11.03.09
It’s November!
November is my favorite month of the year! A whole month anticipating the Christmas season…it is wonderful. I’m trying to decide when is the earliest possible time that is socially acceptable to set up the Christmas tree…next week maybe?
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Halloween costume: emo kid.
It’s a shame that you can’t see the lip ring in the picture. It is my favorite part.
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Wojtek loves to be my alarm clock, waking me up as early as he wants. His favorite method is to jump onto my bedside table and knock everything over. This usually corresponds with when I want or need to get up, so it’s not a huge problem. But Wojtek doesn’t understand weekends, and he REALLY doesn’t understand weekends + daylight savings time. I wonder if I will ever be allowed to sleep late ever again! This morning he started his mess at 4:30. Sick.
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This song came on the other day and has been resonating in my heart ever since:
Be still my soul
The Lord is on your side
Bear patiently
The cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God
To order and provide
In every change
He faithful will remain.
Be still my soul
Thy best, thy heavenly friend
Through stormy ways
Leads to a joyful end.
Be still my soul
The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them
While he dwelt below.
Sometimes I forget that the Lord is on my side, and I accuse him of withholding good gifts from me. Instead, I am to leave to Him to order and provide, remembering that the stormy ways lead to a joyful end.
09.23.09
sto lat!
Today is my Pole-cat’s 1st birthday!* Watch the super-goofy video. “Sto Lat” is the Polish equivalent of “Happy Birthday”. It actually means “100 Years”, and is also appropriate for anniversaries and other occasions.
For his birthday, Wojtek decided to turn into a ladybug.
Just kidding, of course. But I did buy him this ridiculous thing for a birthday present. He likes it because it is crinkly. I like it because it reminds me of Bozena (woman I lived with in Polska), who loooooves biedronki (ladybugs), and also because I can keep all of his toys inside of it instead of scattered around my room.
And here he is cuddling with a hairdryer. My cat is so strange. He’s been known to love water, but last week he actually got into the shower while it was running! He’s crazy.
Sto lat!
*When you post about your cat’s birthday, does that officially make you a creepy cat lady? If so, please ignore that this post ever happened.
08.12.09
new neighbor
What is he looking at so intently?
Our new neighbor:
Maybe we will have baby neighbors soon!
But I doubt it.
Some birds have tried this before, but they didn’t seem to like all of the opening and closing of doors that happens immediately below this nest (this 4-foot corridor connects the garage and the house), nor did they like when Wojtek joined them in the backyard…
Only time will tell.
02.03.09
kici kici
Wojtek is growing so fast! It is craaaazy!
He is also very dog-like. He likes to carry stuff around in his mouth:
This is his favorite toy, bell on a string. He will drag it all over the house, entertain himself for HOURS, and sometimes even plays fetch with it!
He also loves to be held and pet and cuddled, especially when I first get home from work. He will follow my every step, meowing and begging to be held:
I love this cuddliness about him! It is so dog-like!
But he is also very cat-like.
He is so vain:
He probably thinks this blog is about him.
Whenever I pull out the camera, this eventually happens:
He just can’t resist that string!
And he likes to hide in sneaky little places. If it weren’t for those reflective eyes, he would be impossible to find:
Isn’t he just adorable????
01.20.09
paperwork and packing peanuts
I have gotten three new students in the last 6 school days, and I have something like 15 ARD meetings in the next 3 weeks.
If I do not post until March…well, try not to worry too much.
I will be here
under piles and piles of paperwork
trying to dig my way out
to find my students
and fit in teaching a lesson
somehow.
Wish me luck.
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In other news, Wojtek has a new favorite toy. Foam packing peanuts. They get all static-y and stick to him, and he chases himself around in circles trying to get them off. Hilarious!!
Thanks for the package, Kenney family! Wojtek is thoroughly enjoying the packing materials, while I am enjoying the contents 
!
01.19.09
isn’t he just adorable?
ps I think its funny that even though my face is not in this picture, I am smiling as if it is.
01.15.09
Wojtek, but not the cat
I emailed Wojtek (human) about the fact that I named Wojtek (cat) after him. I sent some pictures, and explained that Wojtek (cat) only understands Polish, just like Wojtek (human).
His reply?
Cześć Rachel!
Hi Rachel!
Dziękuję za list i piękne zdięcia kotka Wojtka.
Thank you for the letter and beautiful pictures of the kitten Wojtek.
Dobrże ze uczycz kotka po polsku,
It is good that you are teaching the kitten Polish,
chociaż nie musisz bo wszystkie koty na świecie rozumieją po polsku.
although you don’t need to because all cats in the world understand Polish.
Po polsku woła się do kotów kici kici.
In Polish you call a cat by saying, “keechee keechee”.
Pozdrawiam i całuję Wojtek ale nie kot.
Sincerely, Wojtek, but not the cat
What a funny guy…the perfect namesake for my scappy little formerly homeless hyper kitten!
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In other related news…I am fairly certian that I will be going back to Poland this summer! I didn’t think it would work out, but all the dates seem to fit together. I am beyond excited.
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In other unrelated news… The Office was new tonight, and that made me very happy. All I need now is Survivor and Thursdays will be perfect again.
01.05.09
Kotek*
*kitten in Polish
Meet Wojtek (VOY-tek):
When I went to pick him up from the vet, he was in this:
I’m sorry…does that cardboard take-out box with tiny holes REALLY say, “I heart my pet”? What it should say is, “Muahahahaha…I want my pet to be miserable!” He cried the whole drive home! Which almost had me in tears!
As soon as I got home I let him out of the cardboard prison and he was so happy! He quit crying and started purring and exploring.
I wish I knew how to upload a video here so that you, too could enjoy his playfulness. I’m telling you, he was WIRED! But now he has calmed down and is ravenous. Because of his surgery he couldn’t eat yesterday or today! He is definitely a carnivore – he tried to eat my fingers and lips after I ate chili. So I washed my hands and used some mouthwash and he is pawing at the cabinet where he smells his kitten food…
Here is our first photo together!
The flash really freaks him out. Right after each picture he tries to catch the elusive spot that he suddenly sees. It is pretty funny.
Kocham Wojtek!
