We decided to treat Cornflake and Miko to a New Year's gift and picked up some cat furniture from PetSmart a week or so ago. Apparently they had been complaining that they were wearing out their other scratching post and, anyway, it was no longer a challenge for them to climb it to grab the (stolen) green frog toy from the top of it.
The new piece of furniture has a couple of scratching posts, a basket level and a top-most platform that is clearly intended to let them sit in a superior pose and cast their eyes over their entire domain (our house) and/or energetically play with the feather toy and/or attack whichever one of this is laying downing the basket trying to take a nap. And, last but by no means least, it has a surprise use as a launch pad for jumping on to the mantel.
I have to admit be quite jealouse of their ability to have so much fun on such a simple piece of carpet-covered wooden frame. I mean, we like our couches, but I don't think we would describe them as being 'fun'. Perhaps being a cat is better than being a human. And perhaps cats know it. That would explain a lot,me thinks.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
New Baby Buckerfield
Cousin Mike and his wife Jo welcomed their latest 7lb 13oz. creation last week. Mum and baby are doing well, by all accounts.
Congratulations folks - one day we'll hope over the Severn bridge to see you guys and your offspring.
Congratulations folks - one day we'll hope over the Severn bridge to see you guys and your offspring.
Go Redcats Go!
Today is the first half of the 2008-09 Academic Decathlon competition and the Fowler High School team will be tackling the Interview and Speech components before prepping for 'The Show' (Super Quiz) next Saturday.
I had the honor of providing some help with the students preparing for their interviews on Monday evening and learned about role playing games (I had no idea what they were, honest), how old you have to be to slice meat at Port of Subs and the intricacies of raising pigs and sheep for auction.
Good luck Ms. Ulloa and the team - we're rooting for you from afar today and will be there in person next week to cheer on the team.
I had the honor of providing some help with the students preparing for their interviews on Monday evening and learned about role playing games (I had no idea what they were, honest), how old you have to be to slice meat at Port of Subs and the intricacies of raising pigs and sheep for auction.
Good luck Ms. Ulloa and the team - we're rooting for you from afar today and will be there in person next week to cheer on the team.
Monday, January 26, 2009
A Lamb Call To Action
"We r going 2 the snow on Sunday if anyone is interested in going w/ us"
So said the txt message Letty sent out Friday, starting a flurry of planning activity for the extended UlloaSullivan team. Not only were we taking aback by such a surprise, taking-the-bull-by-the-horns pose from the Lamb camp but once we got over that we had a bunch of questions to answer. Did we have gloves? Would I miss the jacket I left in the UK on my last trip? How much bologna can we get at the last minute on a Saturday night? Who has flasks for the hot chocolate that we can't go up there without? Etc. Etc.
And so, with multiple layers of clothing on we headed over to Janie's armed with fresh breakfast burritos from Case de Rita for a 9:45am rendezvous before heading up to the Kings Canyon National Park. After an initial stop for a couple of trial runs on the personal sleds we drove on up to the next picnic area and began the serious work of creating a work class (but not too dangerous) run.
It got colder as the day progressed, with more snow blowing in over the mountains. After lunch - bologna sandwiches, chips and hot chocolate - we headed over to a more dangerous slope (buried logs, trees, opportunities for being impaled/knocked unconscious) where only the hard core among us dared to venture. So, there were Jim, Justin, Michelle, Meleena and I (yes, Meleena!) taking turns to slide down a very steep mountain slope towards thick trees while all the time Michelle and Justin worked to make the starting point even slicker and faster. Justin out dared us all by managing weave his sled through a tiny gap in some trees right at the bottom of the slope causing us much concern for a moment or two before we heard him laughing.
Of course, the only problem with going down long steep slopes is that you then have to climb back up those same long steep slopes to have another go. We're feeling a touch sore from our adventures today but, having waited about 5 years to use our new gloves and sleds, we're raring to go again soon.
So said the txt message Letty sent out Friday, starting a flurry of planning activity for the extended UlloaSullivan team. Not only were we taking aback by such a surprise, taking-the-bull-by-the-horns pose from the Lamb camp but once we got over that we had a bunch of questions to answer. Did we have gloves? Would I miss the jacket I left in the UK on my last trip? How much bologna can we get at the last minute on a Saturday night? Who has flasks for the hot chocolate that we can't go up there without? Etc. Etc.
And so, with multiple layers of clothing on we headed over to Janie's armed with fresh breakfast burritos from Case de Rita for a 9:45am rendezvous before heading up to the Kings Canyon National Park. After an initial stop for a couple of trial runs on the personal sleds we drove on up to the next picnic area and began the serious work of creating a work class (but not too dangerous) run.
It got colder as the day progressed, with more snow blowing in over the mountains. After lunch - bologna sandwiches, chips and hot chocolate - we headed over to a more dangerous slope (buried logs, trees, opportunities for being impaled/knocked unconscious) where only the hard core among us dared to venture. So, there were Jim, Justin, Michelle, Meleena and I (yes, Meleena!) taking turns to slide down a very steep mountain slope towards thick trees while all the time Michelle and Justin worked to make the starting point even slicker and faster. Justin out dared us all by managing weave his sled through a tiny gap in some trees right at the bottom of the slope causing us much concern for a moment or two before we heard him laughing.
Of course, the only problem with going down long steep slopes is that you then have to climb back up those same long steep slopes to have another go. We're feeling a touch sore from our adventures today but, having waited about 5 years to use our new gloves and sleds, we're raring to go again soon.
Friday, January 23, 2009
UlloaSullivan.com #1 Reader Award Luncheon
Craig and Jim met today at Deli Casa in Kingsburg for the official UlloaSullivan.com #1 Reader Award Luncheon.
Over a lunch of Tacos Asada and Chile Verde they talked about the state of the nation, the joys and pitfalls of new cell phone technology, family matters, swimming, the ethical dilemma of borrowing that Keith Urban DVD, and the rumors surrounding upcoming Prince gigs in LA. This, of course, was all just a pre-curser to the real business at hand when Craig surprise Jim with the actual #1 Reader Certificate and arranged for a photo to be taken by the touchy-feely restaurant manager.
This is the special treatment that we lavish on only the most faithful followers of the UlloaSullivan.com experience. If you want some of this action next year, and upset Jim's attempt at a repeat, you'll have to get cracking - to paraphrase that famous saying from the movie Talledega Nights - "Second place is just the first loser".
Over a lunch of Tacos Asada and Chile Verde they talked about the state of the nation, the joys and pitfalls of new cell phone technology, family matters, swimming, the ethical dilemma of borrowing that Keith Urban DVD, and the rumors surrounding upcoming Prince gigs in LA. This, of course, was all just a pre-curser to the real business at hand when Craig surprise Jim with the actual #1 Reader Certificate and arranged for a photo to be taken by the touchy-feely restaurant manager.
This is the special treatment that we lavish on only the most faithful followers of the UlloaSullivan.com experience. If you want some of this action next year, and upset Jim's attempt at a repeat, you'll have to get cracking - to paraphrase that famous saying from the movie Talledega Nights - "Second place is just the first loser".
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Busy Bells
It's been a busy few days since arriving here in the UK on Friday - what with work, staying up to 3:30am (not voluntarily), sleeping into 1pm (also not voluntarily), identifying all the toys Toby has stolen from my childhood, being unable to choose a starter for dinner at the Italian restaurant and settling for a small order of spaghetti carbonara instead, attending the Sullivan After Xmas Bash and playing Wii Music with the carefully created Mii characters resembling us (to much hilarity - mostly around the one that Neil and I created for Paul) there has been quite a bit going on.
I have to say that Wii Music was a surprise, particularly after I found it difficult to get the hang of when experimenting earlier in the day on Sunday. Perhaps it was the jetlag but I really couldn't make much that sounded very musical during my early attempts. That's not to say that Uncle Colin, Aunt Maureen or Maya's Mum Jackie were any better during the team event later on, but the whole thing began to make sense in a party game kind of way.
Watch out Leons,Lambs, Marroquins, Ortiz's, Sullivans and everyone else who finds their way over to our house periodically - Wii Music is in your future.
I have to say that Wii Music was a surprise, particularly after I found it difficult to get the hang of when experimenting earlier in the day on Sunday. Perhaps it was the jetlag but I really couldn't make much that sounded very musical during my early attempts. That's not to say that Uncle Colin, Aunt Maureen or Maya's Mum Jackie were any better during the team event later on, but the whole thing began to make sense in a party game kind of way.
Watch out Leons,Lambs, Marroquins, Ortiz's, Sullivans and everyone else who finds their way over to our house periodically - Wii Music is in your future.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Business Trip Checklist
Socks and Underwear? Check.
Passport? Check.
iPod and Book? Check.
Laptop? Er, wait a minute... it must be here somewhere... except it's not. !@#$!
Yeah, well, it happens to the best of us sometimes. I put it down to the disorienting effects of having a massage table setup in my office and of having to take my laptop into the family room while other people were being massaged.
In any case, big thanks to Letty for saving the day with a quick visit to the house, some protective envelope wrapping foresight and the beauties of the overnight FedEx service for getting me back online with 24 hours of my realizing that I'd left my laptop at home when leaving for my 10 day trip yesterday.
Passport? Check.
iPod and Book? Check.
Laptop? Er, wait a minute... it must be here somewhere... except it's not. !@#$!
Yeah, well, it happens to the best of us sometimes. I put it down to the disorienting effects of having a massage table setup in my office and of having to take my laptop into the family room while other people were being massaged.
In any case, big thanks to Letty for saving the day with a quick visit to the house, some protective envelope wrapping foresight and the beauties of the overnight FedEx service for getting me back online with 24 hours of my realizing that I'd left my laptop at home when leaving for my 10 day trip yesterday.
#1 Reader Award
It is with great pleasure that I can announce today that the recipient of the UlloaSullivan.com #1 Reader Award for 2008 is Jim Lamb.
Jim not only demonstrated keen and consistent readership throughout the award period but his vocal/email/instant messenger demand for both regular and high quality content and subsequent feedback were the epitome of what it is to be a UlloaSullivan.com reader in 2008. You should all aspire to his greatness in this regard.
At the start of 2009, the playing field has been reset and everyone stands an equal chance of receiving this recognition again in just 12 short months time.
But, for now, congratulations to you Jim!
Jim not only demonstrated keen and consistent readership throughout the award period but his vocal/email/instant messenger demand for both regular and high quality content and subsequent feedback were the epitome of what it is to be a UlloaSullivan.com reader in 2008. You should all aspire to his greatness in this regard.
At the start of 2009, the playing field has been reset and everyone stands an equal chance of receiving this recognition again in just 12 short months time.
But, for now, congratulations to you Jim!