Black Cat - One, Paws - Six

I made a new friend in my complex today - a black cat with...abnormalities.

On the two front paws there were like...extra paws. I thought originally it was just a 6-toed cat, but it honestly appeared to have the beginnings of an extra paw on each side where the "thumb" would be. The back paws each had 6 toes.
Ironically, we met as Mutant was chilling on the power generator. If we meet again, I will definitely take a photo, but this time around the decrepit man in his eerily squawking walker scared little Mutant away.

If a black cat is supposed to be bad luck, then is a paranormal black cat even worse?
I have since learned from my dearest vet tech Andrea that Mutant is simply polydactyl. The 6 paws thing was way cooler.

Temper

If you have a bad temper, is it like being an alcoholic?
Once you are an alcoholic, you are always one, even if you haven't had a drink in ten years.
So, if you used to have a temper, but haven't had a tantrum in ten years, does that mean you still have a bad temper, you are just ten years sober?

I think about you in the Summertime

For those of you who are totally not hip with the times - that subject is my homage to NKOTB! Is it just me, or has your former love for them turned into a little creeped-out-edness?
I thought I'd just post some photos for those of you who don't have Facebook and want to see what I've been up to. Some are old friends, some new...but all of it has been fun!

Bad things come in sets of three

My family has a superstition from way back in the day that bad things come in three's. At least this means my latest round of bad things is over.

1. I had to tell "Zuko" on Sunday that things are over forever and ever and I need him out of my life. I knew he wasn't the best for me, yet I felt this unexplainable magnetism towards him, I still do. He and I just connected, we felt that "click" if that makes any sense...I've only felt that twice in my life before. He kept emotionally holding me just close enough to keep me from progressing. He knew it, yet kept doing it unconsciously. How can you say goodbye to someone forever when they live across the street, go to your ward, go to all the same grocery stores, and go to all the same activities? I unfriended him on Facebook, which is, like huge. This is going to be a challenge.
How do I keep falling for guys who don't want me, yet can't let me go? I just want someone to really love me. Yes, you heard it here first, Larissa is done being single.

2. I also have a friend who is, hmm...larger than the average bear. He has done a very nice job of wearing in my new couch cushions so they are no longer stiff, but mushy and somewhat flattened. I sit on my 4-month old couch last night where he always sits and I hear a strange noise. I look under the couch to see that the couch is indeed broken. I know it is rude, but I had been fearing this. What do I do now? I will call the store and see if they'll repair it because it is under the normal wear and tear category, but it is white, so if they take it out of my place it'll come back all smudged up. That still, also, doesn't get me out of the awkwardness that will exist when I have to tell big bear to not sit on my furniture. Any suggestions? And what if they won't fix my couch?

3. I have to have at least $1,000 of repairs done to my car. They aren't things that will make the little '93 Honda Civic stop running now, but in a couple of years they would. I have a great friend who is willing to do all he can and I'll just pay him extra for labor, so I still come out at about half the price of the shop (blessing alert!). Why not get a new car? Eh, I'd rather just pay this amount once per year and have low insurance, than have to pay $250/month for a new car plus double the insurance. I'd also like to keep the car as a back-up when I finally get a new one, so I'd want to make these repairs anyway.

The View

I realized I never posted photos of my bachelorette pad. I love my place, although it is nothing elaborate - I'm surrounded by calmness and relaxation. Everything looks about half the size it really is in these photos, but you get the idea...

Seriously?

Don't you all worry your pretty little heads off about my seriousness of that last post - it was a joke! Kind of...

On another note, "Zuko" from a previous post left flowers at my doorstep Saturday night. Purple flowers. Crazy enough, I had been holding purple flowers earlier that evening and saying, "I never want flowers, but I just really really want flowers tonight." I put them down and went home and lamented about wanting flowers again....then I found the purple flowers from "Zuko." Weird, much? He also blew kisses and stuff at me all of church on Sunday, but I told him later he needs to knock it off unless he knows he wants to be with me. He apologized and has since knocked it off.

I passed an entire truck bed topper/roof thing sitting in the middle of the highway yesterday. Miraculously, no one hit it or got hit by it.

I found some more exciting pictures of my rafting adventure I thought I'd share with ya'all.

My List

You know how they always tell us to throw away our lists? Well, I did that when I was about 19 and my dating life has been, hmmm...dramatic to say the least...ever since.
So, I'm rebelling. Here is my list for all to have and to hold.
Main Squeeze Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love candidates must receive a passing score of 70% of higher.

• People love him
• My head and heart don’t argue falling in love with him
• Reassures me/calms my fears
• Surprises me in thoughtful ways
• Lets me surprise/serve him
• Doesn’t flagrantly flirt with other girls
• Athletic – not just watching
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Softball
• Never any major transgressions
• Stable familial Relationships
• Doesn't accept phone numbers from other girls, let alone on a regular basis
  
• Introduces me to new things
• Physically Attractive
• Likes curvier women, but not “large” women
• Good eating habits
• Reads scriptures regularly
• Ice cream
• Let’s me cook for him
• Will cook with me
• Will clean with me
• Not itching to pop out children
• Loves travel
• Loves to try new things
• Kisses – soft, yet firm, not slimy
• Playful
• Bishop thinks he’s a good pick
• Doesn’t make me believe I’m crazy
• Entertaining in groups
• Makes me laugh
• Smiles when he sees me
• Gives me “the look”
• Comfortable with intimacy
• Intelligent
• Able to hold intellectual conversations
• Very devoted
• No wandering eyes
• Rock-solid testimony
• Excited about life
• Loves people
• Will tolerate my kitty just because I love her
• Can 100% confidently know he will never cheat
• Temple marriage – no other option
• Worthy priesthood holder
• Patient, patient, patient
• Understands women’s hormones are not understandable
• Never uses nicknames like “ball and chain”
• I don’t have to qualify anything about him to anyone
• Doesn’t carry around photos of ex’s
• Has guy friends, not just girls
• Good Job or good job potential
• Educated or plans therefore
• Communicates with me
• Complimentary languages of love
• Enjoys movies
• Realizes I will be his family and doesn’t ignore me for them
• Supportive of my career and happy for my success
• Passionate about music – hopefully some of mine
• Will see Broadway shows with me
• Dances or willing to learn with me
• Sense of reverence and awe for the world around us
• Can talk with me anytime, about anything
• Decisive
• Familiar with technology
• Handy around the house
• Handy around a car
• Gentleman, but not to the extreme
• Gets excited about something just because I am
• Inspire each other to better ourselves
• Strong work ethic
• Outgoing
• Confident
• Okay with my freakish organization habits
• Family members tease him and trash talk, but don’t have any real “dirt”
• Not secretive about outside communications (phone, e-mails, etc.)
• Supports my daily gym habit
• Knows how to budget
• No unsubstantiated excess debt
• Optimistic
• Spends time with me – just the two of us
• Wants to know about my life and excited to experience it
• Appreciates my sense of humor
• My friends/family members don’t have any red flags
• Lets me know I am beautiful/attractive
• Teases me, but knows the line
• Will tolerate shows I like that are ridiculous - Golden Girls is the first that comes to mind
• Proud of me, you know, wants to show me off
• Wants to work for me - thinks I am a prize to be won, not a second choice
• Tells me he loves me on a regular and frequent basis
• Self-control
• Tender-tempered
• Realistic expectations of child care/discipline
• Relatively clean/neat
• Good personal hygiene
• Not a whiner
• Good father potential
  
• Doesn't try to change me
• Appreciates my family and all the craziness we are
• Has goals in life
• Likes to snuggle
• Compliments others, but not more than he compliments me
• Not likely to get into a physical or verbal fight
  
• Willing to have a weekly date night
• Willing to spend time apart when we each need alone time
• Has activities and hobbies of his own
• Not scared of spiders and mice and other creepy crawlies
• Musically inclined or talented in some way
• Doesn't have to tell me how great he is
• Gracefully accepts the things in life we have no control over (like if I accidentally step on his toe)
• Healthy
• Hasn't kissed so many people he can't even begin to count them all (I've dated three people like this and they were all trouble)
• Recognizes me for the strong, spiritual daughter of God I am
• Good sense of style - dresses well or lets me dress him well:-)
• Let's me be independent when I need and dependent on him when I need
  
• I don't feel like I am settling in any way

White Water Rafting and Bigfoot

I went white water rafting for the first time in my life August 9!
My friend, Ashley Anderson, with only 3 days-notice I was coming to visit her in Idaho, hooked us up with her friends who raft. We went down the Hoeback in Wyoming, then headed to Jackson Hole for dinner. I had a blast!

Flash

My sissy is in town visiting from Ohio.
Yesterday a couple of friends came over for dinner after church.
I walk around the corner and see my sis talking to my sweet, innocent friend Johnny Hardy. My jaw then drops in horror. I cover Johnny's eyes.
Brit's dress was strapless, but covered by a conservative cardigan.
Unfortunately, the dress had fallen down to her waist and she was standing there gabbing away, dress at her waist, flesh exposed, black bra blaring - even the cardigan couldn't save her.
Nothing like dinner and a show:-)

Drive-By

Last Friday I was driving down 700 East on a beautiful, car-windows-down, wind-blowing-in-your-hair kind of day in SLC.
I look to my right and two cars over I see my friend Aaron Alsop, whom I haven't seen in about 4 years! I yelled his name and, since it was a windows-down day, he heard me! He and his wife were yelling back and forth with me until the light change and they turned off into the distance for another 4-year absence.