The Adventures of Smingers!

Quick update since our last post:
*Smingers woke us up in the middle of the night by playing with a GIANT moth.
*Smingers brought in a mouse and chased it around the kitchen.
*Smingers was named "The Mascot of Lakeview Courts" by his new friends, Larry and Lenora (our neighbors).
*Smingers got dizzy after spinning on the computer chair and fell down...on his neck! (No injuries, just laughs).
*Smingers jumped into the lap of a houseguest WHILE AT THE DINNER TABLE to beg for spaghetti. (I was so embarrassed! What, it's not like we don't feed him!)
*And finally, one of my personal favorites: Smingers got stuck on the roof of our townhomes and couldn't get down by himself. I went over to help, but he was just barely reachable on my tip-toes and hands over my head. So I went to get him around his middle, but he is so flabby that what we affectionately refer to as his "waddle" was shifting around and his lard fat was hard to hold on to! He did, however, make it safely to the ground after a shaky ride down.

That's the quick version of the adventures of Smingers. Meanwhile, Smokey Bones was cowering in the shadows growling about life and how hard it is to be a misunderstood cat. Well, maybe she wouldn't be misunderstood if she didn't change her mind every .7 seconds! Or if she could speak English! Gosh, is that so much to ask?

Larry and Lenora (mentioned above) were interesting to get to know. I met them the day after Smingers got stuck on the roof. I went over to see if he was stuck again because he didn't come to greet me when I drove up, like he usually does. Well, what to my wandering eye should appear, was little orange Smingers, and a guy drinking a beer! (Okay, so he wasn't drinking a beer, but it rhymed so well, and he looked like the type that might!) Umm, okay back to the story: This guy was out there in the parking lot, and there was Smingers, rubbing up against his legs and hamming it up. I told him that he was our cat and introduced myself, and he told me his name was Larry and his wife or girlfriend was Lenora. Now, mind you, Larry was this true Florida guy, the transplanted from New York type that enjoy the weather in their open shirt, hairy chest, gold chains-and-all type of guy....he's got this motorcycle that he tinkers around with all weekend (we know, he just starts it up, not to go anywhere, just to tinker with it all Saturday...and Sunday...all afternoon....yeah.) But he couldn't stop gushing about how nice this cat was..."what's his name?" "Smingers". "Oh, Smithers?" "No, Smingers." "Smengers?" "Yes, SMINGers." And Lenora even chimed in that he apparently comes in their house, and jumped up on her bed! Anyway, so they were quite a nice couple, despite Larry calling Smingers "Smithers" and "Smith" a few more times before we went on our way.

So, side note: My mom and dad are going to be visiting us in less than a month! They will arrive Dec. 3rd and stay thru the 9th. I am excited and hoping to show off good weather and a warm Atlantic Ocean...though it probably will be "cold" by then. I am also excited to decorate for Christmas in our new home, such great bannisters for Christmas garlands! We are leaving for California on the 24th of December this year (blah), but at least if it's going to be that late, I will be able to enjoy my festive decorations for longer to put us in the holiday spirit.

Fido the Iguana

So yesterday Emilee and I went to a fruit stand in Hollywood to buy some fresh produce and a couple of pumpkins for Halloween. We got a little lost trying to find the place which caused us to drive back and forth down a busy highway as we tried to find the stand. I was a little annoyed with myself because I had looked-up the location online and should have known exactly where I was going.
The extra drive was worth it, however, when a taxi passed us in the right lane. I had to do a double-take as I saw a large iguana hanging its head out the window like a dog! Emilee and I couldn't believe our eyes. His head was bobbing back and forth and his hanging waddle thingy was flapping in the wind. I quickly gave my cell phone to Emilee and she snapped the picture below. It was one of, if not the weirdest things I've seen here in Florida.

Three Repairmen, One Day: The Saga Begins

Saturday, Oct. 11th.
I'm about to host a lunch party. I have mopped the floors, put up Halloween Decor, picked up the living room several times, and wiped down the kitchen. When I start to get lunch ready, cupboards start falling off their hinges! Literally! I thought, Steve can fix it. But Steve didn't have time to fix it. I'll just call Wayne, the Property Manager, he says. Yeah, AFTER everyone sees this wonderfully clean kitchen....with stuff spilling out of these ghetto cupboards sagging on one hinge.

Thursday, Oct. 16th.
In the midst of the worst BYU game by far this season (and a few previous seasons), Steve noticed that there was a giant stain in the middle of our kitchen ceiling. We quickly realized this wasn't usual ceiling ornamentation. Steve got on a chair and touched it, and sure enough, it was wet. So adding to the frustration of the game, we realized there must be a leak. And not just a little leak, a big one. That got even bigger after the game. Time to call Wayne, who's still on call for the ghetto cupboards.

Saturday, Oct. 18th.
I was busy cleaning out our bathtub in preparation for someone to look at the bathroom pipes due to the leak. I started getting really hot in there with all that humidity, and I just couldn't cool down! I turned on the fan in our room, which connects to the bathroom. Still hot! So I turned the A/C down to 74--usually it's at 78, to save on our power bill. STILL sweating! Finally I told Steve, I'm burning up! I already turned on the fan and the A/C, and it STILL says it's 81 in here! Then we looked at each other.........*realization*. It's the A/C that's out. Wayne's on speed dial.

Smingers vs. The Giant Iguana

Smingers is a very curious kitty and because of his such a friendly cat, he has actually made a few friends here in the neighborhood. There is a little Buffy-like dog who is his friend, as well as a black and white stray that comes around. And those are his animal friends, I'm not going to start with the humans he has befriended (let's just say one neighbor woke up with Smingers in her bed...). If Smingers was on Facebook, then he would be one of those people who tries to get as many friends as possible.
Well today Sming tried to expand circle of friends with one of the giant iguanas that hangs around the lake in our back yard. I don't want to give away what happens next, but keep one thing in mind, iguanas defend themselves by whipping you with their spiny tales. Enjoy--