“Did you hear what happened when the pink ship collided with the purple ship? They were marooned.”
Flooftourage
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
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.”
Deflooftarized Zone
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.”
Unnatural
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
Rewind
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.
Friday’s Theme Music
On this day, they remind us, Live Aid took place in 1985.
Yes, children, I remember the event, but I believe I didn’t watch it, as I was living in tent city in Egypt as part of Bright Star 85.
In honor of that event, I’m streaming the Boomtown Rats’ “I Don’t Like Mondays”. It’s perfect for Friday, because Monday is always lurking.
Be
To the left of the back door onto the patio is a black widow’s residence. She builds her web every night.
To the left of the back door, leaning against the wall on the patio, is our broom. Every morning, I take the broom and knock down the black widow’s web.
Last night, I went out to call a cat. Turning on the light, I saw the black widow feasting on an insect in her web.
I thought about knocking the web down, but I reconsidered. Who am I to insert myself into this process that is the foundation of nature?
I fear the black widow and her bite. I doubt she thinks about me. Regardless, this is part of our life cycle. I can’t let fear of her direct my actions. No, I’m not comfortable with it, but should my comfort decide my actions?
I let her web be.
Afraid
I’m not afraid of anything but everything.
As long as there’s not anything, I’m not afraid of nothing.
Perverse & Fascinating
My wife told me about foot masks, so I asked her to buy me some. She did. Applied them last Sunday. Got to peel off my first skin today.
