Monday Bunday: Got Milk?

Cadbury: No, I don't understand it, either, bunny friends. It's a human thing.

Review: Bike-O-Vision

One of my Christmas presents this year was a new spin video, Bike-O-Vision #4: California Coast. The video takes the viewer through Big Sur, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and other scenic places along the Pacific coast.

The entrancing scenery was enough to keep me happy and motivated throughout the 75-minute long video. My only complaint, and it's a quibble, is that there is no time counter at the bottom of the screen. Anyone who regularly uses Coach Troy's Spinervals or Chris Carmichael's Train Right series will find it a bit frustrating to not have that counter, not only to know when the video will be over, but for the purpose of doing time-based sprint drills.

Overall, though, this is a great addition to my cycling video library, and I'll be using it again. I'll just have to set up a clock by the TV next time.

Merry Christmas!

It's a time for festive giving.


















I hope you and your loved ones got some wonderful gifts...















...and enjoyed a little feasting as well. But the best gift of all...















...is our friendship throughout the year.



















Merry Christmas!

Cadbury: Yeah, Merry Christmas. Now will you please take this stupid bell off my head?

Rabbit: What's in a Name?

I came across a great little blog post today about the origins of some of the different words for rabbit.

Enjoy!

Land of Rabbits

Monday Bunday: Dreaming

Go away, biped. I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.

Well, keep dreaming, little bunny. This is Houston. I'll make sure it's a good one, regardless.

Random Memory

This is the building my father worked at when he was a professor at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.

He officed on the seventh floor, and sometimes he'd take me with him when he had to go there on weekends or after hours. I remember the elevators, and I remember a large open classroom or lab where they had guinea pigs. Oddly, I was never much taken with the guinea pigs, even though I've always been an animal person.

I don't remember my father's office, although he must've had one. I guess it wasn't interesting to this little kid.

I remember there being a small library that had children's books - a standard feature of education colleges. Sometimes we'd check out a few books for me to read. I don't remember there being a librarian, though. As a professor, my father was able to go in and sign out whatever he wanted.

My most striking memory of this building is the day we visited the fifth floor. There had been a fire, and I guess my father was curious to see the damage. I remember the hall as a long tunnel of dark wood paneling and identical office doors. I remember walls darkened with smoke and scorch marks, all permeated with a pungent, burnt-over smell. Mostly, though, I remember a creepy feeling of destruction and things not right. I was glad we didn't stay long.

All of this happened between 1970 and 1973. We left Muncie for Fresno, California, when I was six.

Monday Bunday: Hiding in Plain Sight

As Cadbury demonstrates, sometimes the best things are right nearby, but just out of sight. Like the university's holiday break.*

This will be my last full week at the office before the new year. Next week is only three days long, and then we're off for two weeks!

Cadbury is very excited, since this means more out-of-cage time. Of course, that's all that really matters. Of course.

Have a good week, everyone!



* Not dissing Christmas here, but a Christmas break would cover Christmas only. This break covers Christmas, New Year's, and some other holidays I don't celebrate, so it is therefore a holiday break.

Monday Bunday: Rubbish!

Cadbury: Mondays are a load of rubbish!

I'm with Cadbury on this one. The long Thanksgiving weekend spoiled me, and getting to leave work a little early on Friday to play with the bunny in the snow only reinforced my sense that we have a big holiday vacation coming up, and it's time to start taking relaxation a little more seriously.

Just two and a half weeks, folks!

Cadbury's Snow Day

We rarely get snow in Houston, so Cadbury got a real treat today!
















































Stay warm, everyone!

Monday Bunday: Treats!

Somebunny is still enjoying his treat bag from the Zooh Corner store!













































May your week be full of special treats as well!

Cadbury's Thanksgiving

Cadbury's Thanksgiving treats came all the way from Zooh Corner Rabbit Rescue in California, where they sell special rabbit goodies at their online store.

Here we see Cadbury seeking the best angle of attack on his Bunny Bag:



















Working on it...

















Knocking it over seems to be effective:

















Cadbury: Will you quit watching me? I'm getting self-conscious here!















Cadbury also received these delicious Critter Cookies, a Zooh Corner specialty!

















Cadbury did a victory lap with his cookie, then tried to find a place to eat it where Dan and I wouldn't pester him with our cameras.


















Cadbury: Damn paparazzi. Is no place safe?



















Okay, Cadbury. Enjoy your treats in peace.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving! (Gratitude Post)

Today, I'm thankful for the animals that have been a part of my life over the years. Whether their time with me was short or long, they put a daily smile on my face.

I'm thankful for my husband of almost fourteen years. Love isn't hard to find, but it's a rare and special someone who you can live with happily, year after year.

I'm thankful to have a good job with benefits, where I'm not harassed or taken advantage of. I'm allowed opportunities to grow and learn new things. My efforts are recognized. I'm never belittled for not knowing something, and it's okay to not be perfect.

I'm thankful for the good luck that has enabled me to stay strong and healthy. Not everyone gets lucky genes or the good fortune to escape major illness or debilitating injury. I'm diligent in my workouts, but without luck on my side, none of this would be possible.

I'm thankful that my parents modeled healthy behaviors when I was growing up. Balanced, home-cooked meals. Limited snacks. I wasn't allowed to spend all day indoors; I had to get outside and be active! My father was an evening jogger and rarely missed a workout. I grew up never doubting I could incorporate healthy diet and exercise into an adult life.

I'm thankful for my maternal relatives in New England. I'm a fish out of water in my family of origin, but my family up north always understood me. Without them, I might've despaired altogether. Those summers on Cape Cod were pretty darn special, too. Just how special is something I had to grow up to fully appreciate.

Most of all, I'm thankful for my friends, including those of you I only know via the internet. You can end up in forced proximity with some pretty odd birds for no other reason than that they're blood kin, but you folks are my family of choice. We're part of each others' lives because we want to be, not because we have to be. In my book, that's pretty darn special.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Come back later for some turkey and pie Cadbury pics!

Monday Bunday: Full Recovery!

Well, everyone, it looks like Cadbury has made a full recovery. Within twelve hours of his surgery he was jumping on the roof of his cage, and within two days he was redecorating the room, dragging his litterboxes about, flinging toys and litter, and scaring me half to death with all his running and jumping about.

You've still got stitches, buddy? Remember?















We got the biopsy results back and his lump was an ordinary fibroadenoma. Nothing to worry about. Now if only I could do something about the hyperactive behavior!















I have no idea what you're talking about, Mom. I'm a calm and relaxed little bunny. See?

Monday Bunday: Recovering Nicely

I'm doing much better now, Mom. Can I please come out?

Cadbury's surgery on Friday went well and by Saturday morning he was scaring me half to death jumping on top of his cage. After the first night home, though, he didn't lick his incision, and he appears to have no interest in his stitches. Good boy!

He's been getting lots of special salads, bunny massages, and love, which no doubt accounts for his quick recovery. He has a couple more days on the Metacam, then in two weeks he goes back for a checkup and to have the stitches taken out. They should have the biopsy results by then, too.

Thanks for the good wishes, everyone. I don't like anyone cutting on my bunny, and I don't think Cadbury appreciates it, either!

Cadbury Update

Cadbury is home and eating. I'm watching him closely to make sure he doesn't lick the wound too much. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be too crazy about an e-collar!

Thanks for the good wishes, everyone!

Cadbury: Best Wishes Requested

Someone's off to the vet Friday morning to have his mystery lump removed and analyzed. Best wishes for quick healing, little guy!

Monday Bunday: Sleeping In

Another Monday morning. I wonder what the bipeds are doing...

Monday Bunday: November

It's a new month, and we're ready for action!

Happy Halloween!

Bunny Update: Lumpy

Cadbury went for his annual checkup today and they found a small lump on his belly. It's hard, oval-shaped, and about the size of the tip of my little finger. The doc wasn't able to get a good cell sample with a needle biopsy, so we're going to have it removed in a couple of weeks. Since the lump has very clearly defined edges, it should be no problem to remove.

Poor little guy. At least he's easy to put in a carrier and well-behaved for the vet. Not all bunnies are.














Who says I'm lumpy? I'm not lumpy!

Monday Bunday: Tubular!

Last week, it came to Cadbury's attention that other bunnies in the blogosphere were getting a special treat: hay in a tube. Cadbury wanted to know why he had never been invited to partake of this particular delicacy.

So...here's Cadbury with his hay-in-a-tube!



















Have a great week, everybun!

The Art of the Craigslist Run

For a few months now I've been trying something different on my Saturday long runs.

• I love to run
• I love a good bargain
• After nearly 10 years of running the inner loop, I'm out of new route ideas

The solution is the craigslist run.

The way it works is the night before my long run, I check craigslist for garage sales in the areas I like to run. I select the most promising ones and build a route around them using gmaps pedometer. I take cash and business cards with me in case I find something I want to come back for, and voila! New fresh running route with fun stops along the way!

Most of the time I don't get anything, but two weeks ago I got two new designer tops (unworn, with tags still on) for $5 apiece. The week before that it was a blouse and skirt for $3 each (the blouse still had original tags). Today, I got three pair of earrings, $5 for the lot of them, and one pair was an exact match to a necklace I had at home.

I'm having a great time with my new route-planning method and I'll be disappointed when winter sets in and pickings become scarce. Luckily most of the year is garage sale weather in Houston, though. I'll have new routes for years to come!

Monday Bunday: 'Tocktoberfest

Happy Monday Bunday, everybun! Here's Cadbury showing off his 'tocks for 'Tocktoberfest!

We've been very busy here at the House of Cadbury. The pace at work hasn't slowed down much, even though we're nearly two months into the new fiscal year. On the fiction front, I've been working with my editor and publisher on getting Maelstrom ready for publication. The pre-proof is done and everything his humming along nicely, but it's exhausting to come home and have another job to do.

Everything is coming together, though, and I've managed to keep up with my running and other workouts in the meantime. In fact, working out and cooking healthy meals is probably what's keeping me sane in the midst of it all.

That and bunnies, of course. Cute 'tocks, Cadbury!

Monday Bunday: Stretching

Judging from the way my hamstrings feel, I should be doing more of this:















Have a great week, everyone!

Monday Bunday: Audrey Memories

While we wait for Audrey to arrive in Nottingham, here are some of Cadbury's favorite pictures of her.

Audrey grooming Cadbury...















Audrey enjoying some orchard grass under Cadbury's watchful eye...



















Audrey playing Dan's Stratocaster...



















Audrey shopping for running shoes so she'll be extra-fast!


















Audrey hanging out at the University of Houston campus...















...and finally, Audrey with the Houston skyline in the background.















Have great Monday Bunday, everyone!

Good-Bye, Audrey!

Audrey is on her way to Nottingham, and someone is missing her already:



















If anyone wants to track her, they can go to the USPS Tracking site and enter LJ245719680US. Audrey will be trackable as long as she's in the United States.

Audrey left behind a few more pictures of some favorite memories of her visit, but I'll be posting those on another day.

Audrey: Final Night in Houston

Audrey is going to try to catch a flight out to the UK this morning, so she spent her final evening in Houston making travel plans and checking her itinerary...















...being serenaded by my husband...


















...and of course, hanging out with her buddy, Cadbury.















If all goes well, she'll soon be on her way! Stop back by for more Audrey!

Monday Bunday: The News

Well, it looks like Audrey is going to be moving on. She has an important conference to attend in the UK, and other bunnies to visit along the East Coast.

















What do you mean, she's leaving?

Uh-oh. It'll be okay, buddy. We'll be following all of her adventures!

More this week as Audrey packs for her trip, shares her reminisces, and ships out!

Audrey Saturday

Today, Audrey attended a meeting of the Houston Creative Writers Collective. The meeting was held at the Brasil coffee house, in the outdoor courtyard shared with Domy Books.

Upon arrival, our thirsty bunny bought a San Pellegrino...















...and then settled in for an afternoon of discussion and critique.















She soon learned that writing and critiquing is hard! Writing her memoirs after her journeys are over may not be as easy as she at first imagined.















After the meeting, she went back into the coffee house to see what other kinds of things were happening in Houston's art scene.


















she seemed particularly interested in a spaghetti supper benefiting the High School for Performing and Visual Arts.



















Since spaghetti isn't really good for bunnies, I suggested an outing at a park instead.















Everyone likes swings, right?















Whee!!!


















Our plan had been for Audrey to go to Washington DC next, but we've had a new offer for her to attend an October conference in the UK. If her hosts are in on the plan, how about she go next to see Miss Eve and Neville in the UK, where she could attend the conference and maybe stay long enough for Bonfire Night? Then she would return to the US and spend Thanksgiving with Pink, Elvis, and Peaches in Washington DC. From there, she would go to visit Pumpkin and Patch in Philadelphia in time for Christmas, and then try to make New Year's with Hef in New York. After that, if Lando and Fiona would still like to host, Audrey can go to San Francisco.

Let me know if this works for everyone, and if I've left anyone out!