We hadn’t mentioned it because we didn’t want a buzz going on, but Jane had been having trouble with irregular heartbeat, and after 2 bouts with a Holter monitor and visits to a cardiologist, plus an angiogram, we were shunted over to a second cardiologist with a specialty in the electrical (nerve) aspects of the heart, who ran an MRI and declared it was weird, but that an ablation might be in order, but HE sent us over to Seattle to consult with one of the specialists in the Cardiac unit of the University of Washington. Which Jane did. And that doc said indications are it’s over-active cells up in an inconvenient place, that urgently needed to be gotten rid of, and she could do that. So Jane got a surgery date for the UW Hospital, and we went home, then back again this Monday.
The surgery involves catheters passed up into the heart to zap the rascal cells, and this happened Tuesday. Jane overnighted in the hospital, a real nice place where even the hospital food is good—and the procedure was a success. She is now off the med that was controlling the problem. The doc is happy. We’re happy. We’re safely home again.
@Paul — A chemistry or materials science question for you.
I was thinking of how to describe a couple of unknown, future materials, and then realized I didn’t know enough and was probably talking through my hat, so I’d need some advice. I’m not looking for something too detailed, unless later I need something for a story point (doubtful), but I thought maybe I should run this by you.
Suppose I want a general-purpose material that could be used for long-term retention of a carved or embossed image. I’m envisioning this as a natural clay-like or polymer clay-like substance. Would it likely be a polymer, to be strong, to resist shattering, chipping, or erosion, for hundreds or thousands of years? Suppose it’s wet or not cured yet, and dries at room temperature, or else it could be fired like clay, or else some other process (coating it with a catalyst?) might be used to cure the surface or the entire slab or block. Would that be better described as a polymer, or a composite, or…what? Is such a thing too far-fetched? What I’m after is something that could be used to hold a sculpted or carved image and text, in a way that could last over centuries or millennia, with little to no risk of loss of the quality of the image and text.
What about a material that could withstand the heat of ground to orbit, and then reentry? Or the needs of zero g plus the pressure and cold of deep sea immersion?
Is it safest to guess those would be “advanced composites” or polymers or ceramics or…what?
Would a comparison with polymer resin or with concrete be apt?
I’m attempting to come up with something that would be possible or likely, and believable, and something that would sound good to a general reader who doesn’t know anything about the subject (like me), as well as, something realistically possible enough that it wouldn’t get a civil engineer or materials scientist or chemistry majors wanting to roll on the floor laughing or roll their eyes or throw the book in disgust. 😀
I don’t know if this might be from humans in the future or some alien culture.
I figure this is a general enough question to post here. — I’m not sure yet what I want to do with this, but it seems like it’s background that would work for any story and any author. In other words, a general topic anyone could use. — Thanks in advance.
Ceramics are fairly bulletproof for information retention. Tablets made 6000 years ago out of wet clay, then fired, are still legible; just look at all the Babylonian cuneiform records in museums. You might want to consider some sort of polymer impregnation to counter the brittle aspects.
Here’s a link to the various materials used on the Space Shuttle. They had to withstand vibration and temperatures of -250 to 3000 Fahrenheit, the difference between space cold and re-entry.
https://depts.washington.edu/matseed/mse_resources/Webpage/Space%20Shuttle%20Tiles/Space%20Shuttle%20Tiles.htm
Those cuneiform tablets were about what I was thinking of — though with a sharper definition to the engraving. The Romans used wax tablets for very temporary note-taking, but that, especially where I live, would be way too soft even for temporary use.
The chalk and slates that US and UK school kids used in the 1700’s and 1800’s, maybe into the 1900’s, were a better temporary solution, and pencils (later graphite-based) were a marvelous thing, once they got a good mix for the graphite (still called lead, which was what they used at first) and bonding with the wood.
I remember something about Roman concrete being superior to modern concrete in some respects that they were still trying to duplicate. So between Roman concrete and Babylonian clay, I would think some future substance might be really handy for making really long-term records.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a summary of all the materials used for the shuttles, except that they used some amazing stuff for the exterior, but had trouble with the adhesive tiles, so they’d wanted a better solution than what they had actually used.
(And dang it, I wish Congress and the President would get their acts together, long-term, for extended support of the space program. America ought to be committed to space exploration. But the project is so big that really, there ought to be better international cooperation. It worked briefly for Apollo-Soyuz. We cooperate to some degree for the International Space Station with the Russian and European space programs, and I think with others. But, for example, for safety, everyone’s airlocks and docking mechanisms ought to be standardized, so in an emergency, people could help. I guess I’m too naive, but it seems to me that if everyone has a stake in making space exploration work, if everyone gets a share of the benefits and profits, the chance to expand, then there’s less chance of some idiot or other wanting to throw rocks (à la Moon is a Harsh Mistress) or other things, from orbit down to Earth. If everyone has a good chance to benefit, maybe they can see there’s more than just this planet, and quit arguing so much over who owns which bit of dirt and water. I know it won’t necessarily work that way, but still, it seems like a better goal.)
Dang, price of stamps has gone up again. A roll of stamps, two books / sheets of stamps, and er, they got me with the 1969 Moon Landing stamp pin set, only slightly more than a book of stamps now, and whew, that’s just over $102. I ordered envelopes through Amazon and it cost less to buy in bulk, so, another $20 for 500 instead of $9 for 100.
I really wonder how soon it will be before they finally have to either re-value the currency like Mexico did in the 1980’s. It’s either that, or pretty soon it won’t make sense to use any of the under $1 coins. The UK and Canada and the EU are all facing similar problems with that, though.
I have a couple more places to look for where I put my small wok before I decide it’s just entirely gone missing. It went into a box for safe keeping for a temporary move while I was cleaning up the kitchen again. I don’t see how I would’ve thrown it out by mistake. I just hadn’t used it in a while. (I’d last used my big wok instead.) — The new small wok is waiting for pickup at the apt. offices, along with possibly something today; maybe the replacement fluorescent light bulbs, before my desk light goes out. Heh.
Hoping I can generate movement from my friends between tomorrow and Monday.
Tomorrow morning, I get to try to convince my printer and Mac to talk to each other and install properly. It didn’t before. So I have photocopies but not a printout of a letter to send off. Heh. — Well, I am keeping busy, I guess.
No idea whether the workmen will be back tomorrow making noise outside. That lasted until 6:00pm. What they were doing, I don’t know.
9:30pm and I am just now sitting down again to relax. Heh.
If we’re talking about future materials, I’d be thinking something that’s 3D-printed or nano-assembled, at least the blanks, or laser engraved.
Diamond is the definition of hardness at 10, but ignites at only 690 °C (1,274 °F) to 840 °C (1,540 °F).
A similar material, moissanite, is nearly as hard, 9.5, more brilliant than diamond, and decomposes at 2730 °C (4946 °F). Moissanite in its purest form is diamond with every other carbon atom replaced with silicon, silicon carbide aka carborundum. Does that help your conundrum?
It has been one of those days. Nothing really bad, only very frustrating and time consuming. — I would love to know in what box I put _envelopes_ and _stamps_ , of all things. I may have to order more, just because I haven’t located them. They were supposed to be right near the makeshift desk. (My triple dresser is still pretending to be a desk. My knees miss a kneehole space.)
Searching for those turned up a few things, such as my “Learning Everything German” book, or however that series title goes. Did other little chores. I now know where the envelopes and stamps are _not_ in my room, though they still may be lurking elsewhere. (Not in either backpack.) Things are only slightly more organized and need a good going over. — I feel incredibly silly not to have those immediately at hand. I thought they were.
For the past three hours, workmen outside have been using a very loud pump or generator. For what, I don’t know, as I don’t feel like going out there and asking a busy guy in Spanish, «¿Qué haven Uds., qué se ocure?» (What are y’all doing? What’s happening?) — I can hear it all too well inside. I hope they have earplugs or headphones or it must be driving them nuts out there…though by now, I’m used to it and I guess they are.
I have to get one of those unreliable friends to come by to get a package I missed today, but it looks like the cats’ ID tags finally arrived. — If I can convince the new-ish printer and my Mac to recognize each other through the intervening USB hub (doubtful), to get it to install, I’ll be able to print out some needed items so I can mail those off…when I find or get envelopes and stamps. My friends might even get here by the time I have that done; not today, I’m sure, though. If you’re noting a certain sarcasm and annoyance, it’s because those friends have not managed to come by in the past 2+ weeks for the cats’ 3 tries at vet appointments. So…I still have to rely on these friends, but…dang, I need better options. The thing is, I like them, but by now, I know that, even if they promise they’ll be by, it isn’t necessarily going to happen. It makes me wonder if they do that to family and friends and business contacts too, or why they can’t remember or can’t be bothered to do what they said they’d do, repeatedly. And yet I still want to like them, but yeah, I’m not happy with them. (They have young kids and a high school teen, respectively, young families, and both parents work for both families.) Just…dang it…I wish I could drive. I wish I could get a cab here reliably too. Both Yello and Uber, not great at this anymore.
Tonight, cooking has to happen, and tomorrow, more laundry can happen, as the previous load finally finished air-drying. Groceries have to happen early next week.
The tax bill arrived and is over a month’s rent. That’s from one county. The other county may have the same size bill, once I find out how much is due. This means I am paying at least 1/6 of the income from that in taxes on it. Its production is down. And I wonder why I’m having trouble staying afloat. :-/
Yes, if I had friends locally I could talk to, I’d be blowing off steam to them. Or talking to myself, I guess. — Discouraged and yet telling myself I’m keeping busy. It’s little stuff like this, constantly. Not being able to get around to do things, ordering what I need delivered and feeling like I’m getting too much or paying too much, when that costs me less than actually going out and doing it (cab fare, time spent, etc.)… I feel so hemmed in by my situation. I am trying to make progress on things, but I feel like it’s never enough, and I’m still not bringing in income from what I’m doing. At times, I just get so fed up, depressed, frustrated and angry about it, and yet…for now, I still have a roof over my head, groceries in the fridge, and so on. For now. But my chances of being able to move into a home and rent-to-own are getting slimmer each month this goes on. A roommate would ease the costs some, but I don’t know anyone. And if I end up having to get rid of everything and move in with someone else…I just don’t know. I’ll be 54 in March. I could have from 11 to 49 more years of life, depending on whose genetics kick in most for me. (Most of my family on both sides live into their 90’s, so that 49 years could be possible.) Somehow, I have to make this work. I am tired of it getting me down, too. I keep fighting, but I keep feeling like I don’t get ahead, something always comes along to smack me down when I do make some real progress, or I screw up and have problems. — I know other people have it worse, too, and I guess most of my frustration and worries about it are nothing too unusual, maybe. But I feel too often like I’m in this alone, and feel too bad about it, and I don’t want to have that taking such a big toll on my emotional / mental health. I want a better situation. If only I could make it happen.
I’m going to need to do more organizing and decluttering and rebooting. I’m going to have to take time out each week and do this. Today showed me just how unworkable I’ve still got it here, when I shouldn’t have had any such problems.
Dang, I wonder how much longer that pump/generator will be going on.
Going to take a break from moviing the 3D puzzle pieces (boxes, etc.) and cook some, then probably hunt for wherever I put the dang small wok. Maybe I can get something productive done. Sheesh.
Bear with me, folks. This is one of the few places I still have for contact with friends, to let off steam, or enjoy real conversations. I will feel better in a while. Just…today hasn’t been a good day. — I’m watching a video tonight to unwind some, and I’m likely going to start rereading Alliance Rising. I need something that isn’t work, tonight, something to get my mind off things and onto better things, to enjoy some.
Curry is, I think, hiding in the living room, where the noise can’t get him. Goober has been hunkered down here in the bedroom with me, despite my moving around lots of things, so he can be reassured he’s OK, safe from that loud noise.
I’m danged independent minded, and maybe hard to live with, I don’t know anymore. I’ve been so isolated for so long now, and I’m afraid I’d want to attach too much to anyone if I did. But I wish I had roommates, friends around, and blast, I wish I had someone special to be with. Er, I’m human, I need that emotional bond. I used to thing, oh, I wanted to wait for that special someone. Lowered expectations: Now, I just wish I could have a relationship that meant something and lasted, and yeah, I wish I could have the physical affection (ahem, yeah, frack/frell) because, dang it, I have had so little of that, ever. Being conflicted about myself in that regard, I’ve had almost nothing like that in life. Other folks, gay or straight or wherever they are on that, have relationships, temporary or long-term. I want the long-term. But I’ve hardly ever had anything there, and…dang it, someone special would sure help ease the frustrations of life. I wish I had understood this better and not been so…whatever I was being when I was in high school and college. I still think I’m blocked somehow. And when I try to make friends lately, just friends, mind you, not a couples relationship (I barely know how to start that with any guy or whether he’d like me)…anyway, I still don’t have any better friends locally, since moving here. I rarely see adults around until it’s dark, these days, and the kids are just kids out playing, but not as often either. I think the current regressive world news / national situation, and not just the heat, is getting to people. The kids are out less, playing. Or maybe it’s just the heat. Anyway, there’s not really a basis there for me to get to know folks lately.
(Whatever they are doing outside is still ongoing, with a change in the pumping motor.)
I’m going to cook for supper, but it’s mid-afternoon. Can’t think anyway. Whoa…noisier out there. What on earth is that, anyway? Wow.
I don’t want to be all sad-sack and pity-party. I want to be optimistic and excited and keep my momentum going. I want to see real progress and things completed. I want my life to make real improvements so I don’t end up in the situation I was in before.
I know my posts bother some people. Please, folks, bear with me. This has become one of my few sort-of-social outlets, a chance to halfway have a kind of conversation with other people I have something in common with. Things have got to improve eventually. It’s just that I’m having real trouble seeing it happening right now.
Also, I thank those here who have so often taken the time to respond, to be friendly and helpful and have enjoyable thoughts going. Thanks to all for your patience, and particularly to CJ and Jane, for being kind hosts, when I feel like a difficult visitor.
Cat Behavior / Health Question
Forewarning: This gets into cat litterbox or territorial marking, and maybe other things.
What the…? What did I just see? — I know there was more to that than just what I saw, but I’m baffled. I think I know, but I’m not sure. So I’m asking. CJ and Jane, other cat owners/staffers, your input would be much appreciated.
Curry (the new adolescent male kitty) just did something odd. — I went into the kitchen, and naturally Curry and Goober followed, in case food or treats might happen. Never mind that I fed them supper about three hours ago and both ate plenty. I greeted them and accidentally touched near the base of Curry’s tail (above, where the spine meets the tail). I know that’s a sensitive spot for cats, and usually they like that, but sometimes they can get a little miffed or swipe at you to tell you not to do that to them. Curry did not do anything aggressive at all. He gave out a short, high sound, almost like a squeak or an “Ooh!” or “Eeh!” which sounded like complete surprise or shock, and maybe a strong good feeling there. It was very short and I didn’t know what to make of that. I apologized, in case it shook him up; I wasn’t sure. But I try to pay attention to their signals, and I don’t always get it right, just like they don’t always understand my body language or voice.
I go on about what I was doing, and put down a little extra dry food. (I should have changed out one of the bowls, will do that tomorrow morning.) While I’m doing that, Curry moved from the “bar” counter (connecting the dining nook to the kitchen is a sort of bar counter window on both sides) to the sink, which he has investigated before. He’s developed a bad habit of wanting to get right there while I dish up their moist food. I’ve been picking him up, with the food and setting him down on the floor with no problems. he trusts me enough. — But this is right after having petted him in that spot, by accident. He sat in the sink while I was putting out the dry food. I didn’t think anything of that. — Then I hear the sound, and… the little guy peed in the kitchen sink. Goober had also gotten there and watched this in…whatever Goober thought of that, surprise, consternation, I don’t know. Goober just watched.
I turned around and saw this, and…. I really did not know what to do about it. I couldn’t very well pick him up and move him while he’s peeing. Uh, male or female, once you start going, it is almost impossible to stop until you’re done. Certain startlements or threats can make you stop for a second, but you go again, because that’s what it’s designed to do. The, ah, male and female plumbing are somewhat different for that, but basically, once you’re going, you really can’t stop, and scaring someone (human or animal) during that is only going to make a huge mess, on them, on anything nearby, including you if you interfere. So I didn’t scold him or stop him for it.
But I was baffled. I’m sifting his litterbox whenever I know he’s done anything, because he still has a loose stool and it’s extra smelly. I’m cleaning in self-defense. I can’t imagine how bad that must smell to them. Goober’s box gets sifted daily now too. I’d moved Curry’s box a few feet, but he’s already used it there and seemed OK with the move. I like it better in the new spot (no longer right by the door). I would rather they share the box in the bathroom, but I may be stuck with this now. OK, if so, I’ve been living with it since Curry got here, I can put up with this, I guess. — They aren’t fussing over food or the litterbox, or water either.
But this wasn’t over. When Curry finished, he turned around and did what any good cat does: He tried to cover it by pawing, digging, covering. Not much luck, since it’s a steal sink, but OK, kitty, thanks for trying, you get points for that. — But then…I have never seen a cat do this. What on Earth? — He licked the spot (vertical) on the side where he’d peed. (Territorial?) Then he tried to cover again, and got down. That baffled me. I didn’t know what to think. — Uh, obviously, I don’t want him peeing or pooping in the sink, but it is better than on the floor or on the furniture or my bed, y’know? But I don’t want him to do that regularly. But I was at a loss to know what to think of this, and didn’t scold him verbally or bop his nose. (Given that he’s still grabby and still wary or misreading my signals sometimes, since he’s been a stray all his life and I might suddenly be a scary human, I have not wanted to do anything to make him think I’m turning mean on him. Discipline and kindness, understanding, not being mean for no reason.)
Since he’d licked the spot, and since he had just before had that surprised squeak when I’d touched near the base of his tail, I had two clues to think the peeing or licking were related. — So I looked at the water dish there in the dining nook. Oh. Empty already? OK, I realized I had forgotten to change it in more than two days, and that bowl is smaller.
So I washed out that bowl and filled a fresh one and set it down and called to him. He’d seen me filling it and wanted to drink right away. He got a good drink from the bowl, now set on the floor. (Goober didn’t drink after him, but watched all this, and may have felt slighted that I didn’t call him. Not sure of Goober’s viewpoint on this.)
It was either last night or the night before that I changed their main water dish, in the hall by the bathroom. But now with this clue, I changed it too. It was due anyway. (I sometimes go three or four days without changing their water bowl, instead of every day or every other day. Shame on me, probably.) — I think I was getting warmer, there. Curry came in the bathroom and “helped” me change the water bowl and watched with great interest, as if, “Oh, my savior, you filled my other bowl, now you’re filling this one!” (Smokey was also very big on having plenty of fresh water. It was the first thing he got when I got him. Still kicking myself about Smokey.)
I set down the refilled main bowl in its usual place. Curry took a long drink there too, and Goober waited and watched on the periphery. He had followed too. — By now, I think maybe I’m onto something. — I am not sure if Goober has taken a long drink too. He doesn’t seem to want to drink as much, but he does get his fill of water, and will paw around the dish for some reason, before drinking. (He’s always done this, so he must have done that before I got him from a former friend.)
I am guessing that Curry thinks the new bowl is “his,” but I hadn’t thought he’d avoid the main bowl, which (I thought) was shared. Maybe he thinks that’s Goober’s bowl? But he’ll drink out of it. — Clearly, they needed fresh water, and Curry sure did, and got a long drink from both. This was both relief, and the second time, maybe demonstrating territory or that he’s the alpha. — Goober now knows the bowls have been freshly changed too.
Could Curry have really been so thirsty that he was trying to drink, uh, where he’d peed? But the main bowl was nearly full. He must have known that was there. Was it so important to him that “his” bowl was empty, that he was driven to this reaction? — They both were very glad to see their water bowls changed, and Curry drank plenty, with obvious relish, plus interest in watching me change their bowls.
Or…could he have had the urge to pee because I had touched the base of his tail and got that startled reaction? It was as though it also was a strongly positive reaction, like a thrill. Er, he’s adolescent. Did I unintentionally give the little guy an emotionally-charged, um, … was that a sexual thrill? I really don’t know what to make of it, but the sound he gave was more than startlement and more like it felt good than shock or a bad feeling. It’s a sensitive spot for them, and I think that gets stimulated in grooming, but also in mating. So, uh…. I feel awkward asking, but I wonder if maybe that felt thrilling for a second in a way he didn’t expect, and uh, that led to an urge to pee afterward.
I don’t know if this is, newly adolescent male beginning to have territorial marking and sexual feelings going on, or if it was combined with the need for clean, cool, fresh water, or — I’m baffled, but those are the clues I am going on. — With apologies for being too blunt about this, because I’m baffled by what I’ve just seen. My intuition or instincts say those seem like the most likely possiblities.
Well, er, kitty, I love you and you love me, but I did not intend to, uh, do anything too thrilling, there, kitty. If it felt good, well, good, buddy, but I wasn’t trying to do anything there. I guess if he thinks that was pretty great of me to be that nice, though, then I suppose we’re OK. — Despite his tendency to grab and still not knowing to keep his claws in or not mouth my hand, he’s only doing that to want to play and get or keep attention. He has misread me a few times and thought I was scary, but other than one time being too aggressive in wanting to play with me, he hasn’t shown much, if any, tendency to want to be aggressive, hostile or combative, toward me. Other than a hiss or two, he hasn’t shown aggression toward Goober either, just the tendency to be assertive and get food, which has settled down.
I don’t know if that’s starting on territorial marking / spraying, either. I got the impression it wasn’t that.
So I’m at a loss to know quite what’s going on with him in what I just saw. I haven’t seen that in any cat before. My impression is just that, an impression, my emotional read of what’s going on with him.
Does anyone have any better idea of what was going on there with him? I could use some advice there.
I’m ogoing to change out their water bowls more often, maybe daily, and Feel bad that I’d missed that his / the extra bowl had gone dry. I’ve tried to be very watchful about everything, since he’s so new and unused to being an indoor kitty instead of a stray.
I still get the feeling that he’s going to be less pushy or moody or aggressive than Smokey. He still has a lot to learn before he’s really settled in. He is still getting used to me and to Goober and still needs to learn indoor cat manners, with a few areas to work on his behavior. But overall, I think he’s got good potential. — He is, however, proving to be a challenge, with a personality unlike any other cat I’ve had, although closest, oddly, to Smokey in some ways, and milder in others.
So…what the heck, kitty? I want to understand what is going on with him, so I know how to deal with him, what his personality is like, and how better to reach him so he can learn and work on those areas needed.
I’m baffled and these are my best guesses, but huh, I’ve never seen that before.
Poor guys, I’ll be changing their water often now, at least until it cools down. But it’s cool enough for me in the apartment, cooler than Curry would’ve been used to outside.
I will feel better about it when Curry and Goober have had their vet checkup. Curry still needs his first checkup and shots, all that stuff. I know that since he’s a stray, he might have something I don’t know about. I’ve been a cat owner / staffer a long time, so I know those risks are there for an outside or stray cat. I am going on the assumption that he has something going on, but possibly not one of those serious risky illnesses cats can get. If he does, well, I want him to have a good life as long as possible. As far as I know, he’s OK, though, so we’ll just have to see what the vet says. — I will be shakeng my friends’ trees, about that, and I got promises before they didn’t keep. The vet trip has to happen, even though it’s going to cost a lot for them both, more so for Curry.
So if anyone understands what’s going on with Curry’s responses, if this signals anything, I could use the advice. Never quite seen that before. Curry, you’re unique, and keeping me hopping, that’s for sure.
Eventually, if/when the weather cools down, I’m hoping Curry and Goober will become friends. So far, it isn’t quite good friends, giving each other space, but also willing to be around each other too. In that also, this new kitty is proving unusual. — Well, it’ll keep me guessing and keep me out of trouble, maybe? Heh.
Yesterday was odd, cat-wise and cleanup-wise. My friend did not come by, so 2 packages at least, (small wok and lid) are at the apt. office. The place is swept but not vacuumed or mopped.
When I checked for the mail (fluorescent light bulbs came) — Curry popped out into the square and into a shady nook under the stairs. So I spent time to lure him out without scaring him. Oh, I had a disappointed kitty, who told me all about it, and pawed and fussed at the blinds, begging to be “Outside!” again, where it was bright and sunny and would have been very pretty indeed, except for the smell of lighter fluid or gas grill fuel or the lingering smell of fuel from that pump / generator, which had, for those few minutes, stopped. — So, I got him safely back in. Whew. But oh, was he vocal. I think he realized then that he could be vocal and “talk” to me, and that it gets a response (sympathy or some understanding and answers). And with him safely in, instead of lost for a day or forever, whew, better. I let him be for a while after trying to reassure him.
Later, his new ID tag had arrived, so he and Goober got new collars and ID tags, with me explaining, in solemn tones, that this was a “medal” and told everyone who they are and who I am and where to find me for home, so they would be safe. (Well, that’s the ideal goal, anyway.) Just as if they understood everything, and just as if I were a kid who still believed they could understand it all. — I think they understand the tone, the body language, and whether you are agitated or calm or other emotional state, even though I doubt they understand all or most of the words. I’ve fallen back to this as what seems to work best. — Surprisingly little trouble with their collars and fitting. I am getting better at this, I think. Gave them a little time so they didn’t feel forced and went back to adjust their collars. This worked much better than I thought it would. — I haven’t found just plain bright colored collars. Lots of fiddly designs. Do you want a bow-tie for your kitty’s collar? Do you want your kitty to have flashy rhinestones, perhaps some lace? Oh, they’ll sell you those. Maybe for a girl kitty, but I’m a guy and I suspect most girl kitties are the not-to-be-messed-with fiercely girly-girl and equally fiercely tomboyish sorts of girl kitties. My two boy kitties…well, frilly lace just does not seem to fit them. Not unassertive but gentlemanly urbane and loving Goober, and not, certainly, this new little fireball, Curry, who is both spicy and unusual and sweet. And a little bit “smokey” too. He is, I think, that all-boy sort of boy, actively so. I don’t think a bow-tie would suit Curry, but maybe Goober. But I would like to find just plain-colored nylon collars again. Still, I like the ones they have now, but in a few months, they’ll need new ones, as the old ones will look frayed and disreputable; not what a fine, handsome feline would want to wear.
(Ever notice how lately, people use “both” for more than two things? Yet I’m not the only one who does that.)
Curry has accepted his new collar surprisingly well. I thought there’d be great upset at it. I guess he thinks if Goober gets one, and if I think it’s such a big deal, he’s OK with it. But that surprised me. (Goober used to be very good at pulling off his collar. He decided he liked them, when he discovered a flea collar meant…no fleas. But we’re back to regular collars, and a flea liquid neck application, er, as soon as I find the spare package. (They are going to get a designated “kitty supplies” box or two.)
And…last night, Curry decided he was happy enough, and lonely enough, to come ask for attention and lie there very happily soaking up petting and chin and ear scritches, and slept with me a while. Goober also got plenty of attention but didn’t want to sleep on the bed, with or without the new guy. Hmm.
So, things ended OK; and now if I can just get the wok and lid and robe, we should be OK for a while. — Envelopes and stamps are due in soon, and I’ll be ordering groceries for Monday or Tuesday delivery. — Going to wait until later in the week for a possible next try at getting the guys to the vet. :-/
The workmen were at it off and on most of yesterday with that pump / generator. Don’t know what they were doing, but it, or something else, interfered with my internet service all daylight yesterday, off and on, so I couldn’t get much done online, and did a little housework and writing, reading, and coding instead. — The old alien word maker program is now nearly ported back to Pascal, which, oh, feels so strangely déjà vu, though I have to go in and alter all the tab, newline, and quote marks to something Pascal will tolerate, plus a couple of syntax things I am no longer certain of, to review. Then I can fix the JavaScript and Pascal so it understands when or if (as an option) to allow repeating letters, vowels or consonants separately, and a better way to handle 3 or 4 consonants in a row so they are not unpronounceable impossibilities. Heh.
Later, I know I’ll want to try porting it to C/C++ and, if and when I learn them, Python, PHP, and Java.
All in all, the day was odd but ended up better. — Curry is still here, and this morning, seems happier with his indoor-cat situation. (Little guy, you have a home and family and good food and water, and a chance at a far better, longer life than you could ever get as a stray.)
Oh my, he’s talking…I’d better be sure this is OK and not, “I’m about to do something against your weird human rules.”