Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.' - C.S. Lewis

Dear Meg,

All my friends are going off to different places and I suppose I should be quite sad that I'm not only losing them for a time, but I'm not going anywhere (physically) myself right now. I just don't have the heart to be sad about it, though. I'm excited, especially because I intend to live vicariously through you as much as possible. During your stay in London, you may receive emails from me with demands such as, "Megan, Go eat a bacon sandwich for me now!!" Or, "Dearest Meg, Get in a brawl with soccer hooligans ASAP. Do not forget to send pictures."

And now, reasons to be happy for the day:
(1) It's my weekend. For the first time in the two years I've had this job, I actually get some of the weekend off. Thursday night and Friday night - so awesome.
(2) Tonight I get to have dinner with you. According to my mom, the thing she misses most in Europe is Mexican food. So Cinco de Mayo in Martinez? Or do we venture to San Francisco for the best Mexican restaurant I know of - Tommy's?
(3) Dinner out period, since it's not likely to happen much while I'm working Graves
(4) There is an email in my inbox waiting for me from my dad. Always entertaining and informative.
(5) I got to talk to my mom on Skype (from Italy) this morning and we just gabbed and vented. No worrying, no stressing, just talking and laughing.
(6) By the time I'm done with this blog entry, I get to go over to my mom's blog, Between the Mountains and the Sea, and read her latest entry.

Now, let's change the subject because there is something on my mind. You know how there are some people who hate cats? Well, I know some and I've asked them to explain why.

Reason #1: Cats like to attack people. Which is the same excuse people have for hating dogs. Or rats. Or, in my case, parrots. I imagine that they've been attacked at some point and that's why they're afraid of them. I may not completely understand, but I'll admit that I flinch whenever I hear the cry of the macaw.

Reason #2: Cats are aloof. Ah, the most common cat stereotype. Yes, I have had cats and met cats that were total snobs and wanted nothing to do with humans...or any other creature, for that matter. But, as with all generalizations, not all cats are like that. Simple fact: Cats have different personalities. This shouldn't be so amazing to people. Years ago, a co-worker of mine met my cats and exclaimed, "Oh my, they have such...personality!" Um...yeah. You may walk into my home thinking cats are aloof, but you'll be coated in cat hair by the time you leave and reeling from the lovemaking session you've just endured from either one, or both of them.

Reason #3: Cats aren't affectionate. Anyone who has met Ricochet knows this is an outright lie. Go in search of a Tonkinese, you will find out very quickly just how affectionate cats can be. In fact, my nickname for Ricochet is ManWhore. No one will love you like Ricky, but be careful - he's my friend Matt's boyfriend, not yours.

Reason #4: Cats serve no purpose.  My cats make me happy every day. Sure, they drive me nuts sometimes (like at 1030 every morning, when Frankie has a kitty witching hour and runs in circles around the apartment), but they also crack me up. I would say I have the world's weirdest cats, but I've met my mom's cat, Taser, so I can't win. He and Ricochet have at least one very weird thing in common. They both think they're really sneaky and will try to slither onto your lap when you've knocked them off a couple of times. I mean belly-to-the-ground "I think I'm a snake-I think I'm a snake-I think I'm a snake" sort of slithering. It's really bizarre. And then, once they've made it into your lap, they freeze, as if you won't notice them if they keep very, very still. That said, Taser has been known to trick my stepfather by wrapping himself around my mom's feet and holding still if my stepdad walks into a room that Taser is not allowed in. Evidently he looks like a pair of big, brown fuzzy slippers.

So, yeah, I don't get it. But then, not everyone has met my cats. Those who have are mostly in the post-cat-hate phase now. You just can't hate an animal that tries to pretend he's a shoulder wrap.

See you in a couple of hours!

Jae

Journey:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuS2elCAjH8&feature=related

Doorcat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7-1CZEkun4&feature=related

Large cat feeding on small child:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e51gzLexaI8&feature=pyv&ad=5088512169&kw=cat