Stepping Out: Spooky Cookies, An Epic Thrift Score, & Criminal Cats

Happy Tuesday, 'bots! I bring you the mug shot of an unrepentant criminal:

Last night while I was trying to read in bed this little gremlin yowled at the door until I let her in, then scrambled over my book and rubbed poop on my arm, and finally - while I was scrubbing myself clean in the bathroom - gnawed off the ribbon bookmark attached to my book. I came back just in time to see her slurp it down, looking extremely satisfied with herself.

So now we're on poop patrol for the next 48 hours, and why do we put up with this?

Oh, right, that's why.

Still. HARRUMPH.

(Y'all send good poop vibes our way, yeah?)

Meanwhile I'm writing this post with my keyboard in my lap:



... because Suki has decided I can't work without her RIGHT HERE. She bullies her way up, stepping on the keyboard if I don't snatch it away, kicks it off into my lap, and then closes her eyes like she can't hear me yelling at her, purring loudly enough to rattle the monitor stand.

CATS.

In happier news, we've had a run of "bonus winter" down here in Florida, with temperatures dropping all the way to the mid-60s.

[I'll pause here for you northerners to sputter indignantly and tell me how cold it is there, ha]

While everyone else was breaking out the boots and sweaters, I was bopping around in my latest and greatest thrift score:

It's so cozy, y'all. And it was only $6!

 I wore it on our community zoom call the next day, and started a trend. One by one, everyone paused to go put on a silly hat or hoodie, and it. was. GLORIOUS.

I'm missing one more person here, but you get the idea. Joy sparking joy.

I found the onesie while thrifting with my mom for the first time in nearly three years. She and my dad are full-time RV'ers and Covid kept us apart, so shopping together was a nice reminder of the before times.

I know y'all love my mom, so here's a photo I took while trying to convince her to buy the cardigan she's wearing. (There weren't any mirrors.) I have no idea what I said to make her laugh like this, but it sure makes me happy:

*****

More silliness: John and I surprised our friend Tim with an early birthday party a few weeks ago.

... and then we got to surprise him on the day of last week at Disney Springs:

Tim is one of my favorite people: endlessly enthusiastic, interested in everyone, and just the right amount of zany. If you ever need a tattoo in Orlando, hit him up.

I'm still getting used to being out in crowds, so it was surprisingly wonderful to have so many smiling people approach us that afternoon to wish Tim a happy birthday. We were such a colorful crowd - trailing enormous balloons - that we were impossible to miss, and people's faces lit up as we passed by. One shop employee burst into song. An older man, beaming, announced it was his 70th birthday, and bought Tim a drink.

Maybe going out in public isn't so terrible after all. Sometimes. If the public place is Disney.

Here's my outfit, btw:

There's a pretty koi fish on my shirt - I was going for a tattoo homage.

Speaking of pretty, we wandered over to the famous Gideon's Bakehouse, want to see?

There's always a long line out front, so plenty of time for photos. See the lil' stone gargoyle on the upper left?

Gideon's is famous for their cookies, which look like doughy softballs rolled in chocolate chips.

I tried a bite of one once, and it tasted like it looks. Which is to say, like a bag of chocolate chips loosely held together with dough. ::shrug::

There's more to Gideon's than their cookies, though; inside is a dark, spooky lair straight out of a Tim Burton film:

Cages and lanterns hang from the chipped wooden ceiling, and the walls are covered in looming, crooked bookcases:

Everything is lit in red:

... and looks more like Halloween Horror Nights than a Disney Springs bakery:

 

Plus look at the registers!

The only things NOT bathed in hellfire are the bakery displays:

The cakes look amazing, but I didn't want to chance trying one without an ingredient list - or hold people up by asking. Maybe next time.

Gideon's also features artwork by Florida local Michael Reyes of Terribly Odd:

The entry walls are covered in his paintings, and Gideon's also sells t-shirts, prints, and some of the best brand enamel pins I've ever seen:

Super cool.

 I also dig this cat:

So hey, even if you aren't interested in the baked goods, Gideon's Bakehouse may be worth standing in line for, just to gawk.

****

I'll leave you with a few more Suki pics, since I had a mini photo-shoot of her in a sunbeam:

This is in front of our fake stained glass doors, so the light is a fun purple/pink.

EPIC WHISKER SHOT

SLIGHTLY PRETTIER EPIC WHISKER SHOT

Now, question for you: what's the silliest thing you've ever done in public? I've been dared to wear my Care Bears onesie out for St. Patrick's day this Thursday, and if the temperature isn't too sweltering, I just might, ha. Although I'd probably wear a mask, too, so no one can see me blushing. Tell me your own stories, to make me brave!

*****

If you like the silly stuff I do and feature here and want to help fund the fun, you can support me through Paypal! Whether it's a one time tip or a monthly donation, every little bit helps me and John keep pouring our time and hearts into this little corner of the internet - so THANK YOU.