Hec, what did you sister send this year? It was your sister who sent Belinda, yes?

Shit tons of sutff! All of it from Wal-Mart I suspect.

Matilda got some dolls. Not creepy. They were talking dolls, though, so JZ performed a voice-boxectomy on them when Matilda wasn't looking.

Emmett got a remote control car. He also got a lot of stuff which I think of as typical presents from my sister. That is they sort of look good in theory but they're really the cheap-ass version of an expensive thing that will never work properly.

Like, he got excited because she sent him some kind of game system vaguely like a Wii. He already has a Wii at his mom's house and loves it. So he was psyched to have one here. Except the games on it are all a bare notch above 8-bit video games from 1978.

Also he got a telescope. Which looks cool - in theory. But it doesn't really work. You can't really focus on anything.

Le sigh. I wish she'd get the Good Version of the Cheaper Toy instead of the Cheap Lame Version of the Expensive Toy if you know what I mean.

Anyway, I don't mean to sound ungrateful. They had fun opening all their stuff. It's just the wooden dollhouse that EM got for Matilda is the kind of thing which will endure and engage her more.

Hey Smonster, I forgot to ask if the ornament is handmade. It looks like it might be, in addition to being really cute.

I'm not sure! I got it at Cameron's which is this quirky little gift store in town, and it didn't even have a "made in" label, so maybe? I got myself a cute Santa head from the same display, and one for my parents, too.

And not a cat toy.

Errrr.

It was on the floor of the living room this morning, which I'm pretty sure is not where I left it last night.

so maybe?

Cool.

Aren't all Christmas tree ornaments cat toys? If not, my cat did not get the message.

This is why I haven't put up my tree the last 4 years.

This is why I don't have cats.

That is why the good ornaments are carefully positioned away from cat-accessible areas, and the type of tree is selected for its ability to discourage climbing.

aurelia, I have a reservation at Cafe des Architectes on Feb 26. Are you free to join me and Ellen?

That is why the good ornaments are carefully positioned away from cat-accessible areas, and the type of tree is selected for its ability to discourage climbing.

My parents tether theirs to the wall.

And since we're discussing cats, removing the Christmas tree does not seem to have stopped my roomie's cat. This morning the little fucker walked into my room (a first), sniffed at my cats' water and food bowls (right inside the door) and turned around and sprayed. In front of me. I yelled at him, but damn. Those Feliway plug-ins are starting to look more reasonable.

She'd give him another home, but who's going to take a deaf cat who sprays?

Once spraying starts, it's really hard to stop. I recommend getting Anti Icky Poo (yes, that's really its name) and dousing every area that has ever been sprayed. You can also use a UV light to look for pee stains to treat. We've had a lot of experience with this, sadly, since my elder cat occasionally has peeing/spraying issues, and the only things that have worked are the AIP combined with giving him time outside (contained). You should also make sure this cat has his own litter box that is kept meticulously clean, and Feliway may also help. Shelters will destroy any cat who sprays since they are seen as un-adoptable.