Sometimes You Gotta Do One Just For You

I have a "contact" whose identity I'll protect by calling him/her "The Head of the Cat". This person surprised me last night, when "they" (I'll mis-use "they" to avoid revealing "their" gender) pulled out a cat hat. And put it on one of their cats. And then put it on the other cat. Unbelievable. Cats don't need hats. Especially not beanies with propellers and velcro chin straps to keep them securely in place. There were even ear holes for the furry, pointed cat ears to poke through.

The hat was placed on the cat with such matter-of-fact elan, such seriousness coupled with complete amusement, that I couldn't help but be totally entertained. The Head of the Cat didn't leave the cat hat on for long. They recognize the cat doesn't need or want, much less like, the hat. As soon as I snapped a few pix, the cat hat was removed, placed on the other feline model, then just as quickly removed—as if it had never happened. I was stunned by those few moments, and am still delighted with the evidence.

While my contact bought this cat hat and fitted it to their animals purely for their own delight, living this phrase "sometimes you gotta do one just for you", it became something for me too. So do something just for yourself, and see the positive effects it has on others. But don't leave the hat on for too long...no one wants to be caught in a beanie and have it posted online the next day.

The Lake Life

The Fursons are back at home, after a week away at the lake. Robert and I bought a boat, got married, and spent a week by the lake. The photo you see here is of DJ, snoozing on the screened porch at our rented lake house. The floor of the porch was spray painted with stencilled nature images. The furniture is wicker, with floral cushions. The view directly out front, which you can't see here, is of a tranquil lake and distant mountains in upstate New York. To the left and the right are tree branches, housing the porch like a nest. Birds land just inches away and peer in. Off to the right, there is a small cement statue ensconced in the the leafy green surroundings.

Days on the lake are slow. Evenings with family and friends pick up the pace a bit, but during this week after our wedding, our days were spent on the boat, in the water, napping, and reading (the kindle for Robert, a book for me) on the porch. While the dogs rest because they are spent from romping by the shore, taking in the boat breeze, and chasing our niece and nephews; we rest because the days leading up to this week of lake life are packed with work and deadlines and meetings and making art and creating new projects. Here the dogs rest from the activity, for us, rest is the activity.

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*ps: What we're reading?
Me: The Shipwreck that Saved Jamestown
Robert: The Elegant Universe