Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever

 I really love this movie, even though it has several plot holes big enough to drive the proverbial Mack truck through. Disclaimer: Grumpy Cat was my favorite celebrity cat, so I was already predisposed to love the movie.

The movie starts with Grumpy's commentary on Christmas and how much she hates it. The only Christmas song she enjoys is "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas" but it doesn't take long for her to get tired of that song. Every time the door of the pet store where she resides opens, the other animals all start thinking (via Grumpy, we can hear their thoughts) "Customer! Customer!" Grumpy, having been sold and returned twice, doesn't share their enthusiasm.

Then we meet 12-year-old Crystal, the main human character. (Grumpy is the star of the movie, as her name is in the title.) She volunteers at the pet store and knows just about every store owner in the mall and greets them all on her way to work.

The secondary plot is about a man who works as one of Santa's elves and is interested in Crystal's divorced mother. Crystal joins them as he's trying to convince her mother to come to the Mall's employee Christmas party.

"Mom, just say yes. He's been asking you out for weeks."

"Only if you go, too."

Crystal looks at the elf and finally agrees to go, even though it's obvious it's the last thing she wants to do.

Meanwhile, the new manager of the Mall is hassling the pet store owner about his past due rent. The store owner assures him the rent will be paid in full soon, as he has acquired Jojo, a dog worth one million dollars. At a press conference, he demonstrates the abilities of the dog.

While at the Christmas party, Crystal hears Grumpy Cat asking her to come to the Mall. She sneaks out and rides her bike to the Mall. She goes to the pet store to talk to Grumpy. She learns that Jojo has been stolen, which threatens the existence of the pet store. She and Grumpy set out to investigate.

Two wanna-be rock stars are the culprits. In a sporting goods store, Crystal shots them with a paint ball gun. Jojo gets bored and leaves the would-be thieves behind. They panic and try to find the million-dollar dog.

Crystal heads to the security office, where George, the security guard, is attached to his chair with duct tape. She frees him and he tells her two guys tied him up and stole his phone. He, Crystal and Grumpy go off in pursuit of the would-be thieves.  His phone suddenly goes off. The security guard was the mastermind behind the theft. Crystal grabs his phone and takes off with Grumpy.

Crystal calls her mom at the party.

"Mom, you need to call the police!"

Crystal and Grumpy get in a promo car and drive off in pursuit of the trio of would-be thieves. Before much damage can be done, Crystal's mom and the elf arrive along with the police. Jojo is recovered, the thieves are arrested, and all's well that ends well. 

On Christmas Day, her mother gives her Grumpy Cat.

"Grumpy, this is the best Christmas ever!"

"Didn't you read the title of my movie?"

Now for some of the plot holes. The pet store owner shows off his million-dollar-dog at the Mall, but when leaving the store, he doesn't bother securing the valuable dog who will save his store. The would-be dog nappers don't seem to have thought out how to pull it off. Using George's phone, Crystal asks her mom to call the police. Why couldn't she call the police herself?

I love this movie, However, I need to watch it when my husband isn't home, as he hates it.

6.5 out of 10.

New Writing Venture

 I have tried twice to submit stories to the Chicken Soup for the Cat Lovers Soul series. One was about our Maine Coon, Fluffy and the other was about our first ginger tabby, Streaky. Neither one was accepted. Of course, they only publish the series once a year and can only choose 101 stories.

I've decided to try again. The subject this time will be the cat I had for sixteen years, Sarah Jane. Yes, for any fans of Doctor Who among my readers, I named her after my favorite Doctor Who companion.

I've finished the first draft, which will undergo many edits before I'm satisfied. The deadline for submissions is March of 2026. Once I'm satisfied with it, I'll ask my husband for his input.

I'll keep my blog updated with my progress.

I'm hoping this time I'll make the final cut.

Overdue Update

 It's been too long since I posted anything.

A long time ago, I started a Wonder Woman/Captain America fanfic. Definitely a match made in comic book heaven! I've re-read what I've written and now it's time to continue the story.

I did Quantum-Con in May. I didn't cover the cost of the table, but I'm willing to try again next year. There is a show in July where I want to try to have a table.

I want to be more regular about posting - at least once a month.

Just a short and sweet update for now.

Japan

 My love for Japan started at least 58 years ago. In 1966, I received a doll named Jan, made by Remco. She was the Japanese friend of Remco's Heidi doll. That doll has literally gone everywhere with me.

Another childhood influence was a set of children's books about other countries. The first was about Japan and came with a doll dressed in a kimono. Sadly, I no longer have the books or the doll.

When the Sunday School assignment was to write to missionaries our church supported, I said, "I'll write to the ones in Japan!" I had a correspondence with them for a while.

The combination of these experiences made me wonder if God was calling me to be a missionary in Japan. I was told by a member of our denomination's missions board (who was a member of our church) that having type 1 diabetes made that impossible. I was crushed.

In 1999, through a friend, I discovered Sailor Moon. I later moved on to other anime series. I soon learned that dubbed anime hurt my ears.

Then I wanted to learn Japanese. I bought a Japanese Bible. I bought some instruction books. I took some community ed classes. For a time, I attended a Japanese church in Minneapolis. The pastor's wife once scolded her husband for talking to me in English instead of Japanese!

I love Japanese food, so I bought some Japanese cookbooks. I don't have them anymore, but I have been able to replace one of them. I'll look for more the next time we're at Barnes and Noble.

I decided once more to try to become a missionary in Japan, this time as a short-termer (less than 3 months). I was accepted by SEND International. I would be working at a Bible camp, Okutama Bible Chalet.  I had trouble with fundraising, which turned out to be a good thing. Once again, my diabetes kept me from the mission field.

My love for Japan still continues. I am still studying Japanese. I pray every day for Japan, for the Okutama Bible Chalet, for missionaries in Japan, and for how God wants me to be part of His plan for Japan.

                                                                            to be continued...

Interrupted Plans

I had hoped by now to be well on my way to success in Designs by Eileen turning a regular profit.

However, do to a serious medical condition (which I am recovering from more slowly than I would like) from almost two years ago, my progress on my work has been put somewhat on hold. I'm slowly beginning to create again, but have not been able to have anything new to sell.

Next year I hope to be ready to sell at the two MNCBA cons.

I'm in it for the long haul, so I'm going to keep on working!

New Plans

 To borrow a line from a song from the movie The Greatest Showman, "a million dreams are keeping me awake."

Among the new plans I have for Designs by Eileen:

Turn two stories I have I written into illustrated children's books using Kindle Direct (FKA Create Space).

One of our cats has become a poet. I plan to publish her poems  using Kindle Direct.

Another cat is becoming an advice columnist for other cats. She will have her own Facebook page once I have better photos of her. She is polydactyl, so her page will likely be either Dear Polly Paws or Ask Polly Paws.

I am sure ideas will come to me before long.

In Memoriam

 I had known Ashy for just short of five years. It didn’t take long for the tabby-point Siamese to become my favorite of the three cats my husband had when we got married. His favorite place to sleep was in between us. I sometimes called him Ashy-kins.

There were so many happy memories. He’d climb up in my lap and want kisses and petties, He’d purr and purr. There’s something incredibly comforting about falling asleep to the sound of a cat purring in your ear.

He had a great fondness for pizza. He tried to bat a piece of pizza out of my hand more than once  One time he stole a piece of pepperoni right off a piece of pizza on my plate. It was so funny I couldn’t be mad at him.

Eventually, the day came when could longer jump into my lap. He’d let me know he wanted to be in my lap. I’d say, “Oh, Ashy” and pick him up and cuddle him. He started losing control of his bladder more and more often.

As his condition worsened, I made an appointment with our vet. My husband had to go to work, but he gave me permission to make the hard decision if needed.

Ashy’s condition was to the point that the vet told me honestly the kindest decision would be him to let go. With tears in my eyes, I agreed. I held him to the very end, telling him was the best tabby-point Siamese ever. On July14, 2022, Ashy-kins crossed the rainbow bridge.

I will always love and miss him.