Science fiction, fantasy, mystery and what-not
Flooftourage (catfinition) – a group, or clowder, of cats following a person.
In use: “Wherever he went – kitchen, office, bathroom, garage – the flooftourage was with him, as though his daily activities – making coffee, reading email, using the toilet, getting frozen berries from the freezer – were fresh amazements.”
Flooftch (catfinition) – stretching out in repose with all limbs extended in a flat position, giving an appearance of being melted down and pooled on the ground, generally done when a cat is very relaxed, warm, or both.
In use: “With the temperature reaching over one hundred degrees for a third day, the cats all flootched and napped. It looked so comfortable that he threw himself on the bed under an air-conditioning vent and flooftched as well.”
I so agree with this quote. I expended several years finding my quiet place. Because of the classic stereotype, I thought that it was an office in my house with a desk and a typewriter. When that failed to satisfy my writing desires, I bought notebooks and pens and haunted coffee shops. The next step in my writing evolution was to walk to the writing location to clear my mind of non-writing and re-focus on my writing efforts. The last step was to take my laptop with me and forego the pens and notebooks (although I always have one of each with me). The coffee shop is noisy with business, music, and conversations, but it’s free from the interference and incursions of writing at home.
It took years, but the result is worth it. If you want to write, don’t just do what others are doing; find what works for you.
I fall into the screaming guitar, thundering drums, and driving bass preferences for rock — or rock and roll, what have you. I’m not thinking about or debating the genres and sub-genres, or rock and roll’s changes across the decades. I know that’s all out there. I’m just talkin’ basics about what I like. Yet, words always draw me in. When you get a band that has the first three elements with interesting words and delivery, I buy.
But this song is mostly about the words. It’s a laid-back song, which is fine. Mellow music has its place. The song’s rhythm and tone invite me to kick back and relax. The lyrics, though, have passages that I think, yeah, I could be speaking those words to someone, or someone could be telling them to me.
The song begins,
I used to hurry a lot, I used to worry a lot
I used to stay out till the break of day
Oh, that didn’t get it
It was high time I quit it
I just couldn’t carry on that way
Later, they ask and conclude,
Did you do it for love?
Did you do it for money?
Did you do it for spite?
Did you think you had to, honey?
Who is gonna make it?
We’ll find out in the long run
(In the long run)
Here is Eagles with “The Long Run” from 1979.
Deflooftarized Zone (catfinition)- the areas of a house, typically including counters and tables, where cats are not permitted; the space between cats that they maintain to spy upon one another.
In use: “Establishing a triangle with their bodies as the angles, the ginger, tuxedo, and black cat with a white diamond watched one another. Only the mellow little black-pawed long-haired cat passed through the deflooftarized zone.”
I laughed when I saw this quote. I’m always chasing details to get everything to fit together, and worry that I’ve missed some.
Some know the feelings of exertion
the rivulets of sweat plastering hair to head
and clothes to bodies
the film on skin
the drops running off nose and chin
and revel in the results of their efforts
wearing it like emotions on a sleeve
Some shun this sweat
hiding in air-conditioning and shade
fanning themselves against heat
flinching back from the sweaty
noses turned up in disapproval
mouths twisted with disgust
at the others’ sweaty presence
as though their sweat is unnatural
Sometimes, someone mentioned something that I did or said, and I respond, quite intelligently, “What? I did?” Then I’m required to think back, struggling through the murkiness of memory to determine if they were right. What’s weird is how it sometimes feels like I’m rewinding a tape, going backwards in my head until the moment springs up and provides me with the Eureka moment.
Happened a few nights ago when someone said that I’d mentioned a book and the movie made from the book. After rewinding, I came across the point when I’d mentioned Freakonomics to him.
Does anyone else get annoyed with their cat because they hear you fart out loud and act like, “OMG, what was THAT?”
I’m asking for a friend. She says it happens to her all the time.
