Author: Michael Seidel

Science fiction, fantasy, and mystery writer. Singer (sorry, no shows) & nudist (in my home). Beer, cat, cheese, coffee, pie and wine friend. Left IBM and Silicon Valley for the southern Oregon life but I miss the ocean. We're too far inland. Gotta move.

The Norms

A young woman was in the coffee shop with her infant. She was meeting two friends. The three had a lively conversation going on.

They were located right beside me. The young mother had her back to me, but would look around at me every once in a while. I suspected that she wanted to breastfeed her baby, but was either concerned with my reaction, or didn’t want me to see it.

Either way, a woman breastfeeding her child isn’t something that bothers or thrills me. When she began breastfeeding, I noted her activity on my awareness’ edge but didn’t make any move to look, etc. I mean, one, I was busy writing. Two, really, a boob? And a feeding child? Is that something to get excited or upset about?

I don’t think so.

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Tuesday’s Theme Music

I’d only recently learned that Dave Mason wrote this song. I knew that Traffic had performed it, but in my heart, this song always belonged to Joe Cocker. Whichever group or performer does it, the song always lifts me up. I loved it when he sang it in concert.

Hope it lifts you today, wherever you are, whatever you’re doing. Here’s Joe Cocker with “Feeling Alright” from 1969.

 

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Floofrify

Floofrify (catfintion) – a cat making small cuts or scratches in something, such as skin; small lacerations a cat causes.

In use: “The little ginger floofrified the man’s hand with her eager play, rendering his skin punctured and bleeding.”

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Subscriptions

Have you noticed the rise of subscription services? Subscribe to a company, and for a price, they’ll deliver razors, socks and underwear, cigar food, beer, wine, or fruit, along with the more traditional things, like magazines and entertainment, every day, week, or month.

I’ve recently been metaphorically bludgeoned with offers for monthly cat food subscriptions (mostly for Chewy.com). A new twist (for me) was added today: cat litter. Yes, subscribe to Pretty Litter, and fill out their chart, and they’ll send you your required kitty litter each month.

I understand the attraction to subscription services. NetworkICE began by selling its computer security products, but we really wanted to be on a subscription model. A subscription basis makes budgeting easy for customers, and allows companies a smoother, consistent, and predictable revenue flow. Scaling up and down improves on both ends.

Still…I guess I’m startled that you can buy kitty litter. I thought the dental subscriptions and air travel being offered were out there, but I suspect this is the future.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen offered as a subscription service?

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Monday’s Theme Music

Staying with Argent, I enjoy one of the early songs he wrote for The Zombies, “She’s Not There.” Although it’s been covered by many others, including Santana, I like the original.

It came out in 1964, when I was eight years old. I obviously learned it through repetitive play, mostly on the radio. Its melody seems reflective about the subject, while the words are bitter and wondering. I like the yin and yang feel to the combination.

 

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Flooble

Flooble (catfinition) – a confused or disorganized collection of cat toys and accessories; a disorganized clowder.

In use: “A flooble was kept in the cupboard to handle cat emergencies, like brushing their coats or entertaining them with toys.

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Sunday’s Theme Music

Streaming from my childhood once again. I enjoy this song for its organ solo. Because of that, I prefer the long version. Thinking about the words, there aren’t many verses in the song. Most of us know the title lines: “Hold your head up.”

Here’s Argent, with Rod Argent (formerly of The Zombies, which must count for something) on keyboards.

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