Day 52: I’m gonna be a millionaire

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

Day 52: I’m gonna be a millionaire

It’s Friday. That means Lotto Max day and I just bought a ticket for tonight’s drawing. The jackpot … $50 million.

I have a good feeling about the drawing. More than a good feeling, I feel confident that lady luck is smiling at me. Then again, I had the same feeling last week.

I bought a Lotto Max ticket, and as I walked home the song on my phone played ‘I want it all’ by Queen. All the way home, I had that song playing in my head … I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now!’ I did want it all, and I did want it now. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t get anything.

This week is different though. I think this week I stand an excellent chance of winning. They say shards bring luck and there have been shards this week. First, I cut my finger on a broken glass, and then yesterday Greyson did his bit.

It was an evening like any other evening, Dieter and I worked on our computers while Halley and Greyson raced laps around the house. Occasionally they would make a pit stop to catch their breath, only to switch on their turbo and start up again.

Suddenly there was a loud crash and while Halley dived under the nearest bed, Greyson came charging into the living room, Dieter and I flew out of our seats like to perfectly synchronized athletes.

At first, we didn’t see anything wrong, but when we checked the bathroom … ah yes, there we found the porcelain toilet holder in pieces. 

If I was to guess, I would say that during the race Grayson’s backside fishtailed causing the rug in the hallway to hit the bathroom door. The door must have hit the toilet roll holder causing the toilet roll holder to make contact with the ceramic tiles on the bathroom wall. Either way, the toilet roll holder was no more.

So between my broken glass and Greyson’s broken toilet roll holder, there have been plenty of shards and thus I think I stand an excellent chance of winning the Lotto Max jackpot.

I do wonder about these Lotto games though. There’s Lotto 6/49, Lotto Max, Daily Grand, Ontario 49, Lottario, Poker Lotto, Wheel of Fortune Lotto, Megadice Lotto, and a few more and yet I’ve never met anyone who has won anything any of significance. So where are all those lucky players?

Personally, I’ve been playing for 21 years. Isn’t it time that my ship finally came in? I could do so much good with some extra cash. I’m not gonna say if I win the lottery, I’m gonna say when I win the lottery and tonight is the night.

Day 157: Halley and Greyson

My Project: 365 Creative Writing Ideas

Day 157: Halley and Greyson

Does anyone remember the two little kittens we adopted from the Toronto Cat Rescue last year? 

Well, they are not so little anymore and let me assure you, they are packets of trouble.

It starts in the morning. Halley jumps on Dieter’s bed and wakes him up by ever so gently touching his nose. When he shows no intention of getting up, she touches his nose and cheek again and again. When her gentle approach has no results, she resorts to plan B. She jumps off the bed and goes and scratches a cardboard box, something that sounds like pounding a drum. In the event that that doesn’t have the desired result she pulls out all the stops and slams the door. How does she do this ... she stands on her hind legs behind the door and pushes with her front paws.

Meanwhile, Greyson takes it upon himself to wake me up. He does this by trampling all over me, followed by licking my ear. He doesn’t just lick though, he sticks his ice-cold nose in my ear and goes krrrrrrrrrrr krrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr krrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. You try staying asleep with a helicopter next to your head.

Once we’re up, showered and the cats are fed, Halley and Greyson take up their position by the balcony door ... they want out for a breath of fresh air. If it’s too cold they get a clear and decisive ‘No, it’s too cold’, which brings about a series of complaints... pitiful meows that translate to ... ‘Pleeeeease.’ They could melt a stone heart with their cute pleading faces and voices.

If it’s not too cold I open the door and they just about clamber over each other to get out. Halley loves catches snowflakes, while Greyson adores rolling around in the snow. When they’ve had enough they come inside because now it’s time for breakfast.

But then the trouble starts, they want to go outside again, and again, and again. In summer this is no problem as the balcony door remains open, but now, in winter, it’s a nuisance. Every time they want to go out I have to put up with their crying, or get up and give in. Then, of course, minutes later, I have to get up again to let them in. These cats need a bloody doorman!

When they had their fill of fresh air, they will either come inside, or I have to call them in. Halley is usually quite willing, but more of than not, Greyson's attitude is ... kiss my furry butt. 

When they are inside it's time for the daily race. Greyson will bite Halley’s behind or slap his head which results in Halley going in hot pursuit of the biter. She will chase Greyson from the living room to my bedroom, after which the two of them will come storming back, make a sharp right back into the living room, a left into the dining room, straight through the kitchen, another left into the living room and all the way back to the bedroom. Then for some reason, when they come racing back, Halley is no longer chasing Greyson, but Greyson is chasing Halley.

If you’re imagining this race, don’t think that the chase goes flawless. For Halley it usually does, but Greyson has an accident or two along the way. He’s got lots of fur around the cushions of his feet, causing him not to have as much traction as he would like. As a result, he often loses his footing while taking corners, or he can’t break fast enough and slams into something. Does that teach him a lesson? Neih, he gives himself a shake and goes right back to what he was doing.

When the two of them are tired, it’s time for a nap. A nap that usually lasts from 12:00 until 5:00. 

When they wake up, it’s playtime again. Poor Halley doesn’t get a chance to play with anything though. If she plays with a ball, Greyson takes it away from her, if she’s having fun with a spring, Greyson will steal it and hide it. If I give them each a spring, Greyson will go and run with his spring to my bedroom, come back, steal Halley’s spring and make another trip to the bedroom. Halley doesn’t seem to mind though, she loves her little ‘brother’ and indulges him.

But speaking of springs ... since these colorful toys are a clear favorite of Halley and Greyson we stocked up on them. All in all we they must have had 25 springs yet suddenly we couldn’t find any of them. So, we went looking. We found 17 under the sofa and 8 under the fridge. And it’s the same with other toys: balls, birds, mice ... they will be here one day and gone the next.

And so it gets evening, they get their supper and after a quick wash, Halley and Greyson (along with Holly and Charlotte) retire for the night. By the time I want to go to sleep, I have a problem ... my bed is occupied by two or three cats. Holly always stays with me in the living room, but Charlotte, Halley, and Greyson make themselves comfortable on the duvet or even my pillow.

So I squeeze into bed as best as I can. Will they move? ... forget it, they were there first and if I want a space I have to be content with what’s available. Then again, snuggling up against a cat has its benefits ... it’s nice and warm.

The next morning it all starts again. 

It was an accident

Around this time of the year, we’re starting to think of Christmas presents.  Yes, it’s early days, but the stores are getting ready and so are we.

For years I’ve had my heart set on a Tiffany lamp.  

Something like this:

or this:

or this:

Unfortunately, such a lamp is never going to grace my corner table, not this year, not ever.  Not with four cats who behave like hooligans. 

During the day they’re ever so sweet, butter wouldn’t meld in their mouths.  As the sun goes down, their energy level goes up though and three out of four turn into Tony Steward, Kyle Busch and Jimmy Johnson.  For those unfamiliar with the names … they’re NASCAR racers. 

The cats, having seen one race too many, imitate the drivers by racing around the condo and in the process there’s been more than one casualty.  Lamps, ornaments, cups, vases, plates … I often wondered if my cats have Greek blood in them and they cry “Oppa” when yet another item bites the dust.

So a beautiful Tiffany lamp is out of the question.  If a new lamp comes into the house, it will have to be made out of wood or metal, or some other unbreakable material.

But speaking of damage … I caused a bit of damage myself today.

I gave Dieter a dart board for his birthday last week, and today the board was installed.  Dieter choose the back of his bedroom door to hang the board.  Shortly after the installation was complete, Dieter and I had a couple of games and oh dear,  it didn’t exactly go well.

For safety sake, the cats were put in the living room and Dieter’s bedroom door was closed.  After all, novice dart board players as we are, there was no telling where the darts would end up.

Where did the darts end up?  Well, some landed in the board, but others missed completely and landed on the floor or got stuck in the door.

Just look at the damage … see those holes? … I did that.

I guess I should stick to bowling ....