Sunday, February 3, 2013

Crazy or the Cat?

It is 4:20. AM. 0420. As in it is before the butt crack of dawn. I am up. Coffee is before me. I've even loaded the dishwasher. Two of the dogs have been out to potty, but they went back to bed.

I hate days like this. I wake up for whatever reason and absolutely can't go back to sleep. Don't get me wrong, I try. But then I start to toss and turn, and eventually, my bladder wakes up. Or a cat realizes I'm awake. Such was the case today.

Smalls has taken to sleeping all night with us again. Always on my side of the bed, and always as close as physically possible to my body. Sometimes, he crawls up on top of me. I swear it feels like a 25 lb sack of flour on me.

So mid-turn, he plops himself in my rib cage and stretches full out. Of course, I have to give him a few scratches. What kind of cat mom would I be if I didn't? That inspires him to stretch even further and roll over to expose his belly. He honestly thinks he's part dog and loves to have his belly scratched. Yes, I obliged. He stretches out his paws as far as possible, throws his head back in delirious joy, and the purring begins. When he starts kneading thin air, I know I've found today's sweet spot.

We remain like this for a good 30 minutes. The crazy lady awake and the cat purring happily while I tickle his tummy. And at roughly 3:45, it struck me. Does the lady have to be crazy before loving cats, or does the cat make the lady crazy? Since I've had a love affair with cats since I was old enough to pull their tails and pick them up by their whiskers, I'm guessing my crazy came first. And all the cats in my life have come along for what they knew would be a one-of-a-kind ride. Complete with belly rubs.

Friday, February 1, 2013

Oddities and peculiarities: AKA Me

Not sure why this popped in my head the other day. Just a few random facts about me.

1. I detest pineapple, honeydew, and cantaloupe. I have learned to tolerate strawberries, but only if they're swimming in whipped cream. With cake, too.

2. I have a hard time driving Fords. It is impossible for me to adjust the seat for leg length and get the proper arm length to the wheel. It's one or the other. I had a Bronco once, and that one actually worked for me. Then my husband wrecked it. Chevy fits me very nicely, which is handy since I married a Chevy man. My Ford family threatened to disown me. As an aside, my uncle's Miata fits me PERFECTLY.

3. I have a favorite insect. Yes, I do. I love praying mantis. They are highly revered in my garden, in the yard at work, everywhere. If I'm out for a walk and find one on the road, I will move it to the safety of the nearest yard. Or bring it home with me. If I find an ootheca (that's an egg pod) on a movable object, such as a piece or firewood, a rock, a stick, I immediately find it a safe haven somewhere. I've also watched the babies hatching in the spring. It's fascinating.

4. I have sat for hours watching the mollies and platies in my aquarium, trying to see them give birth. I've never caught it live, but still get giddy when I see new babies swimming about. I have seen them mate; rather cool to watch.

5. I've been known to wear flip flops in the dead (and frigid cold) of winter. Yes, my feet get cold. No, I don't always care.

6. The bathroom in my house holds mystical and magical powers. It is where the men in my life have all their major epiphanies and call me in to talk about it. Thankfully, it's only when they're in the shower, not when they're doing other things.

7. One of my husband's nicknames for me is Spock. I tend to be a little literal and analytical at times.

Now it's time to go do a little Vulcan mind-melding with the washing machine.