Sibling Love

For almost three years Angel was our only child. He was doted over and spoiled, but he’s basically a good boy. He’s also exceptionally smart.

Then along came his little sister, Jacqueline. At first there was some trepidation on Angel’s part as to whether or Jacqueline could be trusted, but soon they were running about and playing as if they were siblings from the same litter. In fact now each gets anxious whenever the other is away.

Here are but a few of the many pictures celebrating the sibling love these two have for one another.

This last one is of Angel, Jacqueline, and their favorite cat sister, Thalia. I think they accept Thalia as part of their pack, but she is definitely low in the hierarchy. Oh, and by the way, that is the lap of yours truly that they are all fighting over for a place to sit.

Wonderful Edloe

Back when I was more responsible, I often submitted posts of Thalia, Ebby, Salem, or Athena to The Carnival of the Cats, the brainchild of Laurence the proprietor of This Blog is Full of Crap. I once even received an e-mail from Laurence himself over a particular entry I submitted that included an animated gif of Thalia. I was thrilled that the number one cat blogger noticed my work.

This past week Laurence and his family lost their cat, Edloe, and being that Athenamama was conceived as a tribute to a lost companion, I feel great empathy over Laurence's loss.

Edloe has touched so many, and it is because of her loving father that she has become so loved as a cat, and as the Queen of The Carnival of the Cats.

Rest easy, Edloe.

How I Lost My Job As A Monorail Pilot

I promised a few pictures of my Disneyland die-cast Mark I Monorail model made by Master Replicas®, and you will find those pictures below, but first I wanted to tell you about my brief career as a Monorail Pilot.

Several years ago while on a trip to Disneyland with a few friends we all decided to head on over to the hotel for a few drinks. As anyone who has been to Disneyland, (and has headed on over to the hotel for drinks,) may tell you, there are basically two ways to get to the hotel from inside Disneyland. One way is to walk, but being that most of your day involves walking anyway, most people opt for a ride on the Monorail. This, as you may have guessed by now, is the choice we made.

It wasn’t a very busy day at Disneyland that day, and so we walked right up the loading ramp, and right into the front car of the Monorail. In all my years of going to Disneyland I never once rode in the front car. I have been in the back car, which is really neat because the window in the back car is almost 180°, and you can just sit back and relax while enjoying an unimpeded birds-eye view of the park. It’s kinda like sitting in the back of your parent’s old station wagon.

So like I said, here we are in the front car, and my friends scramble for some choice seating before other people arrive. I, on the other hand, notice the choicest seat of all, the Pilot’s seat. Up till about this point I had always assumed the Monorail was run automatically, or maybe even remotely. I never dreamed it really required an actual person to drive it. I am not sure WHY I thought this, except maybe because it is in Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom, where everything is based on illusion.

Since I was convinced there was no real Pilot that actually piloted the Monorail, my logical mind told me that this was just a mock up to add to the illusion.

So guess where I sat.

So there I am, happily playing Mr. Monorail Pilot. I even pressed on the button just under my right thumb on the fake throttle.

That’s when I heard the ever familiar Monorail horn.

I thought to myself, “What a coincidence that they would blow the Monorail horn just as I pressed the button.” So I did it again.

Just as the horn faded out for the second time, this strapping young lad replete with uniform and captain’s hat came running into the car.

“HEY YOU!” He yelled.

“Who, me?” I countered.

“Yes you!” He continued. “Don’t do that again! Sit over there.” he said, pointing to an empty seat by my friends.

Turns out there really is a real Pilot, and that he really does drive the Monorail, and that if you are not qualified to drive the Monorail, and you have the audacity to sit in the chair of the guy who is qualified to drive the Monorail, the people who own the Monorail will toss you unceremoniously out of the park.

Luckily for me this pilot had a heart, and laughingly told me all about the Monorail, and why one shouldn’t play with it. I found out later that he risked his job by cutting me that break. Had anyone found out that I had done what I did, and he didn’t report it, he could have been fired. I guess he thought I was “special”, and took pity on me.

And that is the story of my short career as a Monorail pilot.

Now expand this entry and you may see the pictures of my very own Monorail that I can drive any old damn time I want.

Athenamama's First Poll!

Okay, so it's not a REAL poll, I guess it's more along the lines of a question. Anyway, here it goes...

Say you have just come out of the market, and on your way to your car you spot a lone shopping cart with a large item under it's basket. For the sake of this example, let's say it's a twelve pack of soda. (But it could be anything.)

No one is near the basket or your car, so you can assume the item's were forgotten by the person who purchased them.

What would you do?

Jackie's Anniversary

I neglected to mention last month that Jacqueline has been with us for one whole year now. In honor of her anniversary I would like to present her favorite post from the past year.

She thanks you.

Jacqueline was sitting pretty waiting for her portrait, when out of nowhere...

Obligatory Disclaimer:

No Chihuahuas were hurt during the production of this post. All animals depicted in this post are highly trained professionals, and all stunts performed should not be attempted by anyone, anytime, anywhere.

Magnetic Dreams

I spent over an hour of my morning yesterday in an MRI machine. I am no stranger to lying in a cigar tube while invisible, high powered magnets whirl about me making loud, strange noises, but this is the first time I have ever been in one for so long. Twice before I have been subjected to this torture so that my doctor could muse over backlit images of my cervical spine. However, now my thoracic and lumbar spine have decided to join the rebellion started by my cervical spine, and so I found myself in the machine easily twice as long while we try to take reconnaissance photographs of their locations, and spy on whatever evil that may be going on there.

I don’t have a problem with claustrophobia, so it isn’t being in a confined space that I find uncomfortable during an MRI. What does bother me is that I have a metal plate in my neck, and although logic tells me there is no way this titanium plate will respond to the intense magnetism of the MRI machine, I just can’t help but worry that it could evacuate my body at high speed before I could even grip the emergency ball they placed in my hot little hand with only the most perfunctory of instructions in it’s usage as I am being into the machine.

However, after I realized, (again,) that my titanium plate would stay put, and I would be released mostly unharmed, I actually found myself somewhat relaxed while the MRI magically produced pictures of my insides. I even dozed off, and dreamt of being in a 1950’s science fiction movie with the most fantastic special sound effects I had ever heard.

Then I awoke to a disembodied voice letting me know that the dream was over, as was my ride in the magnetic dream machine. It hurt like hell to raise myself from the hard surface of the "bed" I was on, because I had been on it so long. You’d think that it would be a bit more comfortable so that people with nasty spinal problems such as myself would have an easier time of it.

But I guess technology just hasn't progressed that far.

Is There an Earthquake in Your Future? The Lost Entry

One of the entries lost when my host moved Athenamama over to the new server dealt with the U.S. Geological Survey website’s Real-time Forecast of Earthquake Hazard. Since we have been having a couple tremors here and there, I thought it might be appropriate to resurrect this lost entry.

Having lived in California all of my life, I am used to earthquakes. The one thing you can count on about an earthquake is that you never know when one is going to hit.

Or can you?

The Real-time Forecast of Earthquake Hazard in the Next 24 Hours site at the U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program Website estimates the probability of an earthquake from the known faults and the earthquake history in a specific region.

Scientists say that it’s not designed to predict when the big quake will happen but instead where and how big the aftershocks will be.

I just like the pretty colors of the map.

Ebby Friday

I was going to create an animated gif with the following three images of Ebby, but I couldn't locate my animated gif maker.

So you will just have to suffer...

Posting has been lighter than normal, and of course normal is pretty damn light, because I have been remodeling our bathroom. Maybe after it's done, and if it doesn't look like Dagwood Bumstead did it, I will post a couple of pictures.

Thursday Afternoon with Jacqueline and Angel

Yesterday Jacqueline and Angel had an especially nice walk in the afternoon. I typically walk them as soon as I get home from work, and sometimes when we take the longer route home, we will sit alongside the road and watch the cars go by for a while.

I guess because she is so small and tiers so easily, Jacqueline scrambles up into my lap as soon as I sit in the grass. She usually stays there until we leave, but Angel likes to rub his belly on the grass, and will do so for as long as he is allowed.

Here’s Angel after rubbing his belly. You can see by the look on his face that he’s having a good time.
Jacqueline after the long walk home.

Be sure to check out the Carnival of the Dogs at Mickey's Musings, and the Friday Ark at The Modulator

Another Reason Why I Love My Wife: The Lost Entry

One of the entries lost when my host moved Athenamama over to the new server was the one in which I described the new limited edition Disneyland die-cast Mark I Monorail model. The model came in the mail the other day, and I will take a couple of pictures of it and post them soon. Until then, here is the original post.

I have said it before, my wife is the greatest. Even though times are a little rough right now, she lets me buy this:

"Collaborating with the original designer Disney Legend Bob Gurr, Disney artists along with Master Replicas® lovingly recreated this die-cast metal O scale model with all the authentic details from the foot pedals down to the precise placement of each rivet. Other impeccable details include working headlights, taillights and a top beacon light. Requires 2 button-cell batteries, included. Monorail 22'' L. Base 21 5/8'' L x 4 1/4'' W. Die-cast metal, injection-molded thermo-plastic and wood base. Imported. Certificate of authenticity. Limited edition of 500."
Sweeeeeet.

You've Got The Cutest Little Baby Face

I was bored the other night and decided to take a couple of pictures of Angel and Jacqueline for your viewing enjoyment. Apparently Angel and Jacqueline were just as bored, and so that will be our topic for this week’s pet blogging.

Always the cutest little face.
Angel’s imitation of a baby seal.

And that concludes this weeks Angel and Jacqueline cuteness entry for this week. Join us next week and see if Angel’s behind is any better than it was last month.