Both of the cats are wandering around the house crying because “Daddy’s not here” (Jeff’s visiting on the Island). Margot was so upset that Daddy wasn’t here for her to wake up at 4:30 in the morning, she came into my room and started attempting to destroy things. I said “Shoo!” and “Scat!” (as in feces) but all she did was stare at me with the stare that indicates every functioning neuron in her head is currently dedicated to keeping her eyes open, but that no other brain activity or anything one could call consciousness was otherwise employed.
As I mentioned in my comment, Yunte wrote me back, which was very decent of him. I had mentioned to him that when pOp sent me the Charlie Chan movies on DVD I couldn’t bring myself to watch them as I’d drunk the Koolaid on them being racist garbage; as I said to him “I can now watch them with more nuance and less angst”. Still not happy that Chan was played by white guys (except for the first two movies) but I can at least appreciate that they are entertaining movies now. I think it’s great that my filial piety prevented me from throwing them out.
At some point today Katie and I and Keith and Mike and Rozo are going to brave the nipply weather of April and head to the beach. Top down (da na na na na na!) in the sun (da na na na na na!) I was thinking of taking a musical instrument, but given a choice between hauling sammitches down those effin’ stairs and something la di da like a mandolin, I’ll go for the eats. Katie is NOT living with Daxus so my unconditional love faucet got turned back on. Keith had his friend Chris over here last night. They played Portal 2 and ate leftover spaghetti. I was sorry to miss Chris as I quite like him; I’m thrilled that Keith has an intelligent, kind hearted friend.
I washed one of mOm’s quilts and it’s hanging on the line now. I also did a compost run The most immense pillbugs in Canada (latin name the ENTIRELY CHARMING Armadillidium vulgare) are currently noshing on my coffee grounds. That would be my late Earth day news.
Heard from Paul. Work has started on Lois and Bobby’s flooded buildings. He called from the ‘Hat about an hour ago sounding like he wanted to do something family tomorrow. When I mentioned the beach he groaned from pure jealousy.
Night before last, out drinking with the old Stat gang, and IHTA (It Had The Awesome). Last night, Lost in Yonkers at the Langley Playhouse with Tom, Peggy, Rev Katie, Al, Joan, Ev, Gary, Elva AND the choir director Marnie and her daughter. As I mentioned on facebook half the church was in the audience. Sue Sparlin was really good as the ferocious Cherman Grandmuzzer.
I look back on the beginning of February like somebody who had a bad dream, the effects of which still linger. Did I really want to kill myself???? What’s up with that? You know, I’m blaming it on February, because February in Canada sucks, and February in Vancouver, as I can say from personal experience, makes ya wanna die. And then when the sun comes out you’re thinking…. oops.
I heart Tom and Peggy. Right now I am really appreciating what lovely, talented, hospitable, intelligent and forward thinking people they are. Also, they are newly minted grandparents, and I swear Peggy is leaving little curly trails of multi-colored stars when she talks these days. Tom’s grouch factor is only barely moving the meter since the Bean arrived.
Jury is still out as to whether January or February is the most depressing month. Last two winter vacations were in Vegas (not far south enough, dammit) and Cuba (glorious, but I fell back into the funk when I got home even after the Vegas-in-Jan weekend).
My almost-final decision is that the winter sun vacation has to be in January to inculate against the February funk. And it must be tropical.
And glad of course that it is April, almost decently warm, and the sun has returned to your life.
Winnie & Sumer (our dogs) are much the same as your cats when Jim is away. Winnie takes up residence on the LR sofa and stares out the front window and Sumer takes his post at the door to the garage. Sumer won’t even sleep when Jim’s away preferring to pace all night long. I guess if your the male in the household you are “IT”??? I guess if the dog makes his allegiance with the stronger member of the household, they make a more united front against danger?
I wonder if anyone has done research on how dogs (and cats for that matter) work out who is the alpha human in the household. Dogs certainly are adept at reading human behavior; cats are too, I think, but don’t care. So what is it about human behavior that gives them the signals about alpha-ness?
From reading Malcolm Gladwell’s books, especially Blink, I think it might be that dogs still react to a greater degree from their subconscious which is able to sum up a situation in the blink of an eye. Also a larger part of their communication doesn’t involve verbal language and relies on body language. I guess this could be true of cats as well?
I remain undecided as to whether my cat has any consciousness at all. Apart from the “I am SO cute” neuron.
I know what you mean. Winnie has that neuron as well, but Sumer definately has a subconscious. He can anticipate our every move.