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A sinus infection also appears to be trying to build but I’m hoping to head it off with prescription sprays. If that doesn’t work, I’ll have bronchitis by the weekend. That’s unacceptable because I have a champagne tasting class ($60, prepaid!) on Fri night and want to go to the Art Deco Fest (on the Queen Mary) Sat afternoon/evening.

It’s okay if I get sick on Sun or Mon, I don’t have any plans then.

The kitties are fine, minus Skritches’ eye (pretty gunky today – I’m really not sure where we stand on that issue) and Boo still crying a lot (so much that I was yelling at her within 5 min of getting home from work – illness reduces my patience to zero).

There’s nothing on TV so I’m going to try reading (Grrrace: I got my copy of “5 languages” today) and probably pass out (already took my antihistamines)

Shambala preserve, where Tippy Hedron (yes, of the movie The Birds), houses big cats (lions, tigers, a liger, mountain lions, servals, etc) is in the mandatory evac zone but it was decided that trying to evac the cats would be such a problem (where do you take them?!?) that they’d go with a “wait & hope” approach. Boo, the black leopard I used to foster (because it’s a trouble maker, like my Boo) is there. Even without the danger of fire, the smoke can’t be doing anyone any good. I hope all the animals, and Tippy (who lives at the preserve) make it through this okay!!

• 11p Update: I just saw a news clip that the Wildlife Waystation, which is also home to wild animals, is being evacuated to the LA Zoo. I believe the WWWS is on the Western flank of the fire, while Shambala is on the East.

Current guess is that it will be mid-Sept, at the earliest, before the main fire is out.

In other news:
I moved Skritches’ next eye appt out a week. I just couldn’t handle another Sat vet appt (that would be 4 weeks in a row). I’m concerned about her eye – finally able to see some of the probs the ophthalmologist talked about (the eyelashes that are turned inward and aggravating the ulcer – and will cost $1200 to turn outward) but I’m unsure how I want to proceed because she could still end up needing the eye removed… which was bid at another $1600 (but our primary vet said it’s an easy procedure and they can do it MUCH cheaper). There was some discussion about it making sense to just remove the eye now and have it over with. I think I need to talk to my primary vet about it – I trust her more than anyone else.

I’ve noticed that Skritches opens her mouth a lot wider now that the jaw wire is gone. She seems much more comfortable & happy. Yay!

Boo started on anti-depressants Friday night. She already seemed more mellow by Sat afternoon (Skritches accidentally walked into her and she didn’t react at all) but that might have been due to the weather… it’s been way to hot for fighting. Since Fri, I’m not certain she’s always taken her pill (I hide it in her food dish) but am hopeful that she’ll eventually calm down, learn to live with Skritches, and can go off meds.

Moshi & Espressa seem fine.

I’ve had to take out my “spider stick” to deal with the webs I find crossing my entire backyard in the morning (roof to ground, side to side… not the “round” web part but the outer stands they use as anchors). Freaks me out. I hate spiders. So I use my stick to carefully move the webs out of my way. Now that I know they’re doing their giant webs again, there will be no nighttime trash runs till winter (to avoid getting a spider in the face and screaming so loud that they hear me in Europe).

For some reason, crickets seem to be out of control this season. I now have them inside the house too. I’m hoping the cats will take care of that for me… but I seem to be the only one who’s noticed the big cricket currently chillaxin on the ceiling above me.

I accidentally skipped my Cymbalta for a couple days and noticed my hives weren’t so bad. I avoided it on purpose today but still flared into an itchy rash at work so at least I know the med is not my trigger (nor is the cafeteria, since I skipped that today too).

My new hair color looks really good… a rich dark brown. I’m torn about continuing to have it done professionally. It came out soooo much better than when I do it, and it was wonderful to just sit there and be pampered (I brought champagne). But the COST… jeebus!! Color, cut, style + tip was nearly $200! I’ve got a follow up in 6 (or 8?) weeks for highlights. I’d like to gradually/eventually go light brown… but I’m in no rush.

I wonder if I’ll have pole class tomorrow. It’s been canceled, both Tues & Thurs, for 2 weeks now. I really suspect everyone has switched to a different time and Nicole doesn’t want to tell me. Maybe I’m being paranoid but 4 other students being sick for 2 solid weeks?!? Unlikely.

The next S Factor session will be starting in a couple weeks and they have a class I’d consider taking (different night than Nicole’s), so I need to think about that. The up front price tag ($440) is such a bitch – but I really need the exercise.

I hear strange noises & should probably go investigate. But, before I go, another Skritches story:
I forgot to write about Friday night! With Skritches home from the vet, I ran out to pick up a prescription and some dinner. There was a big line at the pharmacy so I was gone for about 45 min. When I came back, Skritches wasn’t at the door. And she didn’t come when called. I was worried that maybe she was hiding somewhere, in pain from her surgery. So I started searching the house for her… but couldn’t find her. Finally, I noticed that the window screen in the back room was completely ripped open… which I knew meant Skritches was out of the house, on her own, at night, for lord knows how long. That window is right above the house crawl space and next to a gate that she could easily climb under. I went into freak out mode! WHERE IS SHE?!? WILL I FIND HER?!?

As I ran outside, I found her on the back patio, in plain sight and all “la di da… what’s the big deal?!?” Man, I was RELIEVED (and furious)! So now that window is closed (not fun in this weather – as it is one of only 3 I can leave open when I’m gone because it has bars) till I can rescreen it. And I’m super annoyed to find Skritches skritching the other screens because she’s clearly figured out that she can break them and get out. Every time I leave, I expect to come home and find her MIA… or worse. I’m thinking a layer of chicken wire, on the window screens, might be in order. ASAP.

The Room – “Hi, Mark.”

DEFINITELY a new “Rocky Horror Picture Show” (except no singing or dancing). I have no idea of the majority of the dialog but it really didn’t matter. The experience is all about the audience participation.

I got there more than an hour early. Picked up my ticket (HIGHLY recommended to buy in advance, online), saw about 15 people in line and decided to go drinking at the sushi place that was open next door (side note: they have some awesome concoctions at that bar!). The sushi restaurant was busy but I was the only one in the bar for the first 45 min or so. Then it became PACKED with people going to see the The Room. I looked outside and realized the line was wrapping past the restaurant… so I really hoped Nate was somewhere in it. However, some people at the bar, upon hearing I was a first-timer, invited me to crash their line spot.

Nate started texting that he was not in line but on his way over. Apparently everyone else had bailed. I bought the “you can get in line with us!” couple a drink to ensure they’d let Nate in too.

I was aggressively trying to get my drink on, figuring that a little lubrication would help my movie enjoyment. Nate went with the exact opposite plan. I think mine was better – but, really, either way would be fine. We decided to get into line around 11:30, went outside, and found that the entire mall was PACKED with people waiting for the film. We’re talking a couple THOUSAND people in line – through the entire 2nd & 1st floors – and still others begging for tickets. Turns out that the theater (Laemlle Sunset 5) shows the movie on all 5 screens and the whole place sells out early (seriously, buy online!).

We got in line just in time to see the writer/director/”star” (using the term VERY loosely), Tommy W, working the crowd (and video taping it). I wish I’d snapped a pic. Oh well. When they let us in to the theater, I headed for the first screen. That turned out to be a bonus because Tommy does a Q&A before each screening and starts in Theater 1. If you’re in Theater 5, you have a good 1/2 hour of waiting around for him to arrive, do the Q&A, and then for the movie to start. We had 5 or 10 min of Q&A then got our movie.

It truly was a HORRIBLE film. Continuity issues, acting issues (whoa!), critical characters who appear out of nowhere, horrible dialog, yet more horrible acting, and the whole thing set in 3 teeny tiny rooms (living room, bedroom, and an outdoor patio – which we believe had changing backgrounds).

The lead actress is a “young & chunky” Britney look alike. With even less talent. The fact that she’s supposed to be in love with Tommy, who is at least 30 years her senior, is hysterical. The sex scenes were painful to watch. The whole story/concept is hysterically bad.

Bring spoons! Part of the background “scenery” is a photo of a spoon. Every time the photo appears on screen, which is a LOT, everyone throws spoons. A nerf football could be handy too – so long as you’re okay with not getting it back.

I had a BLAST. I considered renting the movie, in order to hear the dialog that I missed, but I think it would be more fun to just go to next month’s showing.