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

[ashlyme.livejournal.com]

Aw man. Howard was quite the dish. Having said that, there's something about Lorre at the keyboard.

Glad the second half of the day wasn't a suckfest. Stay blessed with cats and good food. And respects to The Shondes, too.

[sovay]

Aw man. Howard was quite the dish.

Secrets (1933) is one of his films I haven't seen, either. I hope it's good.

Having said that, there's something about Lorre at the keyboard.

Peter Lorre was extraordinarily beautiful at several points in his life. And he liked cats, too!

Stay blessed with cats and good food.

Doing what I can!

And respects to The Shondes, too.

"I Watched the Temple Fall"

We live like we're always afflicted
But I'm not—I'm sick
From the blood all over our hands
How the land soaks it in
So the desert can finally bloom with this colonial hate
No heart could really beat love for this state

I watched the temple fall
The borders of my heart
Release and come apart
The state is not my temple

"Don't Look Down"

Why do I dream of drowning?
Looking through cracks in train tracks
Testing my reaction time—I'm not afraid of anything
At night these old survival traits are always in place

"Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow"

My expectations are always too high
I want the salt
I want the fire
Give me the sea and then the sky and open wide

"The Garden"

Who told you to give up?
Who said you're never good enough?
Who told you to give up on the garden?

[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.

[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.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

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.

I totally get this. Well expressed.

Re: the other thing, good for the Shondes. If more people had the experience of Louisa, more people would surely feel as the band does.

[sovay]

I totally get this. Well expressed.

It has surprised me. I would fight people to make sure these cats were safe.

If more people had the experience of Louisa, more people would surely feel as the band does.

I hope.

[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!

[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.