I was raised with the knowledge of slamming gates

[sovay]

First half of today: insomnia, work, dentist's appointment, ongoing hassle with insurance, canceled appointment; sucked.

Second half of today: handful_ofdust posts some Leslie Howard and Peter Lorre for me and derspatchel and I broil salmon and scallops for dinner, our first attempt at seafood (a) together (b) in a house with cats. We may have cheated slightly by shutting the cats in Rob's office while we cooked, but they don't seem to be holding it against us—I have two sacked-out, softly purring cats in this basket chair behind me as I type. They seem to like sleeping on my clothes. Hestia used to curl up on my sweater until I moved it, after which she started curling up on my leather jacket. If I'm sitting at my desk, Autolycus drapes himself across my knees and dozes off as I work. Rob thinks the way we smell is familiar to them. I have difficulty expressing how protective I feel toward these cats. Djavvy and her children were the cats of my childhood; I grew up sleeping in the scent of their fur and the sound of their purring, but I was never responsible for them. These are the cats of my adulthood. I take care of them. And they did not interfere with any of our very delicious, buttery, crisp-skinned salmon and the sweetest scallops I have eaten in years. Second half of today sucked a lot less, is what I am saying. There was even a lemon.

Postscript, because I was finishing up this post when I followed the Facebook link. It happened in April, but I just found out that The Shondes—a queer Jewish activist punk band of which I have been quite fond since discovering them in March—were banned from the Washington D.C. Jewish Community Center for their political views on Israel and Palestine, i.e., for being pro-Palestinian. See this interview, comments, and open letter by the band. DCJCC, what the hell. Problem of which this incident is the microcosm, ditto.

Comments

[larryhammer]

Most of our cats have liked sleeping on/in clothing that has not been washed. One, also, loves just-washed clothes -- especially just from the drier, even in high summer, I don't even. But shoes and just pulled-off socks are often of high interest to cats, as well as general clothes.

---L.

[sovay]

One, also, loves just-washed clothes -- especially just from the drier, even in high summer, I don't even.

I was prepared for them to want to sleep in clean laundry! Autolycus in fact finds the laundry duffel fascinating and periodically attempts to climb inside. It's their fondness for clean clothing that has been lying in the basket chair for several days while I cope with the fact that we don't really have a dresser right now that puzzles me. It's not even warm.

It's also the way they stretch out when they sleep in the basket chair. I am used to cats curling up to sleep. On a clothes pile, they elongate. It's like they're secretly made of accordion. They have such elastic spines.

[larryhammer]

One sign of moving into late spring is sleeping stretched out -- and of summer, stretching waaaay out on the tile floor. Always curling back up is a return of solid autumn (which comes late in these parts).

They are made of accordions bound with rubber bands.

---L.

[sovay]

One sign of moving into late spring is sleeping stretched out -- and of summer, stretching waaaay out on the tile floor. Always curling back up is a return of solid autumn (which comes late in these parts).

I had no idea they had so much in common with caterpillars.

They are made of accordions bound with rubber bands.

This I believe!

[spatch]

They love to stretch out when you pet them so that there's more cat to pet! All other times, I don't know. I do think a cat stretched out sleeping on its back is one happy, safe, comfortable, and adorable cat so they know that works in their favor. Can always get an "Awwwwww! Come see!" out of us. Clever kitlets.

[sovay]

I do think a cat stretched out sleeping on its back is one happy, safe, comfortable, and adorable cat so they know that works in their favor. Can always get an "Awwwwww! Come see!" out of us. Clever kitlets.

SO MUCH VULNERABLE UNDERBELLY. SO MUCH TO PET. SO MUCH PURR.