...actually, that's not true at all. I don't think basil is lame. I like basil. A lot.

I know my presence here has been sketchy lately. And I know I completely flaked on this week's Oh, Betty! post.

You may commence flogging now.

But really, all of this absentia is totally worth it because I've got some good stuff going on.  Read more about me = lame like basil

Today, I begin a brief but much-needed reprieve from Christmas. I know the Holiday Mall is a mere 15 days away, but Halloween is in only ten. (I can count! Who's impressed?!?)

Given my flair for the dramatic, it's probably no surprise Halloween is my absolute favoritest holiday EVER. Or that my favoritest part of Halloween is...costumes.

I *heart* costumes. Read more about All the world's a stage and we need costumes - Part 1

Meet Harley and Jake, who I acquired when we bought our house four years ago. As soon as we became homeowners, our first priority was not furniture or appliances--no, we wanted livestock. My husband wanted a "substantial dog"; I wanted a cat. The dog was an easy find--a local shelter often put their inmates on display in front of our neighborhood pet supply store, and when we drove by one Saturday, there she was. The cat, however, was not such a simple acquisition. Read more about there's no such thing as a "free" cat

I just found out yesterday this was National Mental Illness Awareness Week.

How did I not know this?

Not that I'm unfamiliar with mental illness--me and mental illness are tight. If you want to know how tight, take a look-see at my other blog. (Although I will warn you, it's not nearly the shiny-happy Rainbow Brite celestial garden this one is. It's kind of the Anti-ThisAin'tDenny's.)  Read more about Hug a Wingnut Week!