Some Thoughts on Robin Williams and Suicide

So I guess this is less about Robin Williams and more about the big S. I'll try to make it relatively brief, but you may have gleaned from my handful of other posts so far that I'm not great at brevity. 

Robin Williams himself was a brilliant comedian and actor who touched the lives of multitudes through his universal ability to make people laugh and feel good. I don’t want to downplay his tragedy by shifting the focus, and my heart goes out to his family, friends, and everyone who is saddened by his unfortunate end.

I have heard a lot floating around the internet about his death. A lot focused on the tragedy, how much he will be missed, and remembering the highs of his career, some even delving into his personal struggle throughout the years. However, there are some sour attitudes out there toward suicide and some amount of misunderstanding of the nature of the beast.

Some things I read called him “selfish,” a “coward.” This is what I want to address on this blog, through the bias of my own experience, which I won’t focus on—but suffice it to say this has hit close to home for me.  

Suicide is, if you look at it from the surface, selfish. It seems like the person has not even considered family and friends and is taking something away from them. In a way, that is true. BUT. That surface is deceptive; from the surface you can’t see the depth of the Marianas Trench. And selfish is not the way someone struggling with depression or bipolar disorder, or any other pain and illness, feels about it. It’s hard to see out of the blinders that descend upon you in the darkest times. Can you see in the dark? Doubt it. That’s what it feels like emotionally. There is nothing but pain. And often, you see yourself as a burden to the people around you; you perceive the ending of your life to free them from you and the baggage you drag with you. You feel like you’re dragging everyone down. There aren’t many feelings worse than feeling like you let not only yourself down, but everyone around you. Usually that’s a deranged mirage. But then, that’s the hallmark of mental illness, isn’t it?

And in regards to Robin Williams, or anyone else for that matter, being cowardly for committing suicide… I can’t imagine anything to be farther from the truth. I understand that perspective, I get it--someone who commits suicide is running from their problems and would rather die than face reality. But like my argument on selfishness, I feel the reality goes far deeper than what you see on the surface. Could you, right now, look death in the face and summon him forward, ready to face the unknown/whatever you believe awaits you after? Maybe some of you, but I would think that most would rather cross that bridge when it is thrust in front of us, if at all. I hazard to say that suicide is fearless, not cowardly. You want to control your destiny, you want to end everything as you know it. That is not the mark of a coward. 

I’m not saying suicide is the answer, nor am I trying to glorify the act. Far from it. A good support system, therapy, medication, exercise—these are all part of a short and incomplete list of solutions that can help a person, any one or all of them. Sometimes it’s not enough, though, and those times test the very fiber of a person’s being. If one makes it through, they make it through a better, stronger person. If one doesn’t, I lament the terror and grief that met them every morning, every sleepless night, every painful, bleak moment that lead them to lose sight of the light at the end of that long, dark tunnel. I mourn for them for having given up the battle and for their loved ones.

I’m sorry it came to that, Robin Williams. May you rest in peace.

If you or someone you know is struggling, there are many good resources out there. And for every person who would berate you for your condition, there are just as many people out there who understand where you are coming from, and even if they have not experienced it themselves, have compassion and would love to help you. Don’t give up. 

With love and empathy, 

Jax

Buddha's Delight

I decided last night while I was cooking to take some pictures and share what I made with you today. Don't mind the fact that it got kind of dark and so some of the pictures didn't turn out fantastic--Topher works late. Next time I'll go for daytime cooking. 

Anyway, this particular recipe comes from my favorite vegetarian cookbook. It's great because it has lots of pictures and simple how-to instructions for basic techniques and lots of great recipes. There are some cookbooks that I maybe use for one recipe or two, but this one is different. Love it. 

So. Buddha's Delight. It's vegan, it's low-fat, it's stir fry, and it's basically a whole meal. I made brown jasmine rice with it, and that's all we had. When Topher gets home from work so late, I don't like to make anything too heavy that I'll have to sleep on and will go straight to my derriere. I could have made egg drop soup to go with it, but I didn't. There you have that. 

What You Will Need

3 Tablespoons less-sodium soy sauce

1 Tablespoon dark sesame oil

1 Tablespoon rice vinegar

1 package water-packed extra-firm tofu

5 cups small broccoli florets

1/2 cup peeled, chopped broccoli stems

1 1/2 cups diagonally sliced carrots

2 Tablespoons canola oil

1 1/2 cups sliced green onions

1 Tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup snow peas, trimmed

1 (14 oz) can baby corn, drained

1 (8 oz) can sliced water chestnuts, drained

1/2 cup veggie broth

1 Tablespoon cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon salt

cooked rice

Note that I tweaked the veggie amounts because, for example, 5 1/2 cups of broccoli seems like waaay too much. 

Method

First I drained the tofu. You want it to be able to suck up all the marinade possible, and if it's waterlogged it won't do that very well. Cut it in half lengthwise or into strips widthwise, just so that it drains easier. You can either layer paper towels underneath and on top of the tofu, but I prefer kitchen towels because they absorb more and don't waste as much. (Note: don't use terrycloth, you don't want weird towel fuzz in your tofu--or maybe you do. Choose your own adventure.) Place a cutting board or tray on top with a couple cans or, as I used, a couple cartons of veggie broth. You don't want to actually Hulk Smash your tofu, so don't make it too heavy. Drain the tofu for about an hour. 

While you're waiting, go play with your ferrets. Oh wait, you might not have ferrets; in that case, play with yourself. Wait, that didn't sound so good. Just, you know what, forget it. Waste some time. 

Then make the marinade. Add the rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar to a dish with a lid. 

I decided after I dirtied a bowl that a shallow rectangular dish would allow the tofu to get more evenly coated, so I abandoned the former. That's okay, I hear Topher likes doing dishes. Let your tofu marinade covered in the fridge for about another hour. 

Next peel your carrots, ginger, and broccoli stems. Mmm, veggies.

Depending on what kind of rice you have, you'll want to start it and forget about it at some point. Some packaged rice cooks faster, but I like to have some bulk on hand. I used one cup of rice to two cups water. I brought it to a boil, stirred it once, covered it and turned it down to low and simmered it for maybe between 30-45 minutes? I don't know, it was until I could look through the lid and the water was absorbed, pretty much when the Delight was done. Then I fluffed it with a fork and let it sit for another 5ish minutes before I served it. 

Back to Veggie Land. Chop 'em up! I cheated and used a mini chopper to obliterate the garlic and ginger. It was a gift from my brother and sister-in-law one Christmas, and I initially thought, "I have a food processor, I don't need this gadget." But OH BOY was I wrong. Sometimes you don't want to bring out the big guns for something like garlic and ginger. Okay, a lot of times. ANYway, I know, I know, it said to grate the ginger. Well, I'm all about fast and easy, and honestly? It tasted just as good after I gave it a good choppin' in this mini guy.

Also, full disclosure: I double the garlic in just about every recipe I encounter. 

                                      

There. Easy peasy. 

                                      

You may notice I did NOT use 5 cups of broccoli etc. I don't know what kind of Iron Chef wok they used in the Cooking Light test kitchen, but I have a standard Ikea wok that doesn't fit that gargantuan amount of vegetables. Plus, you want them to, you know, cook. So I used about this much: 

Now you blanch the broccoli and carrots. 

To do this, add the broccoli and carrots to boiling water for 1 1/2 minutes, drain, then put them in a bowl filled with ice water and drain. 

Once I had finished all the rest of the prep work, it had been about 45 minutes, so I cheated and busted the tofu out of the fridge. The recipe calls for you to chop it into 1" cubes, but I wanted some big honkin' tofu hunks. Heat the canola oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add the tofu, reserving the marinade for later, and stir-fry for about five minutes, or until it's lightly browned. 

Next add your green onions, ginger and garlic and stir-fry for another 30 seconds or so. 

Then the rest of the veggies! You're almost done! Let this cook for 1 minute or so; I cooked it for longer because the little pan and the vegetables were like a fat man in a little coat. Maybe that didn't make as much sense to you as it did in my brain; just cook it till it's hot. 

I don't have a picture of this last step because it's boring, but whisk together the broth and cornstarch. Add that, the reserved marinade, and salt. I added more soy sauce because I like it saucy. Bring it to a boil and cook and stir it for 2 1/2 minutes, or until it gets slightly thick. 

Serve it over your rice, and voila! 

Then have a glass of wine or your favorite non-alcoholic beverage. You deserve it.

Rarrr,

Jax

Moving Reviews

Since we enlisted the help of several different companies for our move, I figured I’d review them all. This is a little late because well… Auto & Boat Relocation Services is awful and we just got my car. But I’ll get to that a little later.

Ohio Valley Moving Co. 

We used their services when we were moving into the house in WV, when U-Haul had recommended them, and were so impressed (they unloaded all of our stuff in two hours then) that we hired them again for moving out. They don’t seem to have a website, but they are located in Bridgeport, OH and were great. Professional, timely, courteous, and the one gentleman who helped us was pretty funny to boot. Their rates were $75/hour for a two-man crew with a two-hour minimum and it took five and a half hours to move all of the stuff from the two-bedroom house into the truck. This was very reasonable, considering the amount of stuff we had, including a beast of an elliptical machine and upwards of 150 boxes and most all of our furniture. Also, U-Pack quoted us for 13 linear feet of truck, and we ended up getting a bit of a refund from them because the movers used less space due to some tetris magic. If you are moving somewhere in the Ohio Valley, I would highly recommend these folks. 

U-Pack

U-Pack provided a truck and driver to haul our stuff across the country from West Virginia to Washington. They were reasonable, comparative to other avenues we explored (for example, Pods). They dropped off the trailer on 6/18, picked it up a few days later (I think the 23rd?) after it was loaded, drove it here by 7/2, and picked up the empty trailer the next day. Their time estimates were pretty spot on, and they kept us in the loop regarding the timeline of delivery and when the drivers would be there to drop off/pick up. It was such a tremendous relief to not have to drive an enormous truck across the whole country. If you're moving and don't want to drive a truck, these are your guys. 

Moving Staffers

Moving Staffers of Seattle helped us unload at the other end of our journey. They I was a little dubious when the two lankiest young dudes I'd ever seen pulled up, but they proved to me again that one should never judge a book by its cover. Those guys could lift, and they were nice young lads too. I can't find the receipt, much to my chagrin, but I think they took about four hours to unload and were reasonably priced. They were recommended to us by U-Pack and I don't regret going with them. 

Auto & Boat Relocation Services

And now, we get to the sh*t. Auto & Boat Relocation Services is by far the worst. The WORST company I've ever dealt with in my entire life. Hands down. So be prepared for a long-winded rant. Or just glaze over it and know that you or anyone you love should NEVER NEVER use them. Maybe recommend them to your enemies whom you do not wish to have a car for extended periods of time. That would be acceptable.

We dropped my car, the most expensive thing I own, off to a towing place as directed by Lauren, our representative, on 6/20. The woman, whose name I wish I could remember to give her kudos on my blog that no one reads anyway, working at the desk at the establishment we dropped the car off at (Valley Towing, Auto Repair & Auto Glass in New Martinsville, WV, if you were interested) was very helpful. However, Auto & Boat Relocation Services had told them we were going to be dropping off our car, but didn't fax them the appropriate paperwork nor did they tell them when their truck would be there to pick up my car for relocation.  Also, Lauren the Terrible was on vacation, so The Wonderful Front-Desk Woman at Valley Towing could not get in touch with her or anyone else about our car. However, she assured us sweetly that we had enough to worry about with moving across the country, and that she would take care of it. And she did. 

My car was supposed to arrive here on 7/11. Since we dropped it off on 6/20, this seems like a very ample amount of time to deliver my car. For example, we could have driven it from West Virginia to Washington and back twice in that amount of time if we were putzing around. 

We heard from Lauren that the initial carrier canceled. The delivery date was subsequently delayed around three times. Lauren was in sparse contact with Topher throughout this snafu. Our car was finally delivered Friday, August 1st. 

For giggles, let's break that down. We were without my car for 41 days. I tried to get google maps to give me driving times to get to the bottom of Argentina, but it wasn't down with us driving through South America, for whatever reason, so Costa Rica it is. Costa Rica is 65 hours of straight driving from West Virginia. At 8 hours of driving per day that makes 8.125 days, which means we could have driven my car to and from Costa Rica about 2.5 times. Costa Rica! Maybe that's what they were doing. Hanging out in Central America with my car.

Topher has tried to call four or five times to see about being compensated for our inconvenience and left messages several times. Lauren the Terrible has not returned his calls. Today he tried to call the general number to get a supervisor for this woman but no one answered. 

Basically, they're the worst ever. We paid about $2,000 to wait 41 days to get my car. I'm going to wait to see if they're willing to resolve this nicely or if I should rain the wrath of the internet reviews down upon them.

RARRRR!

Jax

Settling In

Yay internet! We are now a part of the 21st century again.

All of our things are moved in now. The movers came on Wednesday and did the heavy lifting, and we get to sleep on a real bed now as opposed to a leaky air mattress and sit on the couch and eat and cook with real dishes and pots and pans. First world boons.

And on the cooking note, I have made some bangin' meals the past few days in celebration of kitchen functionality. For one thing, forget grilled cheese with pre-packaged slices. Make yourself one of these bad boys and you'll never look back.  Would recommend smoked gouda, which I shredded with my food processor in about 5 seconds. I made them with roasted brussels sprouts with balsamic vinegar. Delish.

The furkids love our new place. There is a lot more room for them to scamper, for one thing. When we first moved in, the Dude was very confused. No furniture for three days meant nowhere for him to stash his toys. His hidey hole is under the couch, and much to his chagrin there was no couch under which to hide his beloved mousey. In lieu of being able to stash it, he ran around in circles aimlessly with it.

About 95% of our belongings are unpacked, and we mostly just have to put up our pictures and art now. We're making it a home. I plan on making curtains for my craft room with the most adorable fabric ever very soon. Expect pictures.

Rarrr,
Jax

We Made It!

Having gotten that out of the way, I never want to be in a car again for the rest of my life. 

Montana was the most beautiful (and unpopulated) place I've ever traveled through. There is so much seemingly-untouched wilderness and glorious nature. The Idaho panhandle was breathtaking too. 

We also saw the most spectacular rainbow I've ever seen in the mountains.

Then Puddin took over driving for a while because Topher and I were tired. 

The whole trip took us five days. This is largely because we couldn't drive at night. Topher's Grand Marquis, Megalodon, has a gremlin in the headlights. It's a known issue with those cars and there is actually a recall out for them, but the parts at the dealership were on back order until June 30th, which was yesterday. That obviously didn't work for us. Anyhow, we had to stop early enough in inhabited areas to keep us from getting stuck. 

I'm thrilled we're here. The apartment is roomy and has abundant natural light. I scoured all the surfaces and we made our requisite Ikea trip. 

99% of our belongings will arrive on a truck tomorrow morning. Then movers will come haul it all in and we can begin the process of making this place a home. I can't wait. We've been sitting on two flimsy patio chairs Topher bought (eventually to be relegated to the porch) after our arrival, eating off of paper plates, and sleeping on a leaky air mattress. I awake in the morning to my booty touching the floor. I am too old to sleep on the floor. First world problems. 

Hopefully next time I write a post it will be from the Big Kid Computer and not my phone. 

Rarrr, 

Jax

Moving Right Along

We're in South Dakota as I tap tap tap this out on my phone. It's actually the coolest state so far. At least it has the funniest billboards.

The scenery has been pretty blah so far. There's a lot of flat land. It reminds me of this toy plane we used to have. You sat behind the "plane" and steered it across a loop of scenery, attempting to knock down all the pop up trees and buildings in your path. At least that's what I did. Anyhow, that's what the midwest is like, a big loop. 

We've been through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota so far. Ohio was the smelliest. I thought seeing the mighty Mississippi would be cool, but it was just a big ass river (much like the Ohio, except, as Topher pointed out, we couldn't smell the Mississippi). The coolest thing in Iowa was an odd American Gothic themed rest area (sorry 'bout it, Iowa). The man with the pitchfork showed you the way to the men's room and the woman was by the ladies' room. There was also a mural depicting a countryside.

We departed Wednesday in the early afternoon and are at about the halfway point now. We anticipate arriving Sunday. We have stayed at two Comfort Inns so far, mostly because they are pet/ferret friendly, relevant to our interests. 

Speaking of ferrets, just in case you were wondering how they've been doing, here is a snapshot of Dude in his element: sleeping awkwardly.

 

  

Rarrr, 

Jax

Loading Day

Today is the big day. Well, one of them. The movers are slated to arrive in ten minutes. Then some dude/tte will drive it away later this afternoon. 

Topher and I finished packing roughly 45 minutes ago. No big. I'm just glad we're done. I'm going to get myself a margarita (well, more like a water from the tap since we don't have margarita capacities right now, but we can pretend) and watch two dudes load all 150 boxes and furniture into the truck. We will depart tomorrow or Wednesday after cleanup, depending on how much catch-up sleep is required. My next blog may be on the road, unless I get inspired before then. Wish us luck!

Rarrr,

Jax

See You in Washington, Computer

Topher is about to dismantle the Big Kid Computer. Yep. That means it'll all be phone and kindle updating from now until sometime in the beginning of July. So bear with me, here. 

It's sort of an ancient artifact, so we're hoping it makes the journey and will come to life again without having to go all Frankenstein on it. Topher built it roughly ten years ago, or sometime not too long before he met me. Since then he has had to replace parts here and there, so it isn't reeeeally a decade old, but it's pretty old. And the monitor is one of those hulking beasts that takes up the whole desk. It should be fun to pack. Sounds like a Topher job. 

I digress. I'm sure I'll have time to update from the road (boy will I ever), but I might get sick of tap tap tapping on my phone. So we'll see how that goes. Until next time, Big Kid Computer. 

Rarrr,
Jax

Crunch Time

I wish the title of this post had more to do with food. I mean, I am eating right now. That's the only reason I'm able to type this blog post. If chewing while typing isn't multitasking, I don't know what is. I think it goes without saying that our cooking capabilities are grossly limited right meow, so I've got some leftovers from when we were out to eat after the car snafu. That's a pretty good segue, I think.

Today we took my car to the place we were instructed to by the Auto and Boat Relocation place. Unfortunately, there was a breakdown in communication that resulted in some confusion and several phone calls being made from the drop off point. The woman Topher had set it up with had been on vacation and left some loose ends that we didn't appreciate. No points there. I think I will end up reviewing our experiences with all of the various companies we're using when we get to our new home. So far it's not looking good for these guys. Fortunately, the woman at the drop off place was very helpful and assured us that she, armed with the phone number Topher gave her, would take care of it so we could focus on our move. Very helpful. A+ for her.

The movers are coming at 8 a.m. Monday. It is 2:00 a.m. EST on Friday Saturday. Now is the stuff freakouts are made of. Full disclosure: I am a worrier and an overthinker. I am afraid our stuff won't fit comfortably on that gigantic truck. Topher thinks we will use half of it. I think he'd win on The Price is Right, because my bid will be way over as I like to worry about Irrational Things, but I think we'll use more than half. I'll keep you posted on who wins this round.

In case you were curious, I will provide you with a sample of my fretting. I am worried about finding pet-friendly hotels on the way there. I am worried about the truck not showing up before the movers do in Washington. I am worried about the car which is usually parked on the street being in the way of the movers and the ramp for the truck. I am worried about things breaking in transit. I am worried the car will break down on the way out there (Topher is way better at fixing Autobots than automobiles, and I don't have a mechanical bone in my body). I am worried about our GPS pooping out in the mountains. I would be worried I am going to worry myself into ulcers, but fortunately, ulcers are not caused by worry, but instead primarily bacteria. Yep, some dude named Barry Marshall swilled a bunch o' dat bacteria because no one believed him and his collaborator and he wanted to prove their point.

Go science.

Rarrr,
Jax

Goodbyes Are Hard

Tonight is my last night of work. 

For the past 16 months I've worked at this place. My friend JB (see her website of awesome here: Hi, Jenny Brown) recommended that I seek employment here, and the rest is history. 

It's more than a place where I collect my paychecks. It's the best job I've ever had, for one thing. I use my brains! How about that? Most all of my friends in WV work with me. I've met some really amazing people who are going to make it hard to say goodbye. Life is full of difficult goodbyes, some of which you don't get a chance to say, and all you can really do is savor the time you have. Everyone here is incredibly special to me in their own ways, and I hope to stay in touch.

Thanks, Best Virginia friends, for making me feel welcome and loved in a new place.

I said goodbye to Michigan and now I'm saying goodbye to West Virginia. But life is also full of hellos, and I am saying hello to Washington, to a new life, to new friends and experiences. 

I'm still sick of goodbyes. 

Trucking Ridiculous

I was pretty sure all of our stuff plus an elephant would fit on here.

Then when I got up (Topher was already up and packing), I saw this box mountain: 

That stack is the biggest box they sell at the store around here and that stack is three high and two deep, filled with Topher's stuff. So, basically what I'm saying is the elephant can't come with. 

Rarrr,

Jax

Boxing Day

Okay, it's not really Boxing Day. It is Boxing Month.

I am surrounded by boxes at home. It's like a cardboard jungle. Except with less mosquitoes and malaria. It's kind of stressing me out. I have to walk through a maze of boxes to get anywhere in the house.

On the plus, I'm currently munching on some almonds I found cleaning out the cupboards. The spoils of victory. Spoils literally, their sell-by date was 11 months ago. Still. Treasure.

The truck comes today. Since Topher's new employer is thankfully paying a nice chunk of moving expenses, we are going all out. We rented a large trailer to be driven across the country by someone else, movers to put all of our junk in it, movers on the other side to unload all of our junk, and a truck to haul my car cross country so we will only have to drive one. Phew. The movers are coming on the 23rd, so the trailer will be darkening our driveway--er, street--for several days and hopefully not PO the nice neighbors. The movers come to our new apartment to unload the 2nd of July.

In case you weren't counting, that's ten days without most of our stuff, four of which will be on the road, and ten days without a means to do laundry. Assuming I'll get right on the laundry the moment the truck is unloaded (spoiler alert: I won't). That's a long time to pack for considering how precious trunk space is. "What about the back seat?" you say. That space will be occupado by the ferrets' two-story cage, which barely fits, and a jade plant that belonged to my beloved, recently-departed maternal grandmother. That's pretty much the backseat. Period. We also need an air mattress, pillows, suitcase/s, my violin, a vacuum (yes, I Need it), and a plastic tote containing cleaning supplies, TP, hand soap, and the like that we're not going to want to run to the store to get immediately upon arrival. Fortunately, Topher's car is ginormous and could hold like, five bodies in the trunk AT LEAST. Um, just a guesstimate.

(That's a joke, in case anyone really thinks I might be an ax murderer. Not to be confused with an Axe murderer, who just smells really good.)

All of our clothes except my dress clothes for work this week, two pairs of jeans, and six shirts apiece are packed. We're gonna be dirty birds and rewear stuff because whatever, we're just sitting in the car for four days. EXCEPT underoos. Momma always taught me to pack extras. It's good life advice.

All of this makes me think of my old roommie and dear friend Chels and her fiance, who are biking across the country with only as much stuff as they can carry with them through mountains and rain and junk. Infinite love and respect, sistafriend.

The rest of Monday will be spent cleaning the house. If you've ever moved I don't have to tell you about gunk and dust that manifests under furniture and major appliances. And if you haven't moved before... well I won't spoil it for you. Then our landlord will swing by on Tuesday and hopefully hand us a fat check which once was our security deposit which we will magically transform into gas.

There are a lot of moving parts in this equation. Hopefully this all goes off like Michael Jackson choreography, as opposed to Baby's first recital where everyone is spinning in a different direction. Or, like my first ballet recital, where, so I've heard, everyone spun in the same direction except me. At least I was confident. I'm feeling less confident about this move, but optimistic, if that makes any sense.

Here's Dude immersed in a large roll of bubble wrap. He's "helping."

Rarrr,

Jax

n00b

So. My first post. Oh gee. Where to start? The pressure!

I'll start by introducing myself. Hi, I'm Jax. I'm new to the blogging world, so be patient with me and give me constructive feedback as you find appropriate. I currently live in the Best Virginia with my hubs, Topher, and our two ferret fur children, Dude and Puddin Tater, but we are in the process of relocating to the Seattle area. That will occupy the bulk of my posting for the next few weeks, unless I get struck by lightning. Actually, I'm rather procrastinating right now, so I'll try to keep this brief.

I love hooking. You know, crocheting. Keep your mind out of the gutter! Or don't, sometimes it's more fun that way. I love crafting in general, but yarn has always been my primary vehicle. I am learning to sew, slowly and in bursts. My mother would be more than delighted to show me the ropes, which she has to a degree, but she lives in metro Detroit. That is where I hail from, but that is a whole other blog post. I am a pescetarian, which means I eat the fishes but not the other meats, and I love to cook and learn new things all the time. I love the musics too, with healthy variety. I played violin for 12 years, however have been rather lax about it since my college days; forgive me, I'll get back to it one day.

My fuzzbutts Puddin Tater and Dude are my sunshine. Tater is my favorite. It's not a secret, I tell Dude to his face. Tater is a beautiful sable ferret who recently had most of her tail amputated due to a growing tumor on her spinal cord (also another blog post entirely), and I'm delighted to report that she's doing marvelously and starting to regrow the fur on her booty. Dude is a C student at best, but we don't hold that against him. He's our special little guy.

Those boxes aren't packing themselves, though. Until next time!

Rarrr,
Jax