Q-Tip Issue

The most common uses for cotton swabs include aural hygiene and cosmetics application - Wikipedia.org

Last year we set up a little webcam accessible over the internet to monitor activity at home. We were looking to uncover the root cause behind the mound of trash and overturned trash can we often found spread across the kitchen floor when returning home from work each day. Shortly after launching our webcam, the culprit was caught red-handed. There he was, Tuxedo, our trusted feline, live on our webcam digging through and knocking over the trash can - on a hunt for a Q-Tip or two.

To avoid the annoyance of toppled trash cans, we resorted to restricting Tuxedo's movement around the house (shutting him out of the bathrooms) and investing in rather pricey trash cans with heavy lids (http://www.simplehuman.com/). This tactic has worked well, until the recently.

Last week, in the middle of the foyer, we found a popsicle-stick-like paper scrap, the ruminants of a dismantled Q-Tip. We discarded the occurrence as a slip in our guard, an accidental drop of a Q-Tip on the bathroom floor. How mistaken we were.

Several days after the discovery of the Q-Tip remains, we were surprised to hear some unexplainable shuffling noises in the master bath. Right there, in broad daylight, our beloved cat was opening the highly engineered trash can! By lifting the lid, just a little, Tuxedo is able to shove his head into the can to root around for a used Q-Tip (revolting, we know!).

So, now with the ability to independently locate and retrieve Q-Tips, Tuexdo is as happy as a clam. For the past week, he has pulled a Q-Tip, two or three from the trash with no regard for the degree of use or cleanliness of the Q-Tip. Although the habit is mildly endearing, we'll gladly accept any recommendations for general trash and Q-Tip control as to minimize the number of Q-Tip sticks lining our baseboards.

Automotive Weekend

The joys of car ownership, driving through the countryside with the wind in your hair and your partner next to you, stopping off to take in scenary and a spot of lunch. Not quite in my world.

Spent Saturday dismantling Holly's Jetta to install a gizmo that links into the locking system and allows her to roll-down, roll-up and vent the windows from the key-remote. Also closes the sunroof if it's open. Little did I know that on a bunch of wires which are about 3 microns wide "yellow with blue stripe" is very different from "blue with yellow stripe" ! All done now, tho'. Sweet. http://www.alientech.net for anyone who is interested.

Buoyed by the early success, decided to put a new exhaust on the truck, remarkably uneventful save for a couple of bleeding knuckles. Couldn't have gone much better, all considered.

Something Fishy

If you've visited our new home in PA, I have surely pointed out my 75 gallon African Cichlid tank. This little hobby began while I was in college with a fellow sorority sister, Andrea. The two of us spent hours and loads of cash (neither of which we really had) at the fish store and at home viewing, discussing and adjusting our fish tanks.

When I lived in Canton (downtown Baltimore), I kept the fish tank in storage (the basement). I never set it up, mostly out of concern over the structural stability of my 80 year old row home flooring.

Well, now the tank is up and runinng again and has been for about nine months. Aside from a concern over the nitrate level, my fish seem to be doing fantastic. Tuxedo loves "feed-the-fish" time and I've even had a successful, although unexpected, breeding. Two of the fry batch survived and Andy and I have named them Nemo I and Nemo II. Both baby fish are growing quickly and staying out of harms way - the picture is a shot of mom and dad together.

The tank gives me a few hours of chores every weekend and we really enjoy watching them grow and color up!

- Holly