I have to bring the lampshades into town today. When the boy found out I would be making this run he asked me what time I had to be there. I told him noon. He then asked me "Well I want to build something, what should I make?"

Im thinking, how long does he think Im going to be gone? Build something? Wait, I just cleaned the house up pretty good. Wait, build something?

He wanted to build a cat bed in the window out of wood. This is when I described the general phyics of a wooden cat hammock vs. the bought metal cat hammocks. One has give, the other...does not. All I could picture was Joey jumping onto the built hammock at full speed and in turn, it not only rips off the wall but takes some of the window sill with it. Or atleast the huge gaping holes it will leave behind.

"Well what should I build then?"

Well honey, I just don't know.

A few minutes pass and he returns saying "Can I make the kitties something out of the cardboard boxes?"

Sure honey, but you're in charge of cleaning up the cardboard bits they chew off.

"You always think of something!"

It's true, i do. I guess I kind of stole his thunder and I feel bad for that but on the same hand...I really don't want to clean cardboard bits. Or deal with the cat hammock that ripped out of the wall. I also just don't want anything else unless it's to replace something we already have.

The best was the thought that ran thru his head when I said we needed a top to the litter box. "OH! I could make that!" and as I was giving him the look of ..oh c'mon...he said "yeah yeah, the wood will soak up the odors, I know."

Boys, here's a hint. If you're living in a small apartment with your girlfriend and you want to build something. Look around the house. If something is being held up by a milkcrate or the desk is made of an old glass door and you really really want to build something good...then think along those lines. And no, please dont make a lid for the garbage can out of wood.