Furry babies

Here it is, like promised 700 years ago. Pictures of my furry babies. It's been a great gay couple of weeks both in Finland and in USA, but right now I'm focusing on my kittens.

My cats are like toddlers and they are in the midst of their terrible two's right now. They now the word no and what it means (in Finnish) but they either ignore me, or go right back whatever it was they were doing before. I have my old computer hooked on my TV in the bedroom so I can watch american DVD's and whatever shows I have on my computer. It's on a little table and Dunkin Donuts likes to stand on it and rub her face against the edges of the TV. Problem is, she's standing on my computer and I tell her no constantly. She jumps off, and as soon as I turn my back, she's at it again. Same with breaking and entering my drawers. I can tell her no and spray her face with water as many times as I want and she still goes right back to it. Any suggestions as to what I can do to prevent this? I'm thinking of getting lime or lemon juice and adding that to the water, they are not fans of citrus.

Brooklyn likes to jump on top of high things, whether the coat rag, on top of curtains or the doors. Every morning I come out of my bedroom to find my scarfs and hats and mittens on the floor after he's been hanging out at the coat rag.

My cats love being at the balcony. This is Brooklyn checking in.

Every once in a while I I look at this website for stuff for the cats. The heater beds sounded like a great idea, because they love to hang out by the heaters during the winter, but they didn't use these until maybe 2-3 months after I bought them.

My cats believe in free-raising (don't remember what the term is in english right now). Basically it means that every surface and nook and place in here is free for them to use as they see fit, which means that if and when I eat at my kitchen table, there's always audience ready to bounce. This is DD being stealth.

Brooklyn is my care bear. He has to have hugs at least 5 times a day or he might not survive. He's so cuddly. It's one of the reasons I can't sleep in the same room with them. At some point during the night Brooklyn will sit on my chest, purr really loudly and start licking my face. And when he's not doing that, he's practicing for cat agility and jumping on and off the bed. I think licking my face is his way of giving kisses, because I kiss the space between their eyes. 

No wonder my shirts are always full of cat hair, even when I've used the fabric brush and tape on them! They use my jackets as their personal climbing wall!

Brooklyn being cute.

Dunkin Donuts is an independent woman who doesn't need hugs often. It's maybe once a week that she comes to sit on my lap by herself and it usually happens just before I'm supposed to leave for work. What's being late a little when you can get hugs from this fur ball? 

Yesterday morning before 8:30am Dunking Donuts had gotten into my lap TWICE. I think she approves of these long weekends and me being at home and not rushing out soon after I wake up. Easter can't be bad if the first day you get plenty hugs early. It seems that DD would be more social if I was home more. 

Enjoying the outdoors.

Going to the bathroom is a family affair. If I close the door Brooklyn is sure to come and open it. I don't understand the allure of a bathroom but for the cats it's a must.

Of all the space and all the stuff I've bought for them, this is their absolute favorite. So much so that sometimes they can't wait for their turn and have to lay on it together.

The doors to my walk in closet and linen closet don't close properly and I don't want the cats to get into either one, so I had to do something about it. First I only had the upper one but when Brooklyn figured out how to wiggle it open (it's on my eye level) I had to get another one.

I love Dunking Donuts' stomach fur. It's so long and fluffy and silky smooth. I don't necessarily love it on my sheets and clothes and sofas and chairs and tables and rugs and...and...and...but that's the price you pay for having mid long haired cats.

Can't touch this! I can see and hear Brooklyn mocking me every time he's on top of a door and I can't reach him.

Brooklyn's just so cute!

Not the expensive cat beds but the 1€ plastic containers!

Dunkin Donuts being cute.

Dunking Donuts trying to blend in with the black sheets. Brilliant idea when you have cats with white fur!

Yogurt is their absolute favorite human food. I can't open a can in the bedroom without the cats hearing it in the living room. After that they stare at me and try to get a lick if I turn my back. Survival of the fittest and sneakiest in this household when it comes to yogurt. And you'd think that orange flavored wouldn't be a hit. 

Why did you lock me outside?

Cats wanted to take pictures with me.

Brooklyn coming for hugs and headbutts.

Bathroom fun.

Aren't they just the cutest?

Oh my god, oh your god, oh their god!

Just got an e-mail from redbubble, someone bought a Forssa Pride t-shirt! Woo hoo! And it wasn't me!

Forssa Pride Party t-shirts and hoodies

I was asked if it was possible to buy any Forssa Pride products, and after many hours of labor, sweat, tantrums and tears, I was able to make 3 designs for Forssa Pride Party. FPP 2.0 doesn't have a design yet, but as soon as I get it, I'll make t-shirts off of it too.

If you are so inclined, you can buy them here. There are 3 different sizes with different locations for the logo. There are 5 short sleeve t-shirts, 2 long sleeves and 2 hoodies and they come in 21 different colors. Prices start from 18€ and the hoodies are 35€ I believe. Forssa Pride gets a small percentage as does our poster maker Eino.

The great expectations

Few weeks ago when I was out partying with Heidi we met up with a couple of her straight girlfriends. Why do I mention them being straight you ask? Well, let me tell you.

One of them had boy trouble. And the minutes we sat with them, it was all about the boy trouble. Should I call him? Should I text him? What do I say? What if he doesn't answer me? Oh god, what he does? And on and on... That was a stereotypical straight girl behavior. And it was the type of drama I have no patience for. And I said so to Heidi. She gave me another point of view though. The girl's self esteem was low and that's how she validated herself. Through a man. The objective of the night was not to have fun with her friends but to attract a man or the man.

One of the great things about being a lesbian is that there are no expectations for your partner as far as the society is concerned. Whereas in some (straight) circles your value as a woman is realized by your ability to attract a handsome, educated, well off man, who will provide for you, there are none of that for lesbians. Nobody tells you to settle down with a beautiful successful lawyer/doctor/CEO. That's not the standard set forward for lady lovin ladies. No. It's more of the opposite. Unless you know lesbians and have them in your life, the expectation is that a) you're not the most beautiful or attractive woman on earth, b) you hate men, c) you can't get a man,  or d) you're manly which means that other lesbians are like that, so really, having a beautiful girlfriend is not necessarily expected.

And now that I think about it, it's kind of sad. We are already viewed as inferior because we're freaks or unnatural or not the norm, so why expect any better. We are free of the societal expectations, but we're also left alone. Basically the only people who care enough to ask about my love life are my immediate family and friends. I doubt my co-workers would ever ask me about my potential partner and even if they wondered about it, I doubt they'd be comfortable enough to ask.

I think I had a point when I started to write this but it got lost along the way. 'Till next time.

Let's shop till we drop - August 2013 is a go

I'm not sure if I've complained about my wardrobe, or the lack thereof here, but I'm so tired of all of my clothes and I can't wait for a time when I can go crazy and shop shop shop. It looks like that time will come in August. I have a place to stay, plans with friend(s), and as it turns out, basically nothing to bring home from my previous life, so the suitcase looks good for a shopping spree. And where does this spree take place you ask? New Jersey and New York. Just need to get a passport and cheap tickets and I'm ready live the american dream and shop till I drop. Heard their economy needs a boost. Candice said she'd alert the local Dunkin Donuts' so they'll be ready. Said she'll buy stock.

Anyhoo, August. I'd say I hope to pump into you but the New York metropolitan area is so big that the chances of that happening are slim to none, so maybe not.

I think we are due a kitten post soon, and it's basically written in my head, but the only thing is, I have about gazillion pictures of them that I need to go through, because they are just so cute and an iPad is just too convenient and I like taking pictures of the terrorists so I just have a lot, ok?

So, until next time. And if you're in the Forssa area in 2 weeks, the Living Library will be held on the 19th so come and borrow me! The peer group will not meet that Tuesday because I haven't mastered the art of being in two places at once (even though it's possible to borrow me via skype too that day) so I can't do both but we'll gather again in a month.