Monthly Archives: July 2008

Merry Bradaptation Day!

Posted on July 21, 2008 by Brad

Today is Bradaptation Day! It’s the anniversary of my first regular entry. I had done other entries, but July 21, 2006 marks the first in a string of nearly uninterrupted daily postings. Hurray!

In honor of this first post, you can celebrate by replacing your kitchen cabinets, or by going to IKEA, or by mowing your lawn. All of those things are mentioned. You could also celebrate by walking across your lawn on the way to the mall. Or you could just look at your lawn from the air-conditioned inside and go back to watching TV.

It’s also Michele’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Michele! Yay! Did you think I forgot? Not with my awesome online memory helping me out.

Though nothing became formally planned for a Maxwarming party, I would love to have anybody who’s interested stop by around midday. In the morning I have to make a quick jaunt to the garden center near Annapolis. I have some garden money that will expire after today. I should be home by 11:30am. Among other refreshments, I’ll be offering peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as well as my Suhsi Hana salad, both of which have been featured on Bradaptation. I have to go to the dentist around 2:15, but until then, we’ll party like it’s 2006!

For you school people who can’t make it, I hear there’s a girl party at Debbie’s tomorrow. I’ll ask her if I can bring Max over for a quick visit.

For you Deanne people who can’t make it, we’ll arrange a time that’s good for you guys to visit.

Karla, I don’t know if I’ll make it to your workplace or not. Probably not.

For you Nebraska people who can’t make it… um… sorry.

This is Max looking at Bradaptation. It's blurry because he kept squirming.

Posted in Journal | 11 Comments

Time Warp

Posted on July 20, 2008 by Brad

One of the things I have been very excited about upon returning to Baltimore is seeing how my garden is doing. A lot can change in a month, and boy howdy it did! The mulch suppressed most of the weeds, but the regular garden plants have grown by leaps and bounds.

Here are some highlights:

The ‘Sumatra’ lilies are in full bloom. These are supposed to be the darkest oriental lilies on the market. I think the sun is bleaching them out a little though.

Can't you almost smell them?

My garden looks a little jungle-like because I sometimes focus on the smaller picture more than the larger. I was especially excited to see seedlings from last year’s annuals sprouting along the path. I didn’t even plant these! Isn’t that exciting?!?

The orange flower is a celosia. I think that's a salvia volunteer right next to it. I planted the moss rose.

The seeds Brent gave me for Christmas two years ago are finally blooming. I still don’t know what this flower is, but isn’t it great? It’s all gaudy and red. :)

What IS this? I'll have to ask someone at a reputable garden center.

I’m also very excited about my sunflower patch. These flowers are all planted by birds. They must’ve done it right because some of these are the tallest sunflowers I’ve ever grown. They’re past their prime now, but I’ll let the seed heads mature. The birds will enjoy them.

Isn't it amazing?

The Brad is for scale.

Posted in Gardening | 6 Comments

Fourteen Ninety

Posted on July 19, 2008 by Brad

I had to visit the eye place while I was in Nebraska because I ran out of contacts. Besides giving me a contact prescription, the doctor also gave me a glasses prescription. At the eye place, I was only able to get contacts OR glasses, not both. I got contacts because I needed them more.

But then I wondered about the possibility of getting glasses online. I had previously read about it on a webpage called Glassy Eyes. I decided to give it a try. I saw something I liked from one of the online stores called Zenni Optical. I did have to go back to the eye place to get a pupillary distance measurement. (You can read about PD at Glassy Eyes.)

The glasses I liked were a little heavier than I’ve worn before, but they had a cool cut-away frame. Plus, they were cheap! Hooray cheap glasses!

They came in the mail the other day. Total cost? $14.90. Awesome!

With carrying case and cleaning cloth!

Not bad for $14.90.

Posted in Journal | 5 Comments

Max’s First Day

Posted on July 18, 2008 by Brad

I went to Destyny Sphynx yesterday morning to get Max. Carole talked with me for a long time, showing me how Max was used to being cleaned and talking about food and litter options. She gave me a ton of stuff to get started: Three cans of food, a bag of frozen meat, some toys, a baby blanket, and all kinds of papers. I love how knowledgeable she was. I would highly recommend her to anyone. By the way, she has a one-year-old sphynx named Luke she’s trying to find a home for at a greatly discounted price. If any of you out there in Bradaptationland were ever thinking of getting a hairless cat, here is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He’s the sweetest, lovingest cat too.

Anyway, on to some pictures.

When I first brought Max into my house, he was sleeping, so I wrapped him up in a blanket and put him on the couch. He woke up and looked at me for a while.

Wha?

I was hungry, so I got some cereal. As I was leaning forward on the couch to eat it, Max got in behind me and fell asleep.

Awww...

He slept for hours! After waking, he played a lot. Here he his in a paper bag. He was meowing a lot. Mostly he chirps like a little bird. Will he grow out of that?

Meep!

I was a little worried he wouldn’t remember where the litter box was, but once I showed him, he was fine. For now, it’s in my entryway. I’ll eventually move it downstairs.

He looks relieved! Ha!

I mixed some of the meat-in-a-bag that Carole gave me with some canned food. He ate it with readily.

Mmm... raw meat...

After eating, he was ready to play again. He went wild on the couch. He was running back and forth across the top of the couch. Then he attacked the cushion buttons.

When I went to bed I brought him with me. He didn’t settle down for a long time. I didn’t really sleep very well at all. He is so stinkin’ hot! He feels like a space heater. I couldn’t get comfortable. I didn’t get much sleep last night. Good thing my plan for today was to stay in. I’m going to need a nap.

UPDATE: Hear his voice in this video:

Posted in Cat | 34 Comments

Some Errands

Posted on July 17, 2008 by Brad

Yesterday I went out to do some errands because after today, I’ll be staying in for a few days and bonding with Max.

I started by taking the cash out of my “cat box” and taking it to the bank. I’ve been saving for Max since Ned died. When the bank guy counted it, he came up with twenty more dollars than me. Oops!

Only $55 short of my goal.

Next, I went to get a haircut. It was nice to have Ken do it again. He cuts and cuts, then cuts again. His buzz cuts are flawless.

Ken never leaves corners.

Lastly, I went to get Max supplies. Carole from Destyny Sphynx recommended a new kind of litter box to me. It’s a tub with a hole in the top. She says it’s the cleanest box she’s used. I had to get one. I also had to get food. After fretting for a while about which brand, I chose Nutro Natural Choice. I also got several other sundry items.

I hope Max likes catnip. Ned didn't.

Posted in Haircuts | 23 Comments