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November 10, 2008
The Long-Term Effects of Going on a Midwestern Extravaganza Instead of Doing Your Spring Cleaning
So today I was playing with the cats and realized that it had been quite some time since I had knocked the toy mice out from under the refrigerator. I have a yardstick I keep around for this purpose. This is what I found:
#1-Seven toy mice. SEVEN.
#2-Enough cat hair to make an entirely new cat. Now I know I am prone to exaggeration, but I put Ella next to the hairball that emerged from under my refrigerator, and it was almost as big as her. Ella weighs TWELVE POUNDS.
#3-The word “hit” (on a magnet).
I was going to see if there were any toy mice to knock out from under the stove, but I lost my nerve. Maybe tomorrow.
[Note: Mulling over this incident put me in mind of one of my all-time favorite posts at Read, Write, Believe: “Where Ideas Come From.” I reread it today, and I think you should, too. If you’re participating in the Comment Challenge (I am), you can leave a comment HERE and then follow the link over to Sara’s blog and leave a comment THERE, and that will be 2/5 or 20% of the comments you need to leave for the day. How efficient is that?]
[Note #2: Maybe today’s sludge will turn into an appliance repairperson who has to go fix the crazy cat lady’s refrigerator because it gets all clogged up with cat hair and toy mice. The crazy cat lady is, needless to say, the main character.]
Posted by adrienne at November 10, 2008 10:52 PM
Comments
Whenever I brush my semi-long haired cat, I could totally make a new cat from the hair. Actually, thinking about that now creeps me out a bit. Now I haven't played around under the fridge since the hamster got under there, so there may be some unexplored cat hair territory for me too.
Posted by: MotherReader at November 10, 2008 11:22 PM
I absolutely think that the detail of a cat owner keeping a yardstick by the refrigerator should make it into a story! I've got one, although Willie's toys usually wind up under the couch. (Fridge too low? Toys too big?) And cleaning under the stove? DEFINITELY a project for another day. And another...and another...
Posted by: Mary Lee at November 11, 2008 06:17 AM
Oh, Adrienne. You do know how my warped brain works. I had NO CLUE you were going to mention my sludge=idea post, and the very first thing that went through my head when I read your post headline was: that would be a great title for a story. (The "hit" magnet only confirmed it.)
I have a new coffee mug now, by the way. Pristine. I think...
Posted by: Sara at November 11, 2008 08:07 AM
MotherReader, Maybe you could make some kind of "Under the Refrigerator" badge for the Girl Scouts. It could be like exploring owl pellets, but--is it possible?--grosser.
Mary Lee, I have wood floors, so it's easier to get the toys out from under the couch. Not that I've done it lately, but it's easier.
Sara, I think of that post so often when I'm cleaning my own mugs. I love titles, by the way. I know they often get changed when stories get published, but I find that I need at least a working title to really get into writing something.
Posted by: adrienne at November 11, 2008 09:36 AM
Hysterical~ We just recently got a new refrigerator and were horrified to see what was under the old one. Thanks for making me smile.
Posted by: jone at November 11, 2008 10:28 AM
There could easily be a top-ten list of Sara's Greatest Posts, though it'd be hard to compile, on account of all the greatness. You know you're reading a good blog when certain posts stick with you.
Posted by: jules at November 11, 2008 12:30 PM
We had to get our refrigerator repaired a couple of years ago, and I was so mortified when the repair guy moved it out, and there was a mountain of dust under there. Nothing else, though. Probably because we don't have cats...
Posted by: Jen Robinson at November 11, 2008 12:45 PM
Jone and Jen, One reason I think they make refrigerators so heavy is so that no one looks under them.
Jules, Sara is made of awesome.
Posted by: adrienne at November 11, 2008 05:30 PM
Oh my heck. When our dogs died we realized they would always be with us -- not simply in our hearts, not simply in our garden (via their, uh, cremains), but quite literally all over our floors, furniture, and clothes.
It has been TWO YEARS with the first dog, six months with the second. I am still finding NEW hair in unusual and exciting places.
Posted by: EM at November 12, 2008 01:14 PM
When I was a child, a group of us had a legendary popcorn fight at a sleepover at a friend's house. They had their living room recarpeted a few years ago, and then they pulled the old carpet up... popcorn.
The dog hair must be bittersweet. It's not so long since you lost your second one. :(
Posted by: adrienne at November 12, 2008 01:53 PM