Stink bugs, Lucy, shopping confusion, and other stuff

1. Stink bug invasion time - The beginning of fall means stink bugs try to get in your house. They're freaky looking and I do not like them. They're kind of clumsy, flying cockeyed and off balance. It looks like it's flying towards your knee, then it goes right for your head. ACK! One flew on my back the other night and hitched a ride in the house. Luckily I found it and put it back outside. Not sure if this is a North East pest or more widespread, so here is a link: http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/brown-marmorated-stink-bug

2. Had to take Lucy to the vet on Tuesday. Someone tried to take a bite out of her right hip and she's missing about a quarter size of skin, with a second puncture wound nearby. She's on antibiotics and can't go outside. Vet wants the wound to heal on it's own, so until it closes more than half way she stays inside. Can't risk flies laying eggs in the wound (sorry for the visual). Lucy was my Dad's cat and for the most part is a good little girl -- except for taking medicine. She acts like I'm trying to kill her. If I wasn't the one trying to get the dose inside her twice a day it'd be pretty funny. But I am, so its not.

Interesting side note about Lucy - she's a calico and the vet shaved around the wound. Where her fur is black, her skin is black. Where her fur is orange, her skin is orange. And white fur has white skin. I had no idea. I assumed she had one skin tone.

3. So happy football season is here, but it is bittersweet as my Dad loved football so much. I can't think of football without thinking of him. I miss him so much.

4. 3 months til Christmas. GAH!

5. What are people watching this new TV season? There is nothing new I want to spend my nights watching, or at least nothing that seems to have caught my fancy. I was thinking of "The Event" but missed the first episode. Anyone recommend it? Anything else worth watching? I am happy The Big Bang Theory has moved to 8pm.

6. My county just switched to single stream recycling. No more separating the plastics and glass from the paper; and then remembering which week was paper and which was plastics. I just dump it all into my nifty rolling bin and take it to the curb.

7. The local Wal-Mart is renovating AGAIN. This is the 3rd reno in 10 years. The last time was to add a grocery section. Now they are changing the entire layout of the store. I went yesterday to get cat food and the shelves were cleared out. The pet food is now where the shoes used to be - go figure. I just survived the Target getting completely renovated and changed (they too added a grocery section) and it still doesn't feel like the same store. When I'm in my local Target it feels like I'm in one on the other side of the country -- it just doesn't feel like my Target. I'm sure I'll cope, but you know how us oldtimers don't care for change.

8. I just got a spiffy new blender and I can't wait to make something yummy. The issue is clearing a space on my extremely limited countertop. If I keep the blender in a cabinet, I'll never use it. And I really want to make something yummy. Any recipes?

9. I walked right into the edge of the bathroom door this morning. My left cheek absorbed most of the blow. The door is fine. My cheek is fine. I was worried I'd get a bruise, but it looks like all is well. Who walks right into a door? How did I do that? And I wasn't drunk or asleep. I was leaving the bathroom after taking a shower. Sheesh.

Finally!

Three shredders
Fifty one years of marriage
12 months of random shredding and I'm finally done!

This morning I shredded the final piece of paper sitting in the "to be shredded box". I never thought I would see the bottom of that dang box. My mom saved everything. She had credit card statements from the 70's, warranties for things that had been thrown away years ago, and sales receipts that were so old the ink was faded and I had no clue what had been purchased.

After I burned out the second shredder I invested in a serious heavy duty one (almost $100) and it has been worth every penny. It would shut down once it got overheated, but after a nice rest it was ready to go again. I am sure the cats will be grateful I am done with this very loud project.

To be fair, not all the paperwork I shredded was just my parents'...I had some things in there too. But I make this pledge today - I will never again let the "to be shredded box" overflow.

If there is one thing I know for sure...I will not be saving my Capital One statements for decades.