What do you do with an unhappy cat?

We have this cat.... we've had him since he was a kitten, and he's 3 years old. He is a housecat, as I thought that was the thing you are supposed to do. Right?? In reality, I prefer indoor/outdoor cats - I mean, I think a cat should be a cat... but on the other hand, I don't want one to get flattened in the road or something.

So here is the problem. He is desperate to be outside. He's been like that his whole life, altho in the beginning he was content to just go out on the patio and lie in the sun while we were out with him. Then one day he sprinted across the lawn, climbed the fence and started across the green space in our neighborhood. We ran outside and scooped him up fast. After that, we didn't let him out anymore, but he's tried to get out whenever he can. When we moved from there to the apartment, we thought we were safe - we had a 2nd floor balcony so we'd let him out there and for awhile, he was content. Then one day, after we'd lived there nearly a year, he bailed - seriously - he jumped off the balcony and we didn't find him 'til 8 hours later!! Even then, he didn't seem to be on his way home... he was on someone else's ground-floor patio, just snooping around. After that, we didn't let him out on the balcony anymore. I had to block the doorway with my purse whenever coming home, because he'd try to shoot out the door and down the stairs.

Well, now we've moved again, and we are staying for awhile at my parent's house. I thought (wrongly, it seems) that he'd be happy since their house is waaay bigger than our apartment, with lots of new places to check out. Nope. He seems even more desperate than ever to get outside. He has gotten out accidentally a couple times (too many people and too many doors here) and he doesn't just wander out to check it out - no, he streaks across the lawn, heading across the street or into a neighbor's yard!!

We are trying really, really hard to make sure he doesn't make it outside. I'm pretty sure he has no clue how to survive out there, with cars and dogs and such. But, he's so miserable! He yowls at the door, he yowls out the window at night while we try to sleep..... he's pretty annoying, too.

Any ideas on how we can keep him happy and safe inside?

Is this what retirement will look like?? (please say no!)

My husband needs a job. Really, really needs a job. Oh, I mean sure, we need money so we can pay our bills and all that, but I'm not even talking about that yet. What I mean is that without anyone for him to boss around, he's beginning to (try to) boss me and Kiki. And it's starting to get on my nerves.

Water in, "water" out

You may or may not know that I need to lose weight. As in, a whole lot of weight. As in, I'm twice the woman I should be.

I joined Weight Watchers a few months back, and I've lost just over 20 pounds. If I was being awesome and losing 2 lbs a week I'd have lost twice that... but hey, I'm losing, not gaining! Not even staying the same... so I figure I'm going the right direction, anyhow.

This week hasn't been the best ever, so I'm a little freaked out about weigh-in. So today I remembered "drinking water is good" so I've been chuggin' it.

I've peed 12 times this morning and it isn't even 10:30.

I remember why I quit drinking water.

It's Raining, it's not pouring

It feels completely fall-like today. Which is good. Fall is my favourite season. Oh, look, I spelled that like I'm British or something. Everyone here is annoyed because they really didn't have a summer. I guess there were only a few hot days this year. But, having myself just moved from Virginia where it was disgustingly hot and humid, I am as happy as can be!

Next door, the neighbor's cat is asleep on their roof. In the rain. Which seems pretty strange to me. At least it is only drizzling.

Well, we haven't finished our lessons today, so back to school I must go.

"Go Big Blue"!!

So I said I would blog every day.... here it is, as promised -

B S U!! B S U!! B S U!! Gooooo Broncos!!

That's what is on my mind today ;-)

Overcoming lameness (and no, I don't mean I have a limp)

So I've been a total slacker on this whole blog thing. Which needs to end, eh? So I'm revamping what I'll write about, hope I can continue to sneak onto my daughter's laptop (a stinkin' middleschooler has a laptop and I don't?? Yeah, grandma loves her more...) and I don't know, see if I can collect a thought or two each day.

Today's thought: School starts tomorrow. For most moms, that's probably cause for celebration - but when you're a homeschooler, it means my work begins. I am sooo not ready. Too bad for me, huh? 7th grade.... wow. They grow up so fast. Since we just moved back across the country (Virginia to Idaho.... again) two weeks ago, I'm not really organized for school yet. And don't have the space here to really be. But I can work with it. We were asked to re-join the school board! Nice to be loved. ;-)