So, Travis and Anya decided to head out today, leaving me at home with Chance. Now, while I should probably spending this time vacuuming and cleaning up a bit, I decided a better use of my time alone was to read some of my new book Travis got me for my birthday, called The Host and search through some new recipes online. The vacuuming can wait til tomorrow.
Anya has been all about Daddy today so I’m sure she was excited to go out with just him. She’s really becoming quite the Daddy’s girl, but she still runs to Amma occasionally too. Yes, Anya still calls me Amma and we have encouraged it, because, well…we like it. Its different and its totally unique to Anya.
Travis and I watched What Happens in Vegas the other night and we were not that impressed. Sadly, there are not many choices in movies these days out on the rental shelves. The movie was cute and predictable though, just nothing that really stood out to us.
We watched The Illusionist again today during lunch while Anya was playing a computer game and I still love that movie. Edward Norton is such an incredible actor. I could watch him put up wallpaper and I bet it’d be more interesting than some of the movies we have seen as of late.
Watching The Illusionist made me think about how I would have liked to have been a magician. However, that’s not something we really think about or strive to be when we are young. Yes, all children enjoy a magic show, but I did not really understand the concept of being a magician when I was little. Once I started performing a bit of magic tricks though I saw just how amazing this craft is. Houdini was my original inspiration for reading and getting into magic, but I never really pursued it very much. I have a couple of card tricks, coin tricks, and scarf tricks that I can perform and one day that will come in handy if Anya or little peanut wants a magician’s birthday party or something!

To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door – nose height.

Dear Dogs and Cats,

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn’t help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king- sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years — canine or feline attendance is not required.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat’s butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets:

1. They live here. You don’t.
2. If you don’t want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture (That’s why they call it “fur”niture.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it’s an animal To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn’t speak clearly.

Yesterday was my 31st birthday and Travis and Anya bought me a cake! It was yummy. Travis also got me a new book by Stephenie Meyer. I really liked her Twilight series and this book has started out really interesting. I’m usually not a fan of Sci Fi books but this one has gotten my attention after the first couple of chapters. I had a good birthday weekend because Saturday we also went to Birmingham to see a movie at the Alabama Theatre. If you have never been to the Alabama Theatre I highly suggest going. Its a palace theatre with the traditional mezzanine level, balcony, and dress circle. It was built in 1927 and restored in 1987. We took Anya to see Enchanted there and it was a lot of fun. They are showing Sex and the City and Mamma Mia soon as well, but at night. They had children’s matinees all summer on Saturdays. Unfortunately, Enchanted was the last one for the summer, but we are going to pay more attention to what’s going on there now because at Christmastime they will be doing holiday movies. We also went to the California Pizza Kitchen and it was great. We really like CPK better than the Mellow Mushroom, but they both have good pizza. CPK has our favorite sausage though. A sweet and spicy Italian sausage pizza is our favorite.
Here’s a few photos!

Okay, so here are the photos for the contest I’ll be entering soon…
Please just describe which photos you like the best, either click on discussion under this subject or send me an
e-mail with your thoughts. Thanks!