Mulder

I have been feeling a little down today, because three years ago my cat Mulder died of kitty cancer. He and his brother Spot adopted me and my ex-boyfriend twelve summers (years) ago. He was the most charming and playful fellow you would ever meet (he would touch my nose with his cold nose, he would play with my hair and even try to eat it).  Both me and Spot greatly miss him, but life goes on. This picture was taken a month before he passed away.

Mulder Smith

Born: June 1, 2000 -- Died: July 17, 2009

Sidelined

I have not had the chance to really blog. I have been dealing with a skin infection that has been painful off and on. I won't go into too much detail though. The hot weather does not like my skin. I wish today's medical care was more personable and not so rush, rush, though.

My door lock was finally fixed last week (last Monday), in which a new lock was installed. In other news, I rearranged my small apartment for better efficiency and to make it appear less cluttered. I have been paying the bills and trying to save money here and there. I am trying to make more time for artwork and jewelry making. I did make some glass and plastic bead elastic bracelets, two Saturdays ago when I was having minor aches and could not sleep.

I need to start taking better care of myself. Especially watching what I eat-I am starting to gain weight again. I need to relax more: artwork, more sleep time, hot baths, spending time with Spot, reading, and yoga.

Light Show: Part Two

I got to see the Fourth of July fireworks up close last week, for the first time in nine years. The last time I saw them up close was at the Virginia Beach oceanfront in 2003. After that, seeing fireworks was hit or miss: I could barely seem them from my second or third floor apartment windows due to trees and buildings obscuring them or the fireworks were not shot high enough. I finally got a chance to see them up close this year off the Hague (Elizabeth) River. I tried taking pictures first, but couldn't get a good shot. I finally got some awesome video footage shot off from my cell phone.

Best I could get on photo, the Hague lit up bright red when this firework went off.

 

The fireworks on cell phone video. The Hague was a variety of colors.

Screaming Yellow Zonkers

Something caught my eye earlier this evening at Walgreen's. It was a box of  Screaming Yellow Zonkers. I haven't seen a box of Screaming Yellow Zonkers in twenty years. It was one of my favorite childhood snacks. It was also my late mother's favorite snack. I loved the sweet buttery flavor.

I would always see Screaming Yellow Zonkers in the snack aisle of the neighborhood grocery store, then one day they disappeared. I never saw a box of the yellow and buttery popcorn snack again, until this evening. I had to pick up a box.

Brings back childhood memories.

Made me smile after a frustrating day.

Light Show

Last night, lightning was abound. There was some rain and wind, but plenty of lightning. It was like watching  a light show. I tried to take pictures, but it was next to impossible. I decided to use the video camera function of my cell phone. It was very hard to catch the lightning on video, because it was kind of "blink and you miss it." Sorry for the poor sideways quality of the video.

What's for dinner?

This is what's for dinner: veggie nachos made with fresh green onions and jalapeno peppers, mushrooms, sliced grape tomatoes, black olives, cheese, and tortilla chips. It took me about twenty minutes to cut up all the vegetables and fifty-nine seconds in the microwave to heat the nachos. Along with a side of mild salsa, the nachos made a good, tasty, and filling meal.

Yummy!!

Try outrunning this...

I got off work at 4:30, right when the thunderstorm warning was announced. As I walked home, dark clouds were approaching behind me and they seemed to be gaining speed.

I was making good time, I seemed to be a step ahead of the storm, even though the wind was picking up and the temperatures were dropping.

As I was approaching home, I felt little drops of rain and heard the distant rumbling of thunder. I was still hoping to outrun this storm coming up on my heels. I finally made it inside, when it started to downpour with hail and heavy wind. The thunder and lightning  was very intense. Good thing I outran this storm and got to watch it from my apartment window.