Music and Cats

A couple of my persistent readers — those gluttons for what? punishment? neglect? who have continued to show up at a blog that has become little more than a parade of cat photos — expressed their concern when a Friday passed without a new photo of Sasha, Lyra or Sergei gracing this page.

Not to worry, y’all. We were on vacation — a vacation that proved to be, unexpectedly, almost internet-free. First there was the New York City hotel (a splurge for our anniversary) where we paid for the wireless internet service, but I couldn’t stay awake long enough to use it for more than checking my email. Next, a night in an absent friend’s Midtown apartment that almost certainly had internet access, but we didn’t feel like trying to figure it out. Having a computer is de rigueur for college students these days, so you’d think there would be internet access in my Providence alma mater’s dorms. In fact, I’m sure there is… but not for visiting alums. At our friends’ house northwest of Boston, we could get on the internet — wirelessly, even — but the computer time there was spent pouring over web sites of lighting fixtures for their kitchen remodel.

After a week on the East Coast, we’re back home. I have photos and stories from the trip, but I’m also back at work, so I’ll have little time for writing until the weekend. There will, of course, be a photo of one of the McKittens on Friday.

I don’t know how things work where you live, but in our house, she who leaves her place in the bed is likely to find, upon her return, that her nice warm spot has been occupied by a cat. (He who leaves his side of the bed is subject to such pranks as well; these cats are equal opportunity warmth hogs.) They have us so well trained that we try not to move them, but rather to find enough space around them in the bed to fit ourselves.

There’s always room for a couple more animals aboard the Friday Ark (#139). There’s a comfy spot in the sunny window (and treats, too!) for Weekend Cat Blogging #102, at Paulchen’s Food Blog. Carnival of the Cats slinks on over to the Cat Blogosphere on Sunday.

Lance Armstrong Foundation
LiveStrong Day

Unlike last year, this Mother’s Day morning arrived in Seattle gray-skied and cool. Even without sunshine, it’s Spring, and Seattle is madly in bloom. The farmers’ market provides floral delights of the season, all wrapped up for the city’s lucky mothers and grandmothers: multihued tulips, furry poppy buds, even some early roses. All around our neighborhood, lilacs perfume the air, tulips dance languidly on the breeze, and irises unfurl, exposing their exquisite colors.

I wish I could deliver all this beauty to my mother, who loves farmers markets, to my grandmother, who loves gardening, and to my sister, who has an artist’s eye for color and light.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you.
Happy Mother’s Day, Grandmama. I love you.
Happy Mother’s Day, Melanie. I love you.

And to any other mothers stopping by here, Happy Mother’s Day. I hope you enjoy the flowers.

One is sleek and black, the other fluffy and striped. Sergei athletic and muscled; Sasha long-bodied and lean. You might never know that they’re related. But those white markings — on chins, bellies and paws — tell the tale; the McKitten boys are brothers.

Cats, dogs and other critters mug for the camera aboard the Friday Ark. Kitties say “cheese” to Weekend Cat Blogging at What Did You Eat?. Try to find the felines on Sunday, when Carnival of the Cats appears at an undisclosed location. Update: CotC at IFOC.