Ruthie Being Inappropriate

Ruthie has a very hard time understanding that sleeping on the counter is inappropriate. Not quite as inappropriate as eating plastic bags and pooping in the craft room, but still not good.

Even better than eating plastic bags is napping on one!

I often turn to books for comfort, but not the physical type...but Ruthie can't read (as far as I know), so I guess sleeping on them is the next best thing!

Despite the naughtiness, she's pretty cute. And awfully sweet. So I guess I'll keep her. For now.

Movie Night: Happy-Go-Lucky

When I added this movie to my Instant Netflix queue, I assumed that it would be a straightforward romance. I guess I didn't notice that it was a British film, because those don't tend to turn out the way I expect...I always enjoy the movie, but afterward can't figure out what the point was. Maybe I'm not intellectual enough for British features. Or just can't find a meaning unless it's thrown directly at my head. Then again, my usual fare (Transformers, Star Trek, etc) is really more about blowing stuff up than any sort of commentary on life. And I'm okay with that.

I really enjoy movies made in other countries, because I like to see all the little quirks that make our countries unique, and compare all the little things that make us the same. I found Happy-Go-Lucky to be perfect for that. Everyone and every place just seemed so real. And now I desperately want to travel to Britain...

For those who want a synopsis, Happy-Go-Lucky centers on Poppy, who at the age of 30 decides she needs to learn to drive. Poppy is the happiest person I have ever witnessed in a movie. Personally, I found her intensely annoying, and would have had to shut the movie off if it hadn't been for Poppy's friends and sisters, who were all rather entertaining. Poppy hires Scott, who might be the angriest person I've ever encountered in a movie, to teach her how to drive. Then, we follow Poppy at work, going out with friends, and on her weekly driving lessons. I enjoyed it, although I am not sure exactly what I spent two hours watching. However, even if I knew, I wouldn't tell, so I guess I'm not too concerned! If you watch it, clue me in on the deeper meaning...in the meantime, I think I'm going to go watch Star Trek again!

Demo Doggies

No, the girls were not present for the actual demolition of Ugly Kitchen Wall, or construction of the new wall, but they did come to visit shortly after:

Casey (aka K.C. Masterpiece, ChubChub, or Squirrel)

Izzy and Emma (aka The Perps, Eejits, or Black and Brown)

I love my puppies!!!

Moving the Great Wall...of Sarah's Kitchen

After weighing the pros and cons of moving my kitchen wall (pro: bigger kitchen, con: moving a wall), I decided to go ahead with demolition so the wall could be moved 22 inches into the living room. It really wasn't a horrible process, although who really knows what we inhaled during the destruction!

Ugly kitchen wall that offers no structural support, thus proving my theory that it was a totally random location to put up a divider.

Luke, the official Kitchen Wall Demolition team leader.

Luke really got into the destruction...I think he may have some unresolved anger issues!

Finally, the skeleton of my new wall!

Thanks to Mom and Luke, who helped tear it down. And George and Greg, who put up the framework for my new wall in just a few hours! Now, if I can just figure out the electric, and throw up some drywall, I can start painting!

Smudging on Rocky Road

After visiting my new little trashed-and-then-abandoned house, Aunt Paula determined that there could very well be evil spirits of some sort lurking there, especially in the high corners of the rooms. Once she got home to Colorado, she engaged the services of a reputable shaman, and got a bit of Mountain Sage smudge that is supposed to drive the evil spirits out.

I don't know much about mountain sage, but this looks suspiciously like SOMETHING ELSE to me...

Well, now I know a little bit more about Mountain Sage, aka Desert Mugwort...it's going to get the negative energy out...and there is A LOT of negative energy in this house!

I would like to note that this not only looks like but also also smells suspiciously like SOMETHING ELSE, as well...and it gave me an asthma attack.

Wheezing and sneezing, I bravely soldiered on, and got into every corner of every room in the entire house!

I decided to drive out the negative spirits of the ghetto front door twice, just for good measure!

Overall, I would say the purging of the negative energy from my house went rather well. I didn't die from wheezing, and the house didn't burn down during the procedure. I would like to note, however, that two self-proclaimed experts (my mother and my cousin Amanda) both felt that Mountain Sage and Desert Mugwort could both possibly be more politically correct names for SOMETHING ELSE. Very suspicious! But once the smell of SOMETHING ELSE cleared out of the house, it did seem a bit fresher. Not sure if it was the negative energy being dispelled from my new home, or the gross carpet being removed and icky paint being covered...or just the fact that we were all being affected by SOMETHING ELSE. Regardless, things are shaping up on Rocky Road!

**UPDATE** Upon asking Aunt Paula about the Mountain Sage smelling suspiciously like SOMETHING ELSE, she just laughed. Very suspicious, indeed!