Frank Update #1

My cousin Janet asked for a Frank update, so here ya go!

He's been here a month, and is settling in really well.  He has several spots he likes to snooze, and has finally gotten over his weird fear of our bedroom.  He sometimes sleeps on a pillow on the floor by my side of the bed.  I don't think he sleeps though, just hangs out.  He is really rowdy in the mornings, and at around 9 pm every night, all hell breaks loose.  He runs like a maniac from one room to another, and plays with his toys and us.  He's obsessed with my makeup brushes and I've found them all over the house.  I started locking them up...same with lip gloss tubes...loves them.

He seems to have switched allegiances, and is currently giving Larry the cold furry shoulder.  I think he'll come around though...he even seemed to a little last night, and curled up on Larry's legs when we were watching T.V.  I suspect it may have something to do with the hunk of roast chicken he gave him, but hey, whatever works.

He is a very mannerly cat, and doesn't use his claws at all.  He's only scratched me once, and that was because he got startled.  He does better with gentle, quiet corrections, rather than yelling. He really seems to listen well, and if we tell him to stop scratching the carpet, or furniture, he usually stops, blinks at us, and goes over to his scratching post.  He never begs for food (except that one tuna can incident), and waits patiently for a bite.

His latest kitty entertainment has been the black birds nesting in the tree outside our window. He spends hours watching them, growling, and making this weird, half meow, half gurgle noise in the back of his throat.  And his tail!  It goes a hundred miles an hour...very funny to watch. The birds totally mess with his too, and get right up on the ledge, puff up and peck at the windows....it's just driving him crazy!

He's a really funny guy, and we love having him here.   More soon....

Mid-Autumn Festival

We celebrated Mid-Autumn/Moon festival this past weekend in Singapore.  It is a very auspicious time in the year for families to get together and celebrate the harvest.  It's right up there with Chinese New Year, so like everything else in Singapore for a holiday, the decorations were BIG and fancy! Families get together, and eat Mooncakes, and Pomelos(like a big green grapefruit).  It's a little more subdued than Chinese New Year, and we could really feel a laid back vibe from people.  We went to the Chinese gardens to see their lantern walk.  It was really pretty...and we beat the crowds, which was great.  It wasn't a super hot night, and we really enjoyed strolling around and looking at everything.  That was my second time there, and I will definitely be back.  It's very serene there, and a nice break from the cement of the city.  larry was in photo nerd heaven and took a ton of amazing shots.  His big boy camera was able to really capture the night scenes better than the point and shoot.  

I got a sugar art lollipop from one of the crafters, and it was almost too pretty too eat.  I loved watching him do it.  He had you spin a wheel, and what ever animal it landed on, that's what he made for you.  Pretty neat.  

Then this weekend we ventured out to a new restaurant/hawker stand I had read about.  It's called Botak Jones, and it's american food.  It was really yummy, and the service was excellent. I had a chili dog.  Not quite like the ones back home, but still good. They have Swanky Frankys on the menu...very much a Detroit thing. Only thing that would have made it better would be a big frosty diet Vernors and a Sanders hot fudge cream puff.  I checked out the website (botakjones.com), and it turns out the owner is a fellow Southfield-Lathrup Senior High School Alum!  He was the first graduating class.  We shot a few emails back and forth, and I think there is a slight possibility of cream puffs being on the menu sometime soon. Small world huh?  

Halfway around the world, and I find a fellow Charger.  Made me a little homesick and awed all at the same time.

After that yummy dinner, we hopped in a cab and went down to Chinatown to check out the Moon festival/lantern walk going on down there.  It was all lit up, and gorgeous.  Again, the vibe was really laid back and fun.  I love seeing the little kids with their lanterns, and parents pointing out the big beautiful moon.  I sat down on a bench while Larry took pictures, and just observed the traditions going on around me.  One mom shared a mooncake with her baby bird kids, all three of them stood in a line with their mouths open, then took a bite, it was really cute.  I was once again struck by how lucky Larry and I are to have this experience, and to be able to be participants in these peoples lives, if only as an outside observer.  Things are still often strange and sometimes difficult living here, but I wouldn't change it for a second.  When Larry came back over to where I sat, I grabbed his hand, and whispered " let's take a minute and remember this forever."  It may sound corny, but doing that kinda cements it in my head.  I wanted to remember the colors and smells and sounds swirling around me.  I know someday, when we're back in the routine of living in America, I will have those cemented moments to go back to.

*note on the new slideshows:  I am trying these out, because I can add music, which if you know me at all, you know is a nifty new tool for me.  If the songs are annoying you, or two are playing at once, simply click on the volume button on the top left corner, and it will stop.

xoxoxo

Pam

p.s. I had a tiny bite of the mooncake, and though it's not my cup of tea, Larry like them a lot.

They were a gift from a co-worker, very sweet of him!

Last b-day post.

Yep, Birthday week is officially over, but here are a few pictures from festivities. Oh, and the ginormous german chocolate cake? My neighbor selflessly took it off our hands. Thanks Belinda!

You Say It's Your Birthday!

It's Larry birthday too, yeah.  And Gary's.  That tends to happen when you're twins.  47 years ago today their young, sweet unsuspecting mother; Helen, went into labor with her first born baby boy, Larry. Then 30 minutes later, she got the shock of a lifetime when she went into labor again. Gary joined the fun, and the rest is history.  Happy Birthday Guys! 

Meet Frank.

Frank it is.  We took a week, bounced all the great names you all sent in around, and narrowed it down to a few.  Frank is my dad's nickname, and when we called the cat by it, he turned and looked at us.  He never really responded to the other names, so he seems to like it. Naming him after his Grandfather seemed fitting. We also got a call from the SPCA, checking in on us, and making sure things were going ok.  We received some different info on Frank's background. We were originally told he was a stray that had never had a home, and was at the shelter a long time.  The adoption counselor that Larry spoke to said that he had only been at the shelter for about 4 or 5 months, and most likely had a home, and family that cared for him. That explains his well fed tummy, and his ear tattoo. Makes me a little said for his former owners.  He's a great cat, and he's really turing out to be a sweetie. One of the names we talked about was Velcro, because he is so attached to us.  He likes me well enough, but if Larry is home, I am chopped liver.  He has settled into a cozy spot, right between our two chairs, and rests his head on Larry's arm.  It's pretty stinkin cute.

Thanks again for all the great input!

                                       

                                         Working hard.