August Happiness Challenge – Day 29

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Today's happiness: I slept like a log! My Cubs are in Colorado, so the game didn't start until late. This gave me the opportunity to take a nap after work and I slept. I really slept!

Since Roy Hobbs' dental adventure on Wednesday, my sleep has been fitful. It was wonderful to doze soundly. 

 

Happy August Happiness Challenge!

 

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

Photo by Ayşegül Baykal on Unsplash

 

Greetings from Nightmare Alley

I'm not going to bury the lead here: I believe my cat, Roy Hobbs, is going to be OK. But I wish we weren't where we are, and it's causing me considerable stress.

He had dental work Wednesday morning. Two teeth were pulled. Because he is younger and stronger than my Connie Cat, and because she had nine (9!) teeth pulled a couple months ago, I thought his recovery would be easier than hers. I was wrong. Here it is, Thursday evening, and he's still not fine. No interest in food. His balance compromised.

I spoke to the vet tech this morning in a regularly-scheduled follow up call. She said that, since he's social and affectionate, he's probably just slower to recover from anesthesia and the trauma of being hospitalized. If he hasn't improved by tomorrow night, I'm bringing him in on Saturday as an emergency.

All I've done yesterday and today is look at him. I'm exhausted. I take naps but my sleep is fitful. I've been having nightmares, which is why, when I wake up, I don't feel refreshed. 

I don't remember much of the nightmares except that they aren't violent. Just frustrating. I recall bits and pieces of one where someone whose help I need claims not to know me. In another one, I'm squabbling with someone.

I know what's going on. I feel inadequate to provide Roy Hobbs with wise and deft care as he recovers. If I can't hide his meds in his food, I have to jam the pills down his gullet, which upsets him even more, but he won't heal without those prescriptions. I feel like someone else would have better judgement and a surer hand. I'm afraid I'm failing him.

I understand intellectually that I'm probably doing him no harm. If he was in severe pain or seriously struggling, he would hide from me and Connie. He's so happy to be home that he's been purring almost nonstop, enjoys me talking to/petting him, and lets Connie groom him. He's drinking, if not eating. All that is good and important.

But I'm impatient. I want him to be well. I want to do better by him.

 

August Happiness Challenge – Day 25

My 2025 Happiness Icon

Today's happiness: Purr. I admit it: Today was not great. It was just one of those days, you know? No baseball, weird shift at work, I didn't like this week's movie group film, my new shoes pinched ... I was going to have to dig for today's happiness. And then Roy Hobbs hopped up, placed his chin on my forearm, looked up at me and started to purr. Bliss!

Happy August Happiness Challenge!

 

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

Photo by Ayşegül Baykal on Unsplash

 

 

I won't always feel this way

That's what my shrink tells me. She went to doctor school and has never lied to me before, so I trust her. 

But it really doesn't help me all that much in the moment. 

Here's the thing: Everyone who doesn't have fur annoys me. Elaine is humorless. Betty is vain. Nancy is whiny. Joanna is pretentious. Considering that these are my friends, I know the problem is me and not them. I'm afraid that I'm morphing into my father, a joyless man who was angry all the time.  

No, she said. I haven't permanently soured on life. I'm just grieving. I miss John and Henry. 

But it's been a year! I got through birthdays and Christmas and New Year's without them. I don't cry in the shower anymore. I am able to remember the good times with them before the bad. Doesn't that mean I've healed?

No, she said. It means I'm healing. 

When I'm alone with my cats, I'm fine. It's when I'm around people – usually women I actually like very much – that things go south. I get grumpy and annoyed. I know my reaction is disproportionate, so I have to rein myself in. (I mean, last Monday I nearly stuck my tongue out at Betty!) Masking my feelings leaves me exhausted on top of being irritated. Makes me want to just stay home and commune with the critters.

"These women remind you that you're lonely," she said. At first I didn't get it. After all, I'm not lonely when I'm alone.

But it makes sense. I want these (comparatively) new relationships to replace the decades-long friendships I lost last year. They don't. They can't. And so I ache.

I have to maintain my commitment to socialize. Tempting as it is to stay home and cuddle the cats, it's not good for me to be alone that much. I can get too deep inside my own head and that's just not healthy. 

I didn't expect the grief to be so tenacious. I lost my mom more than a decade ago and that was shocking and painful, but the grief didn't cling to me like losing Henry and John has. 

Shouldn't I be fucking over it by now?  

There's no timeline to this, so I'm told. I have to take good care of myself, make sure I don't isolate too much. Drink water. Do my stretches. Keep my doctor's appointments. Find the joy that awaits me every day. 

And trust that I won't always feel this way.

Sunday Stealing

Let's Do Our ABCs

A. Auto No car

 
B. Bed size Full

 
C. Cats Two

 
D. Dogs None. I would have a dog if I could, especially now that I'm mostly retired. But only service and emotional support dogs are allowed in this building.

 
E. Essential start to your day Stretching

 
F. Favorite color Pantone 294 (aka Cubbie blue)

 
G. Gold or silver Silver

 
H. Hand you favor (righty or lefty) Righty

 
I. Instruments you play None

 
J. Job title Part-time sales associate

 
K. Kids None

 
L. Live (rural, suburb, city) Suburb

 
M. Meal plans None yet

 
N. Nicknames I only have one. I bestow them liberally, though.

O. Overnight hospital stays Two. Overnight in 2004, three nights in 2011. 

 
P. Pet peeves Right now I'm most annoyed with myself. I go over texts from my oldest friend – she has health/emotional problems – as though they were frames of the Zapruder film and maybe I'll find the solution to her problems. Of course I won't. She lives far away on the West Coast and never listens to me, anyway. I need to do what I can and then let it go.

 
Q. Quote from a movie "Signor Ravelli's first song will be 'Somewhere My Love Lies Sleeping' with an all male chorus." Animal Crackers

R. Regrets I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention.

 
S. Siblings Two sisters

U. Underwear Right now I'm wearing a bra and undies

V. Vegetable you love Peas

 
W. What makes you run late Bone-deep laziness

 
X. X-rays you’ve had Teeth, back, abdomen (lots of my abdomen)

Y. Yummy food Carbs. Breads and potatoes, especially

Z. Zoo animal Okapi

 

August Happiness Challenge – Day 9

My 2025 Happiness Icon

Today's happiness: Henry's "casserole," baseball and a caturday cuddle. Today, like yesterday, was a quiet day filled with little jolts of joy. 

 

1.  I ordered a deep dish cheese and sausage pizza from Lou Malnati's. It reminded me of my late, dear friend Henry. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, deep dish Chicago-style pizza genuinely confused him. "How is this pizza and not a casserole?" he would ask. I miss Henry so much, but remembering his unique way of looking at everyday life makes me happy. I was lucky to have him in my life for 30+ years.

 

2.  The Cubs really haven't been that good since the All Star Break. But tonight, they were very good, beating St. Louis 9-1. If you're not a baseball fan, you might not get how important that is. The Cubs and Cardinals are one of the game's oldest and most ferocious rivalries. It not only makes me happy that my guys finally got hot again, I'm happy that it happened in St. Louis.

 

3.  My Connie Cat watched the game with me, luxuriating in scritches under her chin and belly rubs. The affection that flowed between us was sweet.

 

So of course I'm happy.

 

Happy August Happiness Challenge!

 

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

 

Photo by Ayşegül Baykal on Unsplash

 

 

 

 

August Happiness Challenge – Day 2

My 2025 Happiness Icon

Today's happiness: Cat Video Fest 2025. For the third year in a row, my friend Elaine and I went to the beautiful old Music Box Theater to watch cat videos on the big screen. It's a delightful fundraiser for a local animal shelter. There's something so positive about being in a theater surrounded by others who are as into the experience as you are. Because it started at 11:30, there were a ton of kids in attendance and we were happy to see a little girl who brought her plush cat along to enjoy the movie. Afterward, Elaine and I had lunch at a new-to-me bar, Toons, and she offered to help me get a new faucet for my kitchen sink. That's Elaine. She's always ready to help.

 

Also, it was just a great Chicago day. On the train over this morning, I was surrounded by jersey-clad Cub fans off to Wrigley Field (I was happy there were still a couple Rizzos among my fellow passengers). The Lyft driver took Lake Shore Drive from the train station to the theater and so I got to see happy Chicagoans enjoying the beautiful lakefront – jogging, boating and a lot of volleyball. As I entered the train station to go home, Lollapalooza festival goers were arriving for tonight's concerts. Honestly, this is the best place to live! 💙💙

Happy August Happiness Challenge!

 

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

 

Photo by Ayşegül Baykal on Unsplash

 

Sunday Stealing

Spill It!

1. If money wasn't an issue, would you move to a new home? Maybe. What I'd really like to do is sublet an apartment, move in and renovate this place. I think doing all the work I want to – especially new flooring – would be easier if it was empty. (I fantasize about this when I buy a lottery ticket.)

2. Do you listen to different music when you're happy than when you're sad? No. I tend to listen to the radio, and they choose my tunes.

3. What's your favorite way to unwind after a tough day? Pop open a Coke and then take a nap.

4. What's the first book you remember from childhood? I remember my mother's voice as she read me Charlotte's Web. I remember reading this one myself on a car ride home from Springfield, where we visited the Lincoln sites. 

  

5. What made you smile today? My Connie Cat. For someone who doesn't have the gift the language, she makes her feelings abundantly clear. She touches my heart.

 

She's home and she's safe!

Not Violet. From the Amazon page.

I Facetimed with my grandniece yesterday.  It was lovely to see her nestled in my niece's arms, wearing the hat I sent her. 

The little one, whom I will call Violet, had a dramatic entry. Her birth mother developed gestational diabetes and it was decided that for her safety, labor should be induced. 4 weeks early! After nearly 24 hours, Violet still wasn't ready to make an appearance, so a C-section was deemed necessary. The little one was only 4 lbs. 14 oz., so she was kept in the hospital for a few days. Born on Tuesday night, she didn't leave the hospital until Friday. She's furry, with a blanket of fine colorless hair on her back. It's not uncommon for premature babies to have lanugo (<<my new word!) and my niece says she'll be sorry when it falls away.

I was pretty stressed out last week. A friend from high school died. My oldest friend is recovering from a long hospital stay. My girl cat had nine teeth pulled. And first I was worried that the birth mother would change her mind about the adoption, then that she and the baby were in danger. So I was happy to distract myself by shopping for this swaddle sack.

My niece and my late mother were very close. When my niece got married in 2020, it was my mother's wedding dress that my niece tried to emulate, and she wore my mother's diamond pendant as her "something old." So I figured that if she missed my mom on her wedding day, she would be missing my mom now.

Whenever one of those World Wildlife Fund commercials came on, my mom would say wistfully that she worried there would be no elephants left on earth for her (as yet unborn) great grandchildren to see. After her death, I received my mother's mail and I saw the receipt from World Wildlife Fund. My mom was perpetually broke, but she managed to find room in her budget to send a check to WWF.  So to bring my mother into my niece's life as she brought her new baby home, I found a baby burrito printed with whimsical elephants. My niece loved it. Violet is still too small for the sack but the hat fits and it made my niece happy to slip it onto her head. It made me happy to deliver a little joy via Amazon.

Now that my Connie Cat is home, my oldest friend is home, and Violet is home, I can relax and breathe easier.

 

 

Thursday Thirteen #414

The Amazon edition. I live in a building with 24 units. It seems that every day, the Amazon truck stops here at least once. This list includes items the driver recently left for me:

1. Gerber Ham and Gravy Baby Food (for my cat, Connie).

2. COSRX Pimple Patches.

3. Cafeteria Food Tray (I placed it under my cats' food dishes).

4. Blank Folded Cardstock Cards (used for my Letters Against Isolation cards).

5. Chap-Lip Lip Balm, 48 count (I include these in the "blessing bags" I share with panhandlers).

6. Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Cat Litter.

7. Hard Plastic Phone Case for Moto G.

8. 9Lives Wet Kitten Food, 4 Pack (the shelter where I adopted my cat, Connie, because they were running low)

9. The Body Shop Vitamin C Boosting Moisturizer.

10. Waterproof Sports Analog Watch with a Blue Jelly Silicone Strap.

11. Clorox Zero Splash Bleach Packs – 4 Pack (48 pods).

12. 100 Voter Postcards (for my Postcards to Voters campaigns).

13. MacBook Pro Charger.

 

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

 

Will Work for Teeth

It would appear that my entire salary for the year will go to dental work. For myself, so far this year, I've had root canals and lovely porcelain crowns on my front teeth. This changed my bite considerably so I needed a new mouth guard. After insurance: $3,900.

Today my Connie Cat had several teeth extracted. She had to be sedated, and there were x-rays and lots of sutures and meds for me to give her now that she's home. While I do not begrudge the vet a cent of this because Connie is now an elder stateswoman and we're committed to preventative care to keep her healthy and strong as long as possible, the estimate did make me blink. Hard. Twice. Her teeth were nearly as expensive as mine!*

So every 2025 paycheck from the card shop will go for dental costs. Oh well, it is what it is. I like my smile again and Connie is healthier as a result of the oral surgery. And I'm lucky I've got a part-time job I like.

Maybe I shouldn't think about what I've spent. Maybe I should focus on how many miles I've earned on my credit card! Maybe I can fly free to/from LAX next year. It's all in the perspective. 

 

*I don't have pet insurance. My friend Elaine swears by it, and for her it makes sense because her cats are both less than 3 years old. If I'd gotten Connie and/or Roy Hobbs as kittens, I'd look into it. But purchasing a policy for cats their age just isn't fiscally sound for me.

 

Photo by Siora on Unsplash 

 

Thursday Thirteen #410

The motor boat edition. Here are thirteen facts about that most delightful sound: the purr.

1. Technically, a purr is not a "vocalization." The mouth is not involved at all. Muscles in the larynx vibrate and the sound is emitted as the cat breathes in and out.

2. The most common reason why a cat purrs is happiness. A purring cat is the ideal representation of contentment.

3. Mother cats purr after giving birth. Newborns are deaf and blind, so that vibration is how mothers and babies bond.

4. Kittens start purring themselves within a day or so of birth. They use their purr to let mama kitty know where they are.

5. A purr can be a manipulative act. Oh, boy! Do I know this one! My girl cat, Connie, makes serious eye contact and purrs like mad when she wants treats. She knows she's cute and that I find her irresistible.

6. It's kitty self care. Vets report that their hum calms them and helps them recover from illness or injury. I know Connie purrs when she's scared.

7. It's helpful to humans, too. Studies have shown that listening to a cat's purr can literally reduce blood pressure. 

8. It's rare, but occasionally vets come across a cat that doesn't purr. This is unique to the cat. Purrlessness is not tied to any breed.

9. Lions and tigers do not purr, but cheetahs and bobcats do.

10. Elephants often purr when they eat. Some believe it's their way of communicating to the rest of the herd, "This is good. This is safe."

11. Guinea pigs purr when they're happy.

12. Like cats and kittens, mother raccoons purr to comfort their kits.

13. Julie Newmar, Eartha Kitt and Lee Merriwether also purred ... magnificently. 

 

 

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

She's an old girl

My Connie Cat is so lively, it's easy to forget she's 13 years old, or 68 in human years. Saturday's trip to the vet brought it into sharp relief.

I knew she was going to need dental work. I put $2,000 of my tax refund aside for this purpose. It's not going to be enough.

Because of her age and her health issues, simply getting teeth pulled is not simple. Today was the geriatric blood panel ($370). It was only the first step in the process. Next, she will have an electrocardiogram – needed because of her heart murmur. Finally, she can have the teeth pulled. Now we're closer to $3,000.

No, I'm not happy about this. But after those two bad teeth are gone, she will be more comfortable. And healthier. Those raw gums can be a gateway to infection, and in a senior cat, infections can get serious quickly. 

Plus, we're in this together. While I can intellectualize concern about the money and ramifications of anesthesia, she is going to be in terror throughout this process. This morning, when she realized I was putting her in the carrier, she gave out this sad, plaintive howl, as though if she asked, she could dissuade me. When I was checking her in at the vet, she began to sing because she couldn't see me. During the exam – which included having her abdomen palpated and blood drawn – she was silent, distant, terrified. Granted, she was over it within a half hour of being home with Roy Hobbs. But it was heartbreaking to witness in real time.

She hates being outside. She hates strangers touching her. Every trip to the vet is a torment she can't understand, and this dental adventure will include three vet trips. So as unhappy as I am, she is that frightened. But we will get through this together, Connie and I.

Photo by Sueda Güzeldere on Unsplash

Saturday 9

 Saturday 9: Mama Liked the Roses (1970)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Elvis tells us his mother loved tending the roses in the garden. Do you have a green thumb? I don't have a garden, but I do well with the potted plants I have hidden in my den. (If my cats knew they were in there, they'd say, "Hey! Thanks for the salad bar!")

2) Mama would put the roses in a vase in the living room. Do you have cut flowers in your home right now? Nope. I got out of the habit of having flowers at home because my cat Reynaldo would knock the vase over (snap) like that.

 
3) Elvis sings that he found Mama's rose petals pressed in the family Bible. Have you ever pressed petals in a book? If yes, what occasion were you commemorating? I've never done this.

4) OK, so now we know Mama liked roses. What about you? Would you prefer white, pink, yellow or red roses? I like yellow. I've never received white, but I think those are very pretty, too.

5) Elvis' own mother, Gladys Presley, had a major impact on pop culture. When her son was 11, he asked for either a rifle or a bicycle for his birthday. She deemed the rifle too dangerous and the bike too expensive, and so he chose a guitar instead. The rest is history. Tell us about a special birthday gift from your youth. I vividly recall the Addams Family game I received at my second grade birthday party. It was from Janet. She'd gone through Kindergarten and first grade with us but then her family moved – less than 5 miles away but a different school district. None of us had seen her since school let out the previous summer and when she showed up at my November birthday party, it was a massive big deal. I don't think I ever saw her again, but her attendance at my party helped all of us little girls adjust. I think my mom was very wise in making that happen.

6) Abraham Lincoln credited his stepmother, Sarah, for her lasting influence on his life, saying she ignited his love of reading and learning. Tell us about a woman -- mother, stepmother, grandmother, aunt, Godmother, teacher, neighbor -- who changed your life for the better. My cousin Rosemary. About a decade older than me, she showed me by example that there was a different path. She never tried to influence me, but she did always listen, encourage and support. I have tried to pay this forward and have always used Rosie as my role model when I spend time with my niece and nephew.

7) Mother's Day is almost upon us. According to the National Restaurant Association, we like to eat out on this holiday, with revenue up more than 80% on Mother's Day weekend. When did you last dine at a restaurant? Was it a special occasion? Just this afternoon (Friday) I had lunch with my friend Joanna at the bar in the Palmer House. It's a beautiful room, and one of her favorites. I suppose it was a special occasion in that the Palmer House is celebrating 100 years in this spot. I'm lucky to have Joanna remind me of places like this. She loves Chicago as only a transplant can (she moved here in 2001) and delights in things I can take for granted because they've been there my entire life.

 

8) Candles are a big seller for Mother's Day, too. What's your favorite candle scent? I don't do candles for the same reason I don't do cut flowers (cats). But I'm crazy about a pine candle we sell at the card shop each Christmas. If you stand in just the right spot in front of the display, it's heaven.

9) Sam is celebrating Mother's Day with her mother's favorite, Hershey Bars. Would you prefer classic milk chocolate, dark chocolate or chocolate with almonds? Milk chocolate with almonds.

 

 

SUNDAY STEALING

Time Travel

 What were you doing ...

1. Twenty years ago? In spring/summer 2005, my Cubs weren't doing so great, but my favorite-ever pitcher, Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, was back in Cubbie blue so I was happy. I think I had a nice office. The agency I worked for rearranged and moved us often, and having a good office had a major impact on my attitude toward coming to work. I was still a redhead and I still had a waist. My cats were Joey, Charlotte and Reynaldo.

2. Ten years ago? In spring/summer 2015, I was immersed in The Big Project. It was the highest-profile assignment, with the biggest budget, I would ever have in my career. I didn't know it then (wouldn't know until fall), but I acquitted myself well and it would be a success. Joe Maddon was managing the Cubs and the glory days were upon us. (I'm still a little in love with Joe.) Connie had just joined Joey and Reynaldo.

3. Five years ago? In spring/summer 2020, we were on Covid lockdown and I was obsessed with finding Cubbie blue masks. My cat Reynaldo really, really loved me working from home. I reread To Kill a Mockingbird, which was a good and inspiring choice, and rediscovered That Girl, which I loved as a little girl. I stopped wearing contact lenses because I didn't want to be touching my eyeballs all the time during a pandemic. I don't miss them and kind of like switching up glass frames.

4. One year ago? In spring/summer 2024, Anthony Rizzo hit his 300th homerun so I was happy. I had a wonderful time at the TCM Classic Film Festival, but so many of us returned home from the fest with colds/flu. This year I masked up for my flights and stayed healthy. I think that, like wearing my glasses every day instead of contacts, wearing a mask when I am on an airplane is my new normal. Catwise, it's Connie and Roy Hobbs.

5. Yesterday? Got my hair cut, had lunch with my nephew, bought my niece a Mother's Day card, and watched my Cubs kick Brewer ass.

Bonus! What will you do tomorrow? Monday I'm going to the dentist.

 

Thursday Thirteen #403

There's a national Pet Poison Prevention Week and this is it. I spend a lot of time at the vet, and I grabbed a handout from the ASPCA so I could share its contents. You likely have common household products close at hand that could be hazardous if eaten or inhaled by your dog or cat. 

This list is by no means exhaustive.* It's just my little red flag of warning to you fur parents.

1. Prescription meds

2. Vitamins

3. Lighter fluid

4. Tobacco

5. Detergent (dogs find pods quite attractive)

6. Fabric softener

7. Bleach

8. Drain cleaner

9. Oven cleaner spray

10. Paint thinner

11. Motor oil

12.Gasoline

13. Anti-freeze (dogs and cats like the smell, so be careful!)

*Here's what the ASPCA has to say on the subject.

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

Thursday Thirteen #397

 13 jolts of joy. Here are 13 things that never fail to make me smile, no matter what. With the nation going the way it is, it's important to cling to these little moments.

1. Seeing a friend's name on my landline caller ID. Everybody texts these days. I love it when someone carves out a little time to talk.

2. Getting off the train and realizing I'm in The Loop. Ever since I was a little girl I believed there was magic and excitement downtown. It doesn't disappoint.

3. Seeing my building as the train pulls in. I'm lucky to live so close to the station. Catching sight of my building, peering into the lobby, as the train slows to a stop always make me happy because in about 5 minutes, I'll be home.

4. When the three of us curl up together. My two cats are very independent and unpredictable. They go their own way for their own reasons. Yet about once a day, they both settle in around me on the sofa or in my bed. I can feel the comfort they take from one another and from me. I love this.

5. Starting a new book. Especially if it's one I know little about. It could teach me anything and take me anywhere.

6. Rewatching a favorite movie. It's like seeing old friends again. It surprises me how much faster the time goes by with a rewatch.

7. American Airlines e-shopping. How I love earning extra miles for shopping as I would anyway! I know I have earned enough to fly one way to LA this spring for the TCM Film Festival. Depending on which flight I book, I may have enough to fly round trip for free. YAY!

8. Singing with the oldies in the morning. My little shower radio is the best $20 I've ever spent. It brings me joy every morning.

9. A dash of cinnamon. I add it to my hot chocolate and to my applesauce. I do it as much for the scent as the taste.

10. The sound of a Coke can when I pop it open. Soon I'm going to feel cold bubbles on my tongue!

11. The crack of the bat. Especially if I'm listening to the ball game on the radio. Sometimes I know right away if it's a base hit.

12. Reaching that spot with the back scratcher. A couple weeks ago, when I dedicated a TT to dry skin, Liz A. and Kwizgiver recommended I get a back scratcher. How right you ladies were!

 13. Freshly sharpened pencils. It's a delight to see that thin line on paper.

How about you? What always coaxes a smile out of you?

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

Thursday Thirteen #396

Questions I'd ask my cats. My friend Elaine is fascinated by this video and shared it with me. It got me thinking about the furry friends I share my home with. If there was no language barrier between us, what would I ask my cats?

1. What do you dream about? I can tell sometimes when they're cat napping that they are dreaming. I wonder what visions play in their heads.

2. Am I your mommy? Elaine and I discuss this often. She maintains her cats think of her as their mother. I maintain my cats know I'm not a cat and therefore can't be their mother. Who is right?

3. Where do you think I go? When I exit through the front door, what do they think happens to me? I know they can't perceive of things like yoga class or a job. So do they think I'm chasing birds and climbing trees? 

4. Do you miss outside? I never, ever let my cats out. Not under any circumstances. My oldest friend thinks it's fine for her cats to wander around a fenced yard. I'm very inflexible on this. She's simply wrong. A cat can get spooked by a bug bite or distracted by a rabbit and suddenly find a way over (or through a hole in) that fence. Similarly neighboring stray cats (or worse, a coyote) can find a way over (or through a hole in) that fence. Anyway, I wonder if my cats miss grass and leaves.

5. Do you get bored? I put a lot of effort into mixing up their food so they don't get chicken or salmon too many days in a row. Do they care? Or would a 365/always-the-same diet suit them just fine?

6. Why can't your food bowl stay in one spot? We go through it almost daily: I put Constance MacKenzie's food down in the kitchen and she eats most of it. Then she leads me into the hall, beckoning me to bring her bowl so she can finish it there. This is obviously important and quite logical to her. Why?

7. Why do you love sleeping on paper? Next to boxes, my cats love paper best. I get the box thing. Small spaces make cats feel secure and in control of their environment. But why is napping on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet so satisfying?

8. What's with the left side of my body? Roy Hobbs always curls up to cuddle on my left side. Even if he has to pretzel himself to squeeze in while my right side remains open.

9. Why can't I cut your nails? Connie becomes The Amazing Cat with No Spine when I try to clip her nails. She'll flop from side to side like a fish on the floor of a boat. I don't understand this. She lets me touch her feet. She lets me look at her nails. But at the sight of the clippers she becomes passionately uncooperative.

10. Do you remember Reynaldo? Connie loved the skinny beige demon cat. They slept together entwined like a fur yin yang symbol. After he died, she was desolate, walking around the apartment calling to him. She plays with and grooms Roy Hobbs, but she's not in his physical space the way she was in Rey's. Does she miss him?

11. When you purr, is it sincere? Sometimes I think Connie purrs less out of affection or happiness and more in an attempt to charm me into giving her a treat. She can be awful cute and it often works.

12. What do you remember from your old life? I know Roy Hobbs was badly abused. Certain deep, male voices terrify him. Is that a sense memory? Or does he actually recall what he endured?

13. What could I do better? There are things that would be non-negotiable, even if requested. For example, I would never banish trips to the vet or provide an unlimited stream of treats. But I am committed to their happiness and comfort, and if Connie or Roy Hobbs have legit beefs I would be happy to mend my ways.

That's Mrs. MacKenzie on the left, Roy Hobbs on the right.

Oh, the conversations we would have!

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