Indian Summer, Lime Rickey, Perhaps . . .

I have commandeered the 9TS's credit card for my Christmas goodness. I will do my utmost to boost the economy, one element at a time.

Creative possibilities are running amok in my head . . .

what makes for good action?

The 9TS and I went to see Armored, the movie, last night. Upon leaving, the 9TS announced that the protagonist didn't have to work hard enough for his dues. Huh? I think that was guy speak for not enough blood and guts.

My mother, back in the 50's use to pronounce any western barroom fight a success once the first table was flipped. (I wonder what she would have thought about The Housewives of New Jersey?) Me, I prefer Roadrunner heckling one beleaguered Wiley Coyote over and over again. Now there was good action.

So what makes you leave the theater, your heart beating faster and your adrenalin rising? What evokes the word: awesome?

I vote for Indiana Jones . . . all action with no spilled guts. I am not a fan of spilled guts. Spilled guts are gross.

The 9TS, on the other hand, loves a little blood and gore. He's all about Sylvester Stallone . . . If he could be an action hero, I think he'd be part Rocky, part Rambo. War movies are his thing. The more fighting, the better.

We both enjoyed Leonardo DeCaprio in Body of Lies and Blood Diamond, or Denzel Washington in The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3. or Deja Vu, or American Gangster or Inside Man. or, OK, I admit it, just about any movie with Denzel Washington.

In truth, I will take a good action movie, sans the spilled guts, over a chick flick any day. What's your favorite?

ut oh . . .

the 9TS woke up this morning with a swollen eye. I think he needs to go to the vet.

Franken-cat . . .

is finally feeling a little better. He is following the 9TS around the house when Katie is at school and he's begging for treats. His bad eye is almost open all the way and his stitches come out Monday.

Five antibiotics, an aspiration, X-rays and two biopsies later . . . What an expensive little monster you turned out to be . . .



and yes Moak, you are worth it.

winter in florida . . .

and we are still grilling outside. Swordfish steaks rubbed with olive oil, a little salt and pepper, seasoned sea scallops, steamed artichokes with plenty of butter for dipping, baked taters and deviled crabs. And when you need a lemon for all this goodness, they are hanging on the tree in the back yard. So worth dodging hurricanes in the summer. So very worth it.

checking it twice . . .

The hard thing about Christmas shopping is, of course, finding just the right presents.

The 9TS likes to go through the stores saying: I'd like this . . . and this . . . and this. Kind of takes the surprise out of Christmas morning. So this year, I let him do that for one present and the rest I am going to select. He's a little taken aback at this new move. I don't think he trusts me. But, I have a little hidden list of things he's mentioned throughout the year. I'm hoping I'm on target.

Katie wants the same thing every year . . . . year after, year after, year after: a gift card to Barnes and Noble and a second to iTunes. My job is to find those little gems above and beyond, that I hope she will adore. This is a hit or miss proposition. Someday I hope to have this market cornered.

Kaity is easy peasy since I got her contacts this summer. An instant refill will keep her happy. The 9TS nailed her gift this year and if her parents don't spill the beans, she will be one surprised and happy camper.

Stacie? Well, Stacie reads this blog. Nope, Stacie, I am not telling!!!!

The beasties are the easiest. A new homemade catnip toy and a pouch of Pill Pockets. We still chuckle over the year Moak dug in Stacie's pocketbook to oust the catnip toys meant for HER cats. Feisty little thief.

And so it goes until the hot chocolate and Christmas morning shenanigans begin . . .