At this time

I opened my Discover Card bill and found I owed $0 this month.  I love when that happens!  We never carry credit card debt.  I think we've done it once it all of our married life, and then it was for only a month.  In terms of debt, we have $3700 left on my car to pay off, and all of Aaron's school loan.  As for the car, I'm making double (or triple) payments; I'm going to have it paid off before the year is through.  The student loan is hefty.  And we're hoping Aaron can stay in a non-profit or government job for the next 9 years so he qualifies for loan forgiveness.  But we're only making small payments on that, since they're income based, and it's going on my income from last year.
We're actually doing really well financially.  So I'm putting quite a bit into our two savings accounts (one for actual savings, one large unexpected bills eg: vet).  Right now, while our expenses are still low, we're going to save save $ave.
My dad bought a new Prius today, a red one.  He has two cars (well, three right now): a 92 Dodge Caravan, and a 99 Toyota Corolla.  He selling the van this weekend.  Then he wants to replace the Corolla with a new Corolla in a year or so.
We got a new cat on Tuesday.  We named him Julius.  He's a three year old grey and white tabby.  He's still afraid of Fiona, but he's getting a little braver each day.  And he a big snuggle cat, which is nice.
I've made a new weight loss plan.  These are the rules for the next month:

1. Track all calories every day.  (I was doing this but not being very strict about it)
2. Maximum of 24 oz of diet soda a day.  (I am really addicted to diet coke, so setting a two can limit is a good start).
3. No sweets except on Sundays and special occasions.  (I'm also really addicted to sugar.  So this has been tough, but I know it's healthier to do without it)
4. If not running errands, walk or jog on lunch break.  (I'm lucky enough that I can eat lunch at my desk, then use my lunch hour as I please.  Sometimes I need to buy groceries, but most days I'm free.  And since I work alone most of the time, I can come back to work all sweaty and red-faced).
5. Ride the bike 4-5 times a week, aiming for 45-60 minutes at a time.  (I have my bike on a trainer, in the living room.  I can watch tv and petal away.)
6. Weigh in Sunday morning.

I'm hovering around 150, I think I'm currently 148 or 149.  I'm going to get back to 140.  Then I'll see what to do from there.  I would like to sign up for a 10k or half marathon.  But I think I might be healthy enough to get pregnant in the next few months.  I don't want to sign up and pay for something I might not be able to do.

All About Diamond Jim

In December 2011, I was looking at the Best Friends website.  I came across Diamond Jim.  He had been in the shelter since 2005.  They estimated he was born in 2000, he had FIV, only three teeth and he was looking for his forever home.
Somehow, I convinced Aaron that our home needed to be his home.

Best Friends flew him out from Utah.  He had a long day: a drive from Kanab to Las Vegas, Vegas to LA, LA to San Jose.  Poor guy was stuck in his crate for 10+ hours.  He cried this whole way home because he wanted out.

When we got home and let him out, he was very aggravated.  He was so tiny and skinny.  But he was strong.  He batted at us a couple times, with a powerful swipe. 

And he had to go see our vet the next day.  He was not happy to get back in the crate.  

 At first he didn't play well with the others.  Moss (who usually dislikes other cats) thought Diamond Jim was the bees knees.  He was happy to have a buddy, Diamond Jim was not.  He hissed, puffed and swiped.
The dogs were worse.  Zelda loves cats, generally they don't love her.  Fiona loves to play with Moss (they chase each other, play fight, and sometimes groom).  Diamond Jim didn't realize Fiona likes to play, and she had a scratched nose off and on.

He started out as a loner with the other fur-kids, but he loved Aaron and me from the start.  He was such a love.  He loved nuzzling, and was the perfect lap cat.
He had a habit of lasering in on our hands and headbutting us until we'd pet him.  He'd do it when we were sleeping.  Or come by and nap around our heads.  He was a love.

 Since he was small, he loved getting into small spaces the others couldn't fit.
He was also sneaky and quiet.  There were many times he got kicked or almost stepped on in the dark because he was always swirling around our feet.










He had a lot of nicknames.  This was all me, I love nicknames.  Jimmy-Jimmy, Jimmy-James, Old Baby, Slim Jim, Skinny.

He and Mossy did become buddies. They would play fight.  I think in the beginning it was real fighting.  Towards the end it was just posturing.

Jimmy-Jimmy liked Moss a little too much sometimes.  He may have been gay, and humped Moss' hip on a few occasions.  Moss didn't mind.

 He loved laying in the sun.  He often would sneak into the backyard, and try to munch on grass.  He would explore: in the garage, in the sink, in the closet, under a blanket.  Always curious, even in his old age.

 He loved people food.  He was always sneaking stuff off our plates.  He loved pretty much all food, but he wasn't too keen on cat food.
He was pushy about it.  He would repeatedly jump on the table to get our food.
One time Aaron had beef stroganoff and he, quick as lightning, took a swipe at the bowl and took off with a big chunk of beef.  A few minutes later he came back to try it again.

 He would often "sing".  He didn't whine, or meow much.  But when he found himself alone he would sing (like cats do when they sit on a fence).  At first, we thought he was distressed.  We'd find him, and he'd give us this look that said "what do you want?"

Diamond Jim, despite having him for only a little over a year, was our most expensive guy.  He had quite a few health issues over our time together.  Mostly tummy issues, he was often barfy.  So he lost weight over time.

I hope he was happy here.  We loved having him.  We did the best we could. And what we wanted was for him to have a home, and not spend his whole life in a shelter.  We gave him a family and a real home.  He gave us snuggles, smiles, and fun memories.  We will miss him.