Solid airfresheners. Like Renuizit, which we use. They're nice neutral, pretty much undetectable fragrences (I like Hazelnut vanilla the best, I think) that manage to block the daily cat smell. If it's Bad, you'll notice, and if it runs out, oh, damn do you notice it. We keep it on/near the cat box and it makes a world of difference.

Actually, the only thing that bewilders me is the title for the entry: "Gushing Lizards"?

Otherwise, that's a mighty fine group of writerly types.

Jon, that's me being too tired to remember to tell you all the details. There were two workshop stories that had a mention of lizards in them towards the end, and we were inspired by the different things they meant in the stories (I'd quote them, but since these stories are unpublished and not mine, it feels wrong to do so). So we started calling ourselves the shore lizards (actually, we talked about making up a name with lizard in it, but never really agreed on anyting other than "shore lizards" wasn't too bad). So, that's why I was all about the lizards in this entry. Sorry I forgot to give the backstory!

Note to self: do not update late at night when very tired.

Kitty LItter update: Thanks to everyone who suggested solutions! My stop-gap solution was a combination of a new scooper that bags the poo immediately and seals it (so it isn't stinking like it does when the bag is just twisted closed in the trash can), new liners with deoderant on the bottom (though I haven't tried them yet, since I didn't feel like changing the litter entirely last night) and, the best, Arm and Hammer kitty litter baking soda, which worked immediately upon sprinkling it on the just-scooped litter. Defintely combats the odor from the cat urine. Yay!

Mom, I have a covered litter box with a door, so I don't see it when they go. Also, our toilet and plumbing is so old I really doubt I'll ever be able to flush kitty litter in it. It makes it a lot harder, that's for sure.

The lizards thing, that didn't confuse me much. But what is it you need to know about male puberty?

Hey, my skill at martial arts is definitely not at the point where anyone needs to worry about surprising me. In fact, I hope that's never the case, as I would like to have more control than that. What I was trying to say, obviously ineptly, was that most of the moves that I know result in pain, and aren't useful in a playful sparring sort of way.

Sorry to disappoint you, Heather, but I'm definitely not that dangerous!

Re: Tim and the seashore, take him out sometime to a cornfield on one of those thunderstorm summer afternoons when the sun's still gleaming off the copper dome on the county courthouse but the sky's gone slate-dark and as the first fat raindrops start to fall a cooling wind is rising and rustling through the stalks in shining waves that stretch to the horizon... and leave him out there marvelling at it while you go into the air conditioning and watch a little TV and maybe make yourself a tuna sandwich, 'cause what's the big deal?

Or something like that. :)

Dan, there was a story that dealt with male puberty and we were all struck by how few stories actually deal with the physical changes boys go through. Girls, yes. Boys, not so much.

Jenn, you can't convince me you're not a badass, sorry! Heh. Sorry to have misrespresented how dangerous you are, though!

David, Tim tells me I told the story wrong, that it was the plainess of the shells I was presenting to him and the brokenness of the sand dollars that underwhelmed him. I love love love your description of a Midwestern thunderstorm, and it made me completely nostalgic. I think I've lived out here in thunderstormless California long enough now that I'd be the one standing in the cornfield, rapt, while Tim went to make the sandwich. Tim loves sandwiches!

I love sandwiches even more than thunderstorms. And we get plenty of thunderstorms (and have plenty of corn) in North Carolina, too.

And, yes -- I was struck by the fact that Heather was enchanted by even such plain and broken artifacts of the ocean. I get impressed by seashells, too, but only the very pretty ones, because I went to the beach often as a kid, while Heather did not.

It was a very evocative bit of writing, Dave. You're a fine writer. Hope you'll send us something for Flytrap 2 (guidelines and reading period for which should be announced over the weekend).

Badass? I thought she was a smartass. Hmm. Great pictures yesterday, Heather, and I can't wait to see the rest. I miss you, too, and everybody else. Y'know, there's this writing retreat house in Chelsea, Iowa which sounds really great. Except there's no beach.

Hey! Long time no post...

I'm sooo glad your writing vacation was all you hoped it would be! You've been wanting to do something like that for a long time. Hooray!

Kitties, kitties, kitties! I'm sure they're adorable. We have a new little baby, too. A teeny little yellow/orange short-haired striped guy named Simon. Olivia wasn't thrilled the first few days, but now they play and wrestle. She seems to forget that she's twice the size of him, though and he tends to win in a fight. :-)

I'm off to work a little more on Trading Spaces stuff. Glad everything's going well! Miss you!

You say the American Wedding movie/series was in direct contrast to the Chagall exhibit... but you know, the quote of your link ("That man is peeing on that pig's head!") could really be from either.

Karen, that's a very good point.

Kellie! Hi! Congrats on your new kitten! Simon sounds adorable. I was looking for your book recently and there's lots of Trading Spaces stuff - what's the title of some you've done? I miss you, too!

Sarah, glad you liked the pictures! You should tell MA about that house, as she recently asked about a Midwestern writing retreat house in her journal. I think there's going to be a third SH workshop next year.

And Dave, ditto Tim on sending us stuff for Flytrap 2! Our reading period started today! All of you should check out our guidelines and send us anything you have that you think might fit! http://www.sff.net/people/timpratt/flytrap.html

I had a feeling North Carolina might end up taking the novelty out of my thunderstorm. There’s something unfair about the way the Atlantic coast gets the ocean and the interesting weather.

I’ll definitely see if I can get something together for Flytrap this time.

Yeah, I told MA about the house, but have had no word from her yet. What a triumph it would be to have a SH workshop in....IOWA!! Hey, if you need a reader (besides your co-frolicker) for SWF, send it along.

Oh hell, Dave, the weather here in North Cackalacky is so fickle, you may get heatstroke one day and drenched with pneumonia the next.

The coolest aspect of NC weather was being up in the mountains last week when a thunderstorm rolled in -- the thunder was RIGHT ON TOP OF US, and the lightning hit about 50 feet from us, 4,000 feet up. Nifty.

As for interesting weather, well, Hurricane Fran put us out of commission for over a week back in '96.

At least in Seattle you have good coffee.

Empathies on the rug. Shawn and I got back Tuesday night after a week out of town to find that we had to wash all the bedding -- someone wasn't happy about our absence and decided to let us know.

Lovely. Good thing they're cute.