cats – Page 120 – Michael Seidel, writer

A jay scatted about dawn at 5 AM. “You’re early,” he muttered at the window, covering his ears with pillows. His movement aroused the duty floof, who investigated him for signs of life, prodding his hand and tapping his nose.

Sol’s zingers jazzed the land at 5:36 AM. With sunrise officially arrived, the cats began their Saturday morning business. This June 26, 2021, saw them with a full slate of activities, including going out the pet door, coming in the pet door, and blocking the pet door so others could not go in and out.

Sol’s exit is anticipated at 8:51 PM. Should be a relief that most in the valley will want. Yesterday saw digital readouts tapped out at 99 degrees F. 103 is forecast for today.

As he processed through morning routines, his mental music app played a selection of tunes. Somewhere after shaving but before coffee, Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble began playing “Tightrope” from 1989.

We have been walkin’ the tightrope Trying to make it right
Walkin’ the tightrope every day and every night
Walkin’ the tightrope bring it all around
Walkin’ the tightrope from the lost to found
Walkin’ the tightrope stretched around the world
Walkin’ the tightrope save the boys and girls
Walkin’ the tightrope let’s make it right
Walkin’ the tightrope do it, do it tonight
Walkin the tightrope

h/t to Genius.com

Stay positive, test negative, wear a mask as needed, and get the vax. Here’s the music.

Floof-for-all (floofinition) Conflict or competition between animals where all are pitted against one another and there are no allies or alliances.

In use: “Once freed of their kennel (by the cat), the puppies engaged in a floof-for-all while the cat jumped up on the window sill and watched.”

As the world kept turning, the sun came on, arriving in the valley at 5:36 AM, officially, because we had light well before that. I know because the cats were like, “Come on, it’s night, let’s do something.” So, I was up at 4:30, doing something with the cats. Yep, feeding and petting, talking to them, just like it was a more civilized time.

The turning world will spin the sun away at 8:51 PM. High temperatures of about 94 F are expected, which isn’t too bad. Long as it stays below 100, we don’t feel the need for the A/C. The temp inside sometimes reaches 83, but then we turn on a fan. We’re not big A/C fans.

“Boom, Like That” (2004) is passing through my brain this morning. Mark Knopfler’s song about Ray Kroc and McDonald’s came on in when my brain opened the door by thinking about fast food restaurants. Our town has two: Wendy’s and Taco Bell. I don’t eat regularly at either. I visited the Wendy’s last year for ice cream. But these places — fast food — and big box stores have had a smothering influence, the way that they sprang up, crushing the locals. Meanwhile, what they often pay employees has barely moved until social activism kicked up some political pressure. As Mark wrote and sings, “It’s dog eat dog, rat eat rat,” in his smooth, dry way.

Stay positive, test negative, wear a mask as needed, and get the vax. We in Oregon are almost at the point where we won’t be required to have masks. Vaccinations are slooowwwllly closing in on 70%. That’s the state’s trigger for saying we’re good, following CDC guidance. Jackson County, where I reside, is way behind, at 52%. Ashland, though, is higher, in the lower sixties. Harder to get numbers for the town. Here’s the music. Cheers

Floofservative (floofinition) – Animal who dislikes changes.

In use: “After Kelly re-arranged the living room furniture, Tigress, a staunch floofservative who enjoyed routines, marched around, tail swishing, making derogatory mews about what had been done to her space.”

Prefloofnition (floofinition) – Ability to foresee that an animal is about to do something.

In use: “When Tyler’s ears perked up and his attention swiveled to the window, Maisy’s prefloofnition kicked in. As she said, “No, Tyler,” Tyler ripped out a string of barks and raced toward the door.”

Flooftown (floofinition) – Flang (floof slang) for a place dedicated to animals.

In use: “The dog was not happy, explaining to the cats, “I heard her sayin’ that she’s taking me to flooftown,” which was the floofhold expression for the vet, gathering by his tone that he didn’t mean the other flooftown, the floofpark (to which the cats were never invited to go).”