Tuesday, March 18, 2008

High Noon

We've been letting Banana Dog into the back half of the house, keeping 18" high gates in the two bedrooms back there so the cats still have some private space. Our gray cat, Handsome Boy, is pretty okay with Banana Dog. If he's in my office, he'll move under my desk when she bounces into the room but he won't leave, even if he ends up licked half to death. The Princess, our black cat, is furious about all of it. She'll sit safely on her side of the gate, or in the middle of the hallway and yowl threats if she sees Banana getting near her brother. Or if Banana even looks at her. Everyone pretty much ignores the Shi Tzu, Doodles, no matter where she is or what she's doing.

Tonight, LB was playing referee between Princess and Banana, while Banana sat sedately in my office doorway, and the Princess swore at her anyway. All of a sudden, Doodles stuck her tiny head past Banana into the hall, and let out a growl. Wow. So she's protecting the cat? Odd, but since she's been joyfully stomped on every hour, on the hour, for the last four or five months now, I guess it makes sense that she'd finally get fed up and tell the Banana to just sit the heck down for once.

Doodles pops back into my office.

The Princess let out a few dozen more curse words.

And Doodles ran out into the hall, got between Banana and the Princess, and started growling and yapping. She was protecting the gigantic 80 lb Banana Dog from the 16lb cat! I'm not sure who was more surprised, us humans or the erstwhile combatants. Doodles barely weighs 10 lbs soaking wet, so even the cat outweighs her by a good 6 pounds.

Everyone except Doodles looked embarrassed. And we decided it was time for a short break in cat/dog relations. Dog's not bright, but she's got guts.

Saturday, March 01, 2008

Schools Out!

You are 3:15 p.m.

You are the moment when the last bell rings and school lets out for the day. You are resistant to schedules and obligations, so you love feeling like you're in control of your life again. You are the very moment when the second hand hits the 12, and the halls fill with noise and motion. Even if your after-school time is packed with activities, lessons, or a job, somehow, you just feel freer in the late afternoon than you do earlier in the day. Maybe it's all that blue sky and afternoon sunshine? Nah -- even on rainy days, 3:15 is always a beautiful time.




I am, indeed, 3:15... all about the moment when other folks' demands, schedules and expectations are done and I can get on with my own thing.

Which makes it particularly absurd that I keep picking careers that are one non-stop deadline, day after day. Ouch.