The Taste of Sweet Success

Diego did it! I saw him use the CitiKitty in the appropriate manner! Yay!

Here are a few pictures of him enjoying his sweet success (a.k.a. eating a couple treats that came with the kit)!

Call me crazy, but...

I have dedicated this weekend to start potty training my kitties. I know, it is crazy. Completely crazy. Borderline nuts. But hear me out. I moved to smaller apartment recently and I don't have good place to put the two litter boxes I had previously used. I found a product online a while ago called CitiKitty and it helps potty train cats. It is especially for those who live in small places, want to save money by not buying litter, and be more environmentally conscious. I have been considering ordering a CitiKitty kit for a while, but once I moved into my new apartment I decided I would give it a shot.

I received my potty training kit on Friday. I hurried home after work and set it up for Bella and Diego. The directions advised that I place the cats (seperately, of course) on the mini litter box that now is placed in the toilet. Here is how it works...at first it is basically a litter box that fits inside the toilet. There are perforated rings in the box and each week (or longer, depending on progress) I remove a ring. When the training is complete, the kitties learn to use the toilet and are not dependent on litter or standing in the box. When I set it up, Bella was a bit curious and Diego was struck with complete fear. He was wiggling around and did not want to be put on the toilet. He fought it all the way. I knew he would be the problem kitty. Ugh.

Anyway, since Friday evening we have had a few developments. The CitiKitty has definitely been used, but I believe only by Bella and not by Diego. I have to remove the contraption from the toilet when I need to go to the bathroom (which I am hoping will be a small sacrifice for the intended outcome). When I have done this, Diego has come in and used it on the floor. I almost wanted to stop him, put it back on the toilet, and then encourage him to go, but it isn't that easy to stop a cat from going to the bathroom when they need to go. I hope I am not inhibiting his progress by allowing him to do this. Maybe he needs smaller baby steps?

Last night, he was running around the apartment, making TONS of noise, meowing, scratching at plastic bags and magazines and I had a sneaking suspicion that he needed to go to the bathroom. A few minutes earlier he was talking a lot and leaded to me the laundry area, where his box used to be. I opened up the door and showed him the box wasn't there anymore and he seemed a bit confused. After this, was when he started to act up. It was after 1am and I was ready to go to bed. I broke down, took his litter box off the toilet, put it on the floor and, needless to say, he couldn't have been more relieved. I felt horrible that he had been holding out for his box, but how am I supposed to get him to use the CitiKitty properly?!

Anyway, if you don't want to read about cats and their bathroom habits, then I do not suggest reading my blog in the upcoming weeks. More interesting updates to come...

Here are some pictures from Friday evening.

CitiKitty arrived!

Diego likes the box it came in more than the kit itself.

All ready to go! The white powder is litter deodorizer, but more importantly attracts a cat to its litter box. I thought I should put some in so they could locate it easier.

Last Lecture?

I am very sad to hear of the passing of Randy Pausch. He was a well-respected Carnegie Mellon professor who was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, and before he left his job to spend time with his family, he gave "his last lecture."

I saw his story on Oprah earlier this year and it touched me because he knew he would pass away, leaving his wife and children behind. I watched his last lecture and thought it was a very nice leave-behind for his loved ones, especially with his children so young. He was so positive, had tons of energy, and had a true zest for life. I watched, almost in a trance-like state, as Oprah interviewed him. Since I could relate to what he and his family were going through, it seemed a bit hard to see someone be so strong. I knew what pain his family was enduring and what was to come.

This morning I arrived to work and hadn't thought of Randy Pausch in quite some time and was blindsided to see he passed away today. I had to hold back the tears at work. I was so sad. I was surprised how hard it hit me. I didn't know him, wasn't extremely moved by his lecture (not to be insulting or anything, I think my head was just in a few other places), but I felt so connected because I understood his desperation to leave something behind, to make memories for the future, and share who he was for his children.

For those who haven't seen his last lecture, I would recommend you view it. From what I have seen and read, he was a loving friend, husband, and father. We all have special people like this in our lives and we might even be that person for others. I believe this isn't Randy Pausch's last lecture. His legacy will live on through his friends, family, words, memories, and determination to leave something behind. But I do think it is crucial for me to express that it isn't always the last thing that is most important, but all the little things those who have passed have left behind. And most of those things aren't perfectly tied up in a package for others to view. While he left something very thoughtful behind for all of us, I hope his family has many more special memories just for them.

Virtual Vacation: All the Great Things about Summer

This is Molly, Keenan's Yorkie freaking out on the beach. She recently started this odd behavior which involves making the strangest noises possible when seeing another dog. She only does this if you are holding her and she sees another dog that entices this reaction. Some dogs get the honor, others do not. Molly is very selective. And she can be. Because she is 3 lbs and very cute.



Though the night was very dark, the guitars and lovely singers were out in full form. Here is a clip from the guitar party, featuring John and Big Rob on the guitars.



This is a clip of one of evening walks on the beach. John, Carolyn, and Mitzi (one of Carolyn's newly adopted dogs) frolic on the beach.



Molly, Mitzi, and a new friend on the beach.



The moon rising over the Atlantic.



The moon reflecting off the ocean waters - what a beautiful sight. This clip is definitely a bit shaky, but I love seeing the rushing water under the moonlight.



Another evening clip. John likes to scare me in the dark (listen for the scary laugh).



You can definitely smell the ocean in this one.

Sneak Peak: Vacation in the Outer Banks

I just came back from being a beach bum for a week with John's family and friends. Here's a sneak peak of what I was up to.

The Daily Snack Retraction

Like all decent publications, corrections and retractions are sometimes necessary.

I received this email from my dad after he read my last post.

"Subject: Correction to Record

Wednesday, July 9, 2008 10:47 PM

From: "frank"

To: "Whitney"

You need to state in yr blog that "My dad did come and helped me move."

Dad"

Sorry dad, I stand corrected. You decided last minute to come down and help me. It was much appreciated. Thank you! :)

But she grew up tall and she grew up right...

Can you finish those lyrics? With them Indiana boys on an Indiana night!

I have been keeping myself very occupied lately. The past couple of weeks have been quite a blur. When I returned from Chicago, I had a few days to pack up my entire apartment, clean it, and move. I was a bit overwhelmed and tried to at least put in a few hours of work each night, thinking that when the movers (yes, movers) arrived on Saturday morning, that I would have everything ready and be fully prepared for the move. Friday evening arrived and I had a good enough attitude and felt like I could get everything finished up, but everywhere I looked I saw something I either needed to pack, organize, clean, read, throw out, etc. I basically went nuts and was so exhausted from the previous late nights and never really caught up from my Chicago weekend. I took a short nap and then got back up and worked. I got about 3 or 4 hours of sleep that night before the movers arrived. John was at a wedding in Ohio and my dad couldn't really help me, so I had to hire movers to move within my same apartment complex. But you know what? I totally recommend it. They weren't expensive and they were so fast. They knocked it all out in a couple of hours. I hit the shower and tried to find my wedding clothes because I had to drive to a wedding a little over an hour away from Bloomington on Saturday. I rushed around my new apartment frantically trying to find things and not look like a total crazy mess when I showed up to the wedding. About a half-hour into my trip I thought, "What shoes am I wearing? Please tell me I am not wearing my flip flops from earlier." I hesitantly looked down and "Score!" I wasn't wearing them. I was wearing coordinating shoes. I was able to take a deep breath and enjoy the rest of the evening.

Here are some pictures and videos from Leslie's wedding. Leslie was one of my best friends in college, a fellow Alpha Phi and a roommate. I haven't seen her much since she moved away to Minneapolis, so it was wonderful to be a part of her wedding day!

Kris and Leslie

Leslie and me, circa 2003 in Florence, Italy

What a beautiful bride!



Aren't these older couples the cutest thing you have ever seen? Also, the little girl in the pink dress is adorable. She definitely had some moves on the dance floor!



This little girl was so cute and had all eyes on her while she danced!

After the moving and wedding weekend, my work week was in full swing. We had flex week, meaning we work longer hours to have Thursday and Friday off. I tried to come home and be productive, but after making dinner and sitting down to relax at 8pm, it is hard to muster up any motivation. Thus, the apartment is slowly unpacking itself as I need things and feel motivated. Today I thought, "Today is the day. I am going to come home from work and do lots of good things!" Well, I did get some things done. I organized my closet, started to hang up things...but now I find myself blogging and it is nearly 10pm. I am a distracted and unmotivated fool.

Anyway, back to my busy fun times...last week I went to the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers concert and had a great time. It was truly an entertaining show and each song was soooo good. It was my first Tom Petty concert and didn't know I was going until last minute when a ticket was freed up. [Disclaimer: Sorry, Carolyn. The concert was awful and do not read anymore of this paragraph.] I didn't really realize how many great Tom Petty songs are out there and how many I knew. Tom Petty seemed really into the show as well, so I think that makes it more fun for the audience. After he sang about Indiana boys and Indiana nights he said, "I have been waiting for two years to sing that song here" and the crowd loved it. The show was amazing...even in spite of the large drunk man in front of me who slammed his head into my knee when he fell backwards and told me he was going to sue me in his drunken slur. I think he was trying to make a joke, but it wasn't really funny. I told John at some point during the show, "You know this big drunk guy is going to fall on me tonight." I was right, but I am okay. Anyway, I totally recommend seeing Tom Petty if he shows up in your area. You will have a guaranteed good time. Just don't sit behind the big drunk guy who swaps gum with his girlfriend as they exchange "passionate" kisses during the show.

Me, Big Drunk Guy, and John

The weekend continued to be busy and fun as my friends trickled into Bloomington for the "Summer Extravaganza" John and I planned. It involved fireworks, a double-decker boat with a slide on Lake Monroe, and camping at night. Needless to say, I needed a shower and lots of aloe by Sunday morning.

Pre-firework fun with sparklers!

It isn't 4th of July if you don't make at least one failed attempt to capture a firework on camera.

Our Partytoon!

Amy, sitting in my new pink chair

Lake Monroe

John, the hula man and captain of the boat

Aric and Megan

Flexible Rob (living up to his college name) showing us his crazy moves as he does a hand stand on the top deck of the boat into the water. I do not recommend reenacting this move.

Sarah and I on the top deck. I think this is the time I realized my back got too much sun and this wet towel felt good on my soon-to-be burn.

The tree tops above our campsite.

High school friends, Megan, me, and Chels

Megan working really hard to get that bottle open. After many failed attempts by others, she got it opened. Nice work, Megan.

Megan, I think this spells IU in a mirror. Muhahaha!

Megan with her sparkler light show!

My busy summer continues, as next week I head to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Until then, I will have another song stuck in my head. Less Indiana boys on an Indiana night and more gone to Carolina in my mind.