Dec
23
Excepting a few short outings here and there, I’ve basically been holed up in my house since last Wednesday. That’s a long time to be stuck inside a less-than-2000-square-foot space with unlimited access to baking supplies. Totally unrelated piece of trivia, did you know that it’s possible to gain five pounds in a week?
I would have thought that being housebound this long with the kids would have made me Homer-Simpson-something-something crazy by now, but it’s been . . . well, I do so love to complain, but truthfully it’s been kind of nice. Really nice, actually. The boys seem to have reached some kind of awesome stage where they aren’t so enormously different in ages and abilities, and I keep catching them just sort of contentedly hanging out. I can’t quite describe how it makes me feel to see them playing together or listen to Riley’s happy chatter interwoven with Dylan’s babbling. There needs to be a whole new language for that sort of joyous, heart-expanding goodness; it eclipses all things.
Before this snowbound business I had been feeling kind of sad about Dylan, about how he’s growing so quickly and entering into the realm of knowing what he wants and not being afraid to complain about it, often at ear-splitting levels. Where did my good-natured little baby go, I kept wondering, but oh, he’s still here. It’s easier to see it when life isn’t so rushed, that’s all. When we don’t have to run around all crazy in the morning getting everyone out the door, when evenings aren’t a stressful mess of hurried meals and tired kids and exhausted parents.
My mother and aunt were going to come for an early Christmas last Saturday, but we had to take a snow check. Now it’s unclear whether JB’s parents will make it, they’re battling their way up I-5 but last we heard they were in Salem and going about 30 MPH. We may be on our own for the holiday, and while that’s a bummer, we’re certainly not the only ones — I have coworkers and friends all over the place here in town whose family plans have been completely derailed by the weather.
We remain optimistic about the possibility of hosting a big family meal, though, and have picked up our Giant Hunk O’ Ham. No matter what, we’re certainly not lacking for food around here (see also: five pounds). And thus it’s time for that classic holiday game played throughout many cultures this time of year . . . CAT OR HAM?
Which weighs more, our cat?
Or a bone-in ham?
The rules are simple: you place your guess in the comments, I’ll randomly pick a winner from the correct guesses, you win an Interesting Prize.
You should know that 1) we did get Cat to stand on the scale with her full weight, and 2) my scale only measures to the pound.
CAT?
OR HAM?
** Comments closed! CAT OR HAM data being compiled now . . .**
Comments
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HAM! (Evil is, after all, weightless.)
I’m going to say Cat. I’m also guessing that Cat is a healthy 15 lbs or so whereas the Ham is most likely only a 12 pounder.
Of course, I could be wrong.
I got a Christmas card from my cousin in Vegas showing all the lovely snow on his house. It’s going to be 60* on Christmas Day here. THAT IS SO WRONG.
Well, if you’re going to have enough ham, the ham should definitely weigh more than the cat. Otherwise, you run the risk of a ham-deficient meal. Just sayin’. Never underestimate the power of pork for family bonding.
My money’s on CAT!
CAT CAT CAT CAT!!
Cat! The cat is cuter, too…
I am so glad that was the game and not whether or not you were going to eat the cat or the ham. I’ve been somewhat snow bound too and my mind does some twisted things ; )
I am gonna go for CAT definitly weighs more.
Happy Holidays and hope your relatives arrive safe and sound!
CAT! Happy Holidays to you and your family! =)
I’m going with the ham…
Hmmm, I have a 12 lb ham in my fridge and it looks much smaller than your ham – but cats can be heavy. I’m going with CAT!!!
We have snow, snow, snow too – I think 6 inches already today. Have not tried to get out of my driveway. And we (I use the term “we” loosely) made fudge and cookies today. Gah!
Cat! Your kitty is also very, very cute and also looks very, very suspicious. hmm.
Cat’s got some junk in her trunk, so I’m gonna place my bet on her. Don’t tell her I said that, though… I want to keep my nose.
CAT. Definitely cat. Happy Holidays, Linda. From a total stranger – I love reading you and you bring a little more joy to my life every day. I’m a liberal, married, 30-something living in Boston working in the tech industry, and it’s nice to read about someone whose life is so similar and yet so different at the same time. You are an excellent writer and your family is beautiful and adorable. Peace, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year.
CA
I’m going with the ham. I think Cat’s fur makes her look deceptively larger and that’s one big ham.
Gotta go with ham.
Ham!
This is hilarious. It’s so obviously CAT! And not just because I’m a vegetarian.
Love your pictures, as always.
I vote for the ham weighing more.
Cat weighs around 12 pounds. The ham is less than 10.
definatly cat, looking large kitty
Your pictures of your area are so pretty.
As for Cat or Ham, the Ham is bone-in and I would assume the Cat is also?
I’m guessing Cat.
That is one girthy hunk o’ pork. I SAY HAM.
My decision is based on my vast knowledge of felines and how their fur can sometimes make them look larger than they actually are.
Cat! almost looks ashamed and fearful that you might see how much she weighs.
Hmmm…ham looks bigger so I will say cat!
I’m going to go with ham. HAM!
Cat. For certain. I think.
Gotta say CAT.
I was going to be all contrarian and say ham, but then kind of did the math. Even at two pounds of ham per person (!), it wouldn’t make sense.
Cat FTW.
I love this – I have to go with ham.
The photos of the boys together are fantastic!
I say Cat. Man, this is going to be so hard on her self esteem if its the ham. Or even if its not! Just don’t let her read any Sweet Valley High books or anything.
Having never held a cat (violently allergic) but have held quite a few ham (hams?) …. I’m going to have to totally wag it and say a HAM? Aren’t cats really just a lot of hair?
Oh it is SOOOO the HAM. I’m sure of it.
Happy Holidays!
I have to go with the cat.
If your cat is anything like my last one, it’s totally the cat!
I took a household pole on this question: CAT wins!
Merry Christmas!
Ok, I am s-t-u-p-i-d and said “pole” instead of “poll”. I swear I graduated college..but after becoming a Mom I seem to have mis-placed my brain.
I’m thinking the ham, given how full a house you were expecting to feed for Christmas dinner.
I say Cat.
Ham, without a doubt. Plus cats are not to be trusted; I’m sure she lifted at least one paw off the scale when you weren’t looking.
I vote HAM.
Cat would be pretty funny, but a cat with its hollow bones (or is that a bird?), no matter how hefty, I just can’t see outweighing a fat pig’s butt.
I think cat.
Ham may be dense, but Cat is definitely denser. CAT.
Cat!
CAT.
Also: that picture of Dylan in the hoodie: Hello, Mini-JB.
I’m going with CAT!
I’m going to say CAT! BTW gorgeous pictures!
Ham…Kitties are not as dense as they look (pardon the pun) HAHAHAHA!
Aww! poor cat! He does not look impressed to be on the scales. Maybe he didnt want to know what he weighed?
I will go with cat. Just becuase of the look he is giving the camera.
mmmm, I lurve me a bone-in ham. Now MY cat may outweigh your ham but I’m guessing YOUR cat does not. So mark this as a vote for HAM.
I too am going w/CAT! :)
Totally the ham, even though you have a fat cat.