How was your weekend? The most exciting thing we did was go to Hobby Lobby on Saturday and then out to dinner. Ruby made it through an entire dinner without whining, crying, screaming, and running around like a nut. This is a miracle considering that Heath had to carry her kicking and screaming from Hobby Lobby just thirty minutes earlier. Heath wanted to go home but I insisted that we at least try. Our trip to Orange Leaf afterwards was not so smooth. This time I dragged her out kicking and screaming. Heath and I got yogurt, she didn't (red velvet-yummy!) and she was put immediately to bed once we got home.

The most exciting event of the weekend for Ruby is when we got to meet Bullseye*, the official mascot of Target. My store recently remodeled and now has more groceries and even fresh produce. It's no Super Target, but I'll take what I can get. I am thrilled to be able to get my discount on groceries and not have to spend the extra time and gas going to Kroger. Anyway. Ruby was understandably hesitant when first meeting Bullseye but she soon warmed up to him and wanted to be his BFF. She tried to feed him cookies. When we left him to go shopping she called for him constantly, yelling "I wanna see puppy!" and then for some reason she started calling him a bear? I have no idea where that came from. But, yes, she was very excited about him and even went in for a hug after seeking him out for the third time. 

If you've been on Pinterest lately you may have seen this recipe for a healthy version of McD's Shamrock Shake- the best seasonal shake in the history of humanity. Yes, I love them. Like get them any opportunity that I can while I can love them. High fructose corn syrup and the massive amounts of green food coloring be damned. This year I've actually done quite well. I've only gotten 3, at least a 50% drop from last year. 

So when I saw this recipe I immediately repinned it but I was skeptical. How can it taste exactly like it without all the crap? Instead of having a scathing amount of unpronounceable ingredients, 54 to be exact, (see this from the HuffPo) this recipe only has 6 that are recognizable and easy to say. Everyone who commented on the recipe, at least those who had tried a SS before, raved about it so I thought I'd try it. 

I haven't been to a Con since back in the day when my grandma and aunt would drag my brother and I to Star Trek conventions. I have memories of meeting Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton (Reading Rainbow!!) and even Patrick Stewart. My aunt paid me to stand up and ask Mr. Stewart a question at a panel discussion once- something about working with Derek Jacobi on a Shakespeare play. I remember being nervous as fudge and then stumbling on my words when it was my turn.

This weekend was the Lexington Comic and Toy convention so me and the fam decided to check it out. Before you even enter to convention hall they had Ecto 1 there. I'm a HUGE Ghostubusters fan so I was pretty excited. Of course I had to get our picture taken with Vigo. Ruby couldn't have cared less about Vigo, Ecto 1, or any of the Ghostbusters hanging out. Once she sees the movie though...then she will. I only wish she could know the awesomeness that was Ecto Cooler.

So here's what's up with Oliver. The tumor they removed from his intestines (a big nasty thing-I saw the pictures) was something the pathologist called a 'poorly differentiated tumor'. Basically (as far as I understand) it was so jacked up with evil cells that they couldn't pinpoint where the cancer actually originated. This makes diagnosing the type of cancer that he has pretty much impossible. Yes, they removed the mass but they are pretty sure that there is still some cancer in there just waiting to wreak havoc on the inside of my awesome orange kitty. The bastards. 

A week ago Oliver had his surgery. He picked up a cold from being around all the other animals so the vet wanted him out of the hospital asap and he's been home since last Thursday. On Friday I noticed a staple had come loose and that part of his incision was spreading open (reminded me of a cut raw chicken breast). The vet said that it would be okay since it wasn't bleeding and that I could try and remove the staple (so it wouldn't catch on anything) but when I tried it was stubborn and rather than risk tearing or introducing germs I hauled him back to the vets office. I swear, they are so paitient. I have shown up without an appointment and called them so many times! They fixed the staple, gave him a quick dose of fluids and some high-calorie food for me to force feed him (he hadn't ate or drank since picking him up) and we went back home.