I bought a bath mat at Ikea.

Pig thinks this is the greatest thing I've ever done.

He might be right.

I had a Pig-nic.

This means that I celebrated my and Pig-Pig's four year anniversary in the style of a potluck in the theme of cat or things-that-cats-can-eat-too. I also got some picnic blankets so we could sit on the floor and equalize the playing field for once.

Here are some highlights:

Cat Head Cheesball

Kitty Litter Cake (complete with hand-rolled Tootsie Roll poop and a fresh new litter box)

I also made White Russians and served them in bowls so you had to lap them like a cat. I found this made people drink less and leave early, but it sure was cute! Some friends brought a fruit salad shaped in the likeness of a cat and some canned food for Pig, a delicious trout salad that I saw Pig sample, and some Easter candy. I didn't really get the connection there, but yum any old way.

I dedicated John Lennon's "Woman" to him and played a love song specific play list with hits like, Gerry Rafferty's "Right On Down the Line" and Badfinger's "No Matter What". This could also be part of the leaving early thing that happened. Whatever. It has been four glorious years of puking, peeing on roommates' suede boots, and a leather couch that was too fancy for me anyway. Pig has a way of making me keep it real, and at times, feral.

I met a new cat and there was a bright light and then he was gone.

Go figure. 

I sent my grandma a birthday present.

Daminka, my polka-loving, 4'11 grandma, turns 88 tomorrow. I found her the most perfect gift at the most perfect hardware store in the city (Convenience Hardware at 26th and 9th Ave).* Perfect because, not only do they have glue and keys and hammers, they have at least 3000 hand-painted Russian nesting dolls that are ALL DIFFERENT. This time, I snagged one that features a lady who keeps getting smaller and smaller, but manages to switch out the kind of cat that she's holding. This summer I bought one that features different girls getting smaller and smaller until a tiny orange tiger blasts you in the face. Amazing.

When I asked the man at the hardware store where they came from, he said, "Oh, a little place you've probably never heard of. ...RUSSIA." He's right. Never heard of it, but just the same, I can really appreciate their people's sense of detail and interest in surprise.

Lady One

Lady Two

Lady Three

Lady Four

LADY FIVE!!!!! She's SOOO SMALL!!

Here is my cat's paw for comparing purposes. 

Team.

I was so excited about these dolls that I almost didn't send them. I almost ate them. Really. I mean, then I'd be a nesting doll too! Right? This seems to beg the question: Can you become a nesting doll just because you have a small doll inside of you? Or are you only a nesting doll if someone cuts you open and finds one? Hmmm.

Honestly, I don't know what my deal is with small things. Sometimes I love them so much I think I may seize. The good news is, small things are more cost effective than big or even normal sized things. Cost of these dolls? 12 dollars. Cost of real-sized people? Holding different cats? A lot.

*Don't worry. This post won't spoil anything. My grandma doesn't know about the internet. She also doesn't know that ambrosia salad isn't really salad.