The cat who came to breakfast

Remember Wellington?

Well, this isn't him, if I compare his markings with the cat who used to show up (and I haven't seen since last winter).

This morning, I was getting ready to travel to Jersey City for lunch with a friend when I heard crying from the front windows. I looked out and there was this little black and white cat, crying his heart out. I shook Josh awake and showed him, and there was a moment where he asked me if he should get the cat and he didn't have to wait for an answer from me.

He left, but the cat had started walking up the street. I followed after Josh a few minutes later and when I got to the sidewalk, I saw Josh coming back from the top of the street, with the little cat trotting beside him. He came back to our building, where we fed him and got him into a carrier. My lunch plans went kablooey and I went to the vet with the little guy.

$170 later, he's dewormed and tested negative for feline leukemia and AIDS. Everyone at the vet's office was asking if he'd found a home with us, and he is such a sweet and affectionate little guy. However, our apartment is too small for three cats, even though I'd love to keep him. It would've been quite the Christmas story if I did get to keep him. Josh's parents already freaked out when he told them, saying that it was ridiculous to spend any money on a stray, and "what happens when the next stray cat comes along?"

I'm e-mailing someone I know who wants a cat (hers passed away a couple years ago), and hopefully she's checking her inbox this week, so she can come meet him. I know that if she meets him, she'll want him for her own.

Awesome

My brother is the best. For Christmas, he gave me something totally over the top, that I never expected to receive.

The complete X Files series on DVD, including the movie.

Too awesome. My brother, I mean. But X Files is awesome too.

Eli-Weli update

We took Eli for his second follow-up appointment last night. His September appointment's test results revealed remaining grit in his urine and the pH balance wasn't acidic enough. The vet kept him on the Hill's Prescription S/D food, which we fed Eli until about two weeks ago when we ran out. I figured we'd feed him the S/D kibble and Morty's canned Wellness food until the next doctor appointment rather than buying another case of expensive prescription food that we might not need.

Eli was a good boy at the vet's, weighing in at 13 lbs. I hope he doesn't get much heavier. He did not enjoy having his temperature taken, and stuck his tongue out at the vet after she examined his gums. Thankfully, they were able to get a urine sample (vet was worried with Eli's bladder not being very full); otherwise, I would've had to wait around for Eli to pee in a specially prepared litter box and collect the sample myself and bring it to the vet.

The vet called me this morning and said that Eli's test results are "fabulous" and that we should keep feeding Eli the way we are and he doesn't need another follow-up appointment. I'll probably be a little anal though and bring him back for another urinalysis in 6 months. The price wasn't too bad either, totaling $87 for follow-up and urinalysis. Not too bad considering it's a fancy Park Slope clinic.

Cute flatware

My brother went on a business trip to Korea a few weeks ago and he got me the loveliest souvenir! He gave me a set of stainless steel chopsticks and long spoons (if you eat at Korean restaurants, they're at every place setting) with cute chopstick/spoon rests.

Sniff! My little brother is so grown up now!

Happy Hanukkah!

I love potato latkes. It's my favorite Jewish food. Matzoh ball soup can't compete (sorry Josh's mom). Since Tuesday was the first night of Hanukkah, what better night to try my hand at making latkes for the very first time? I once watched Josh's dad make them, and I helped fry them, so I knew it wasn't that hard, especially with the help of a food processor. Turns out making latkes is so easy, and doesn't require anywhere the amount of oil I thought it did. And it also turns out that Josh thought they were delicious. When I'd turn around to put another bunch to drain, the previous batch would already be gone.

Here's the recipe I worked out:

Ingredients

3 peeled large Idaho potatoes (not the super ginormous super baked potato size)

1/2 medium yellow onion

3 Tbsp flour or bread crumbs (Josh couldn't find any matzoh meal at the market)

2 eggs

1 1/2 tsp kosher salt

Black pepper (to taste)

Vegetable oil

Grate the potatoes and onions. Using a food processor with grating disk is the fastest and easiest way to do this (also easy on the eyes if you're a weakling with onions). Squeeze as much moisture as you can out of the potatoes and onions. I just squeezed it out over the kitchen sink. Don't worry about trying to get it bone dry. Using a salad spinner would work too, like in that Good Eats episode where Alton Brown made potato roesti. However, I was lazy and didn't want to wash more dishes.

Then mix the salt, pepper, flour/bread crumbs, and eggs into the potato mixture. Heat up your pan of choice and pour in 2-3 Tbsp of vegetable oil. Drop in 2-3 Tbsp of your latke mix and flip when bottom is golden brown and delicious. Remove when second side looks good too. Serve with apple sauce and sour cream. I prefer the apple sauce.