A strange new thought occurred to me: maybe everyone feels love for their kitties, just as I do for Lindy. My friend Michelle worked from home on Wednesday and was making goo-goo noises over chat about how cute her cats, Flo and Rocky, were being. Of course, I was compassionate but utterly unmoved. Yes, of course your cats are being cute.
Probably all cats have an adorable array of chirps and squeaks they make while you're petting them. Chances are, each cat is real cute when it's chasing a toy, batting wildly, leaping, doing back flips with the velocity of the chase and a sudden skidding turn. It is hard to believe though that Lindy, asleep not 3 feet from me, stretched out on her kitty window seat, face buried in synthetic sheepskin, is not the best kitty of them all. But then, different strokes for different folks.
I worked at home (WAH) today, so I had lots of time to watch her do her business. This cat sleeps everywhere -- she's completely undiscriminating. Then again, if we slept 16 hours a day, we'd probably be looking for some variety, too.
Today was a good day. I got the perfect pillow, finally. And a Meyer lemon tree, grafted onto dwarf stock, so I can grow it in a container. I weeded, swept with my new outdoor broom, and cleared yet another section of my apartment building's back yard. Soon, I will have everyone in on building a container garden and having BBQs. I looked at a BBQ today, big one. A fire pit might be a better bet -- and a heat lamp.
Oo, and I joined the loyalty program at Sloat Nursery, a stone's throw away, so there will be more herbs, veggies, and flowering plants in my future. Probably, my near future. Variety truly is the spice of life.
Next weekend: Urban Composting workshop. Another week or two, I'll be a regular worm-wrangler.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
lil gray easter bunny
It is difficult to overestimate my affection for my cat. And twice this weekend I've been validated; friends have met her and been astonished at her cuteness. James coudl see why I was so taken with her. (He's British-like.) Barb was amazed that anyone would ever give her up, as someone must have or she would not have arrived at the animal control center. I'm just so fortunate she was lost in my neck of the woods. Good kitty!
Today we woke late. OK, I woke late, she did everything in her power to rouse me at 6am, 7am, 8am, and 9am, and she nearly succeeded. Alas, I have returned to good health in order to abuse it with drinks and smoking. And French food. And very slinky black silk designer dresses, compliments of Barb. Still, exercise will come soon, and when it does my head will be much clearer.
To give the cat somewhere to play, I started last month to work in the garden behind my building. It's horribly overgrown, snail- and flea-infested, and I'm suspecting ticks as well, although my vet doubts it. (The vet also thinks she's "very nice-looking.") It's become quite lovely back there. I dug a zen fountain out of the weeds, many planters, and a statue of a woman 3 feet tall, torso snapped in two. In the raised garden bed I'm growing peas, tomatoes, squash, and strawberries, and I've planted herbs: parsley, cilantro, lemon thyme, rosemary, sage, lavender. It's great fun to water the wildflowers and watch them grow. In a few more weeks, I'll have bachelor's buttons and poppies.
Finally this weekend I got some backup on the weeding front. Amanda, a lovely young woman who had a disastrous weekend seeing her ex-live-in-boyfriend, was thrilled to plant night-blooming jasmine outside her window, in the new kitty play area on the first floor stairwell. I completed my outdoor carpeting projects -- all for kitty's benefit -- covering the under-stairs area, taping cat-traction strips on the railings, and perching rugs in her favorite hang-out areas. My carpet connection is a woman named Amelia who works at FloorDesigns, which has the most beautiful carpets I've ever seen, and has two cats. The last time I went in, they found me a whole roll of gorgeous light brown wool carpet. Tomorrow I'm plannign to stop by with kitty photos and project pics, so they can see how well I'm putting their high-end scraps to use. Maybe I'll get some silk carpet samples next. I'm sure Lindy and I could find something to do with a section of two-inch-thick silk pile. Amelia just inherited a new kitty from a friend who passed away, so I'm also taking her a noodle toy, to see if she can lure the shy boy out of the closet. Poor kitty!
Many people build connections based on their kids, their work, their religions. Me, I reach out and connect to provide the best possible life for my cat. I've now met everyone in my building -- the last being Tanya, whose cat Roxy weights 18 pounds -- twice Lindy's size! Tanya admitted she likes to pick Lindy up and carry her around because "she's so small." For the last 8 days, I've been giving Lindy the run of the apartment building. So far, everyone's enjoying her. Tomorrow, the 8-year-old Ukrainian girl is coming over for her first kitty play session. My across-the-hall neighbor Julie is officiating. I can't wait to hear how it goes.
Happy easter, everyone! And thanks for all the chocolate.
Today we woke late. OK, I woke late, she did everything in her power to rouse me at 6am, 7am, 8am, and 9am, and she nearly succeeded. Alas, I have returned to good health in order to abuse it with drinks and smoking. And French food. And very slinky black silk designer dresses, compliments of Barb. Still, exercise will come soon, and when it does my head will be much clearer.
To give the cat somewhere to play, I started last month to work in the garden behind my building. It's horribly overgrown, snail- and flea-infested, and I'm suspecting ticks as well, although my vet doubts it. (The vet also thinks she's "very nice-looking.") It's become quite lovely back there. I dug a zen fountain out of the weeds, many planters, and a statue of a woman 3 feet tall, torso snapped in two. In the raised garden bed I'm growing peas, tomatoes, squash, and strawberries, and I've planted herbs: parsley, cilantro, lemon thyme, rosemary, sage, lavender. It's great fun to water the wildflowers and watch them grow. In a few more weeks, I'll have bachelor's buttons and poppies.
Finally this weekend I got some backup on the weeding front. Amanda, a lovely young woman who had a disastrous weekend seeing her ex-live-in-boyfriend, was thrilled to plant night-blooming jasmine outside her window, in the new kitty play area on the first floor stairwell. I completed my outdoor carpeting projects -- all for kitty's benefit -- covering the under-stairs area, taping cat-traction strips on the railings, and perching rugs in her favorite hang-out areas. My carpet connection is a woman named Amelia who works at FloorDesigns, which has the most beautiful carpets I've ever seen, and has two cats. The last time I went in, they found me a whole roll of gorgeous light brown wool carpet. Tomorrow I'm plannign to stop by with kitty photos and project pics, so they can see how well I'm putting their high-end scraps to use. Maybe I'll get some silk carpet samples next. I'm sure Lindy and I could find something to do with a section of two-inch-thick silk pile. Amelia just inherited a new kitty from a friend who passed away, so I'm also taking her a noodle toy, to see if she can lure the shy boy out of the closet. Poor kitty!
Many people build connections based on their kids, their work, their religions. Me, I reach out and connect to provide the best possible life for my cat. I've now met everyone in my building -- the last being Tanya, whose cat Roxy weights 18 pounds -- twice Lindy's size! Tanya admitted she likes to pick Lindy up and carry her around because "she's so small." For the last 8 days, I've been giving Lindy the run of the apartment building. So far, everyone's enjoying her. Tomorrow, the 8-year-old Ukrainian girl is coming over for her first kitty play session. My across-the-hall neighbor Julie is officiating. I can't wait to hear how it goes.
Happy easter, everyone! And thanks for all the chocolate.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Feeding Royce
I love my kitty, Lindy. And I like my new job. I've been distinguishing myself around the halls of Adobe by making my workspace cozy, aka "pimpin' out da cube." There are green plants, a dishrack, flowers, and a palm tree. I like it. Next week, my air purifier arrives. Since there are a lot of design/interiors stores in the SoMa neighborhood, I'm also thinking of a small silk oriental rug.
The people are great. My fellow editorial manager David just won the commuter alternatives raffle, which I turned him onto. $25 in gifts certificates to the cafeteria and a $25 Amex cash card. He and I promised if either of us won, we'd split the prize. Or maybe I just promised that. We'll find out.
One of the designers, Kaschka, has two adorable daughters--and a birthday party this weekend that threatens to be ruined by the school headlice scare. Did you know? You can pay someone $95 an hour to physically remove headlice from your child's head, thereby avoiding harsh chemicals. Note: it takes quite a few hours to accomplish this.
Royce is in the cube behind me, singing to himself. He's bitchy, fun, and a tad overweight. Today I started feeding him. Half my Morning Bun (best thing on earth; Rainbow grocery bakery aisle), organic New Zealand blueberries, a carrot strip. He has superhero paraphernalia in his cube: oversized plastic hands that, when you smash them together, superhero style, give off a loud roar . He has the shoes, too, but had to deactivate them because someone wouldn't stop running around, putting passersby at risk.
I'm kicking ass at work, too. My manager rocks, we have lots of funding and a good rep, and I am onteh fast track to Getting Things Done. Alternately irking and placating people with way more power than me, and generally having a good time.
The fluffy gray kitty is at home, meowing loudly for my return, then meowing some more. She likes to be the center of attention. Cats are like people that way.
The people are great. My fellow editorial manager David just won the commuter alternatives raffle, which I turned him onto. $25 in gifts certificates to the cafeteria and a $25 Amex cash card. He and I promised if either of us won, we'd split the prize. Or maybe I just promised that. We'll find out.
One of the designers, Kaschka, has two adorable daughters--and a birthday party this weekend that threatens to be ruined by the school headlice scare. Did you know? You can pay someone $95 an hour to physically remove headlice from your child's head, thereby avoiding harsh chemicals. Note: it takes quite a few hours to accomplish this.
Royce is in the cube behind me, singing to himself. He's bitchy, fun, and a tad overweight. Today I started feeding him. Half my Morning Bun (best thing on earth; Rainbow grocery bakery aisle), organic New Zealand blueberries, a carrot strip. He has superhero paraphernalia in his cube: oversized plastic hands that, when you smash them together, superhero style, give off a loud roar . He has the shoes, too, but had to deactivate them because someone wouldn't stop running around, putting passersby at risk.
I'm kicking ass at work, too. My manager rocks, we have lots of funding and a good rep, and I am onteh fast track to Getting Things Done. Alternately irking and placating people with way more power than me, and generally having a good time.
The fluffy gray kitty is at home, meowing loudly for my return, then meowing some more. She likes to be the center of attention. Cats are like people that way.
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