Mood: sunlazy
Welcome to Sunday, February 25, 2024, where the sun is above average in Ashlandia. Spring seems to be cementing its hold as our current season. 55% chance of snow in our area in the next 7 days. 47 F now we’re heading for the same region for a high as yesterday, about 65 F. I’m sipping coffee and assessing the sky. Faded blue around the horizons, clues point to clouds creeping around the valley’s protective mountains and ridges. There’s no precipitation anticipated for today.
The cats are lovin’ it. Tucked into a loaf, Tucker has taken up the living room catbird seat. I raised the blind and sunshine is dumping on him, and he has a sweet backyard view. Papi, of course, being the rugged floof he is, is out on on the sunwashed back patio, braving the clear sky and sunshine as he grooms.
We spent yesterday running around on a staycation. No writing for me and little computer time. No errands were run; we just explored and buzzed around they valley. Sadly, we found two of our favorite used bookstores have been lost to history. A third, Bookmarks, has moved closer, making it more accessible. That’s four used bookstores gone to the area since we’ve lived here. We still have two new bookstores and two used ones. I wonder if someone will open another. Lot of vacant business locations available for rent.
Speaking of that, we went to the Rogue Valley Mall. Haven’t been there since last summer. We’re not really mall people. Fascinating to in and see what’s gone. Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Victoria’s Secret. We didn’t know what were in other places. Looked like seven or eight empty spaces. Wasn’t overly busy for a Saturday. We’re of the belief that most people prefer shopping online these days. Escape traffic and crowds.
Today’s music is Beyonce’s country song, “Texas Hold ‘Em” (2024). By topping one of Billboard’s country and western charts, Beyonce became the first black woman in history to have a #1 country song. I was interested in it because I heard it briefly during the Super Bowl, and then my wife played it for me again. The Neurons were wrestling with what they thought of it and kept it in the morning mental music stream (Trademark coming in two weeks), strangely, alongside George Benson and “On Broadway”. I find the videos unusual. One just has a gun on a church firing. I watched for something else to happen but it didn’t. The other showed people dancing; it was mostly their legs and feet. The video also shared Beyonce modeling different outfits. I’ve included both of these videos.
Then there’s also a visualization. I’ve included it so we may keep up with pop trends.
Of course, it being Beyonce, a black woman, the bouncy upbeat song has found controversy. One Oklahoma radio station refused to play it with the excuse that they’re a country station and don’t play Beyonce. They added that this song also had to chart higher before they would play it. Also, ahem, and this is a big ahem, they weren’t aware that it was country. So, you know, they fully vetted the song before responding.
Stay strong, be positive lean forward, and vote. I’ve had coffee, thanks. Off to write now. Be good, y’all. Here’s the music. Cheers
Michael Seidel, writer 
Hi Michael. While we don’t often share the same taste in music, we clearly do share the same enjoyments of our four legged family members with tails. We have had many cats after we had to stop rescuing dogs. All our cats have been rescues but all have such different personalities. One loved the high perches in stands next to the windows, one loved the lower perches to look out windows, one hated all that getting up and down and will only get up in one chair we put by a window for him, but will gladly lay on the floor soaking up the sunlight from the windows. Yes he is lazy and … well overly heavy would be the correct terms. Our current outside / inside rescue restricts himself to where we are in the house most of the time, desiring the human interaction, laying on our couch or counter, or joining us on our bed when it is too cold outside for him. The last cat we take care of is a feral cat that has attached herself to our home, she will come into our family room off the carport to eat and several times has been curious where her friend the inside / outside cat goes inside coming right up to the near top of the steps into the rest of the home. To give both of them comfort Ron set up two lawn chairs outside that door which they both spend a lot of their time night and day in either together or when he is inside she is there alone. They have learned to trip the security cameras to get our attention for either food, for him to be let in, or just to give them light in that area for the 2 minutes I have them set to stay on for. Some nights when she feels threatened it can get a bit annoying as my watch notifies me every time the cameras are triggered, and she will do it to keep the light on. But then I remember she is a small cat alone in an area with a lot of predators that would love to have her as a nighttime meal. We let her do it.
Shoot Michael. I just realized how long this got sharing some of our recent cat history with you. Seems unfair to dump this on you, yet you really seem to enjoy our furry friends. So I will add the comment and leave the choice to you to delete it. Thanks for all the posts you do, and the sharing of your life with all of us. Hugs. Scottie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey Scottie, I always enjoy Tales of Other Floofs, especially when the tales reveal animals’ charm and intelligence. Thanks for taking care of the little ones and giving them protection and sanctuary if they need it.
Beyond that, I do enjoy trying to expand my awareness by reading about others and their thinking and experiences. I’m so very vanilla, I need the input to keep me from just melting into non-being. You have a lot of options on the net, and I appreciate that you take time to read my posts and comment.
Hugs and cheers, M
LikeLike