What in bread's name is L-Cysteine?

I've always wanted to write a blog entry about the L-Cysteine food additive but sadly can't keep up with my fun projects, let alone depressing nutritional news. Here's a great article that says pretty much what I wanted to decry about the new L-Cysteine food additive. No, we should not be forced to eat human body parts. Yuck. I am not a cannibal!

Source:
I am not a cannibal!

How to Comb a Cat and Get Away with It!

The other day I asked my boyfriend for blog ideas. Perhaps my readers are getting tired of reading about Steampunk, writing, cats, and booze. Not necessarily all at once. 

"How to Comb a Cat" is what he suggested. While he's right on the money with how-to articles being a popular blog choice, I asked why he picked this topic. 

"Because my cat enjoys being combed for five seconds and then she bites me." So, what he was really asking was not how to actually comb a cat, but how to get rid of the tangles and mats.

The topic for this article should be more like "how to comb a cat and get away with it". 

Personally, my cat loves being brushed and combed. She can't get enough of it! If I crazy-glued my hands to her body she would be the happiest kitty in the world.

I bought her one of those flea combs with the tiny prongs. I start by using the wider prongs around her face. Most cats love having their chins and necks scratched and rubbed. Let your cat get used to the comb. Flip it around and use the smooth side, the one without the prongs. Try it for a couple of minutes each day. If she bites the comb then stop. You're telling her that the pleasurable experience ends once she bites the comb or you.

Use the blunt end of the comb to gently stroke her fur from her head to her tail. Don't aim to remove fur at first, just let her get used to the feel. If she hates it, it's going to be a long combing curve.

Do this once a day for about a week. If she's already graduated to being successfully combed then give her a cat treat. If not, use the comb side on her for a few seconds, then go back to the blunt side. Always avoid her tummy, most cats don't like being touched there at the best of times, unless it's my cat.

Comb along the upper back near the tail. That's a hot spot for kitties. 

Remember, if your cat bites or scratches you at any point, it's time to put away the comb and leave the room. Don't reprimand her or look surprised. It's normal cat behaviour. Try again the next day. If she repeats the bad behaviour repeat and rinse your wounds. Biting and scratching means the fun part stops.

Cats are quick learners and will soon realize that seeing the comb in your hand means a fun grooming experience is at hand.

Don't comb your cat for more than five minutes at a time. Most cats have short attention spans. If kitty is happy, leave her happy. 

Once your cat is used to this new combing routine you can get down to business and actually start using the comb to remove loose fur and gently pull apart tangles. Keeping up with this routine on a daily basis will give you and your cat some pleasurable time together and her fur will look fantastic.

THE 2013 ZODIAC GUIDE TO CRITICISM

I was pondering how the different zodiac signs interact with each other. Some get along, some don't. Some interact better with the opposite sex.

Here's my guide to criticism.

Point in question: "Hi, your name here. You've been looking a bit tired after all the holiday stress."

Your response based on your zodiac sign:

Capricorn: Did you watch the game last night?

Aquarius: Are you buying me a coffee to make me feel better?

Pisces: Let's play video games!

Aries: Ha ha ha ha

Taurus: Tell me how you really feel.

Gemini: I look better than you do.

Cancer: Let's have a drink and talk about it.

Leo: You *&%$#@!

Virgo: Let's go to bed!

Libra: Sigh!

Scorpio: Boo hoo you're so insensitive. 

Saggitarius: It's all these extra hours I've been working. 

How to Save Money in the New Year

You’ve over-budgeted the Christmas gifts, the groceries cost double what you expected, and your liquor allowance went through the roof. It’s after Christmas and you’ve sat yourself down to have a good hard look at your finances, but you don’t like what you see.

How are you going to survive through January, if you don’t have enough money to cover your perishables and necessities for even one week?

Here’s a few tips on helping you survive through the New Year until you bring in a few paycheques to cover your credit card bills.

Dig to the backs of your cupboards and fridge. I know food doesn’t last long in the fridge, but you can dig to the back of your freezer too. I have some frozen vegetables in there from the fall which are still perfectly well within their expiry dates but not too appetizing. So what? Cook them up and add salt and pepper and butter. Likely you have enough food in your fridge and freezer to get you past the first two weeks. Dig to the backs of your cupboards. Everyone has bags of pasta back there that can be added to those veggies.

Have you run out of dish soap? Head to the bathroom and dig out those bottles of stinky shampoo that you bought but didn’t like. They make great dish soap! They can also be used as bubblebath.

You can also interchange shampoo with dish soap. I’ve used an unscented on occasion and it’s great, no allergies!

Run out of lipstick or toothpaste? Really? Now is the time to clean out your bathroom closets and drawers. Use up all that junk that you bought, tried and hated. No point in buying more when you already have supplies. Use up all those hateful products. Why not? They’ll do the job just fine. So you have to double rinse to get the smell/taste out, who cares? Don't lick your lips!

Clothes getting a bit tatty? I’m sure if you cleaned out your closets you’d find dozens of items that are in perfect condition. Styles don’t evolve as quickly as they used to. You’ll be fine at work.

I’m sure you have absorbed the idea now. Use what you have, don’t buy anything more until all the items in your home have been depleted. Repurpose, reuse, recycle and you’ll be well on your way to having your bills paid off by February. Have a Happy New Year!

The Green Man Challenge

During the recent VCON (Vancouver Science Fiction Convention) a group of writers decided to accept the challenge of writing a short story for The Green Man short story anthology.

I had to do research to refresh my memory about this ancient myth. It’s not a theme I would normally write about, hence the point of the publication. NO STEAMPUNK! the guidelines said.

I furiously whipped up an outline.

The deadline is looming ever nearer. This week I must finish my short story piece and send it to my Critters for review.

Next will be the revision and then my final goal is to submit it for possible publication.

Wish me luck!

History Re-imagined: The Victorian Conservatory

Both structures may be identical, but a greenhouse is for plants, while a conservatory is for human habitation. Originally designed around the 17th century, this structure was composed of stone columns and thin glass panes. It housed all the delicate plants the English brought back from exotic travels.

Closer to Victorian times the English adopted the word 'conservatory' to mean an external sitting room adjacent to the main house. Generally today a greenhouse is extant from the main house, while a conservatory is connected to the main house or building, such as a hotel, via a narrow or short walkway.

Conservatories gained popularity around the mid-19th century as the glass tax was lifted and wrought iron and steel became cheaper to source. The walls traditionally were composed of glass with metal reinforcements, but modern structures can be made of shatter-resistant plastic and cedar.

Shortly after spring cleaning commenced, the glass windows were polished, the floor scrubbed clean, and the tea service would be set up. A conservatory allowed the Victorian a sanctuary to get away from it all, without ever stepping foot in the street. The conservatory was generally closed up in the winter, the sumptous pillows and wicker furniture being cleaned and stored away until the next warm season arrived.

Queen Victoria's favourite conservatory was located at Chatsworth House, London. It took five years to build and covered over three quarters of an acre. It featured a tent-like shape, and was centrally heated and lit with twelve thousand lamps. The Queen declared, "It's the most stupendous and extraordinary creation imaginable". Queen Victoria wasn't around in 1920 to save it from being demolished. Costs were used for the war efforts, with its costly upkeep no longer justified.

If you don't have the space in your backyard to build a conservatory, the best place to see one is right in Victoria, BC. The Empress Hotel is home to one large connected conservatory, and was built with the hotel from 1904 to 1908. Take a lovely stroll in their English garden and forget about modern contrivances.

The Smart Things That Cats Say

Any cat lover will tell you how they have seamless communication with their cat. The slightest twitch of the ear, the shape of the tail, a quick glance all tell us what our cats want and what they are thinking.

Here are some quotes about our fabulous felines, because if cats really spoke, this is what they would say.

"It doesn't do to be sentimental about cats; the best ones don't respect you for it." - Susan Howatch

Every dog has his day, but the nights are reserved for cats.

"We have a theory that cats are taking over the world... just try to look them straight in the eye... yup, they're hiding something!" - Dog Fancy

Cat Law: If you're not receiving enough attention, try knocking over several expensive antique lamps.

"Cats pride themselves on their ability to do nothing." - John R.F. Breen

"The trouble with sharing one's bed with cats is that they'd rather sleep on you than beside you." - Pam Brown

"Cats come and go without ever leaving." - Martha Curtis

"I pet her, and she pays me back in purrs." - Star Richés

Dogs have owners, cats have staff.

Aren't these quotes catastic? It's no wonder that cats have a special way of commicating with their humans.