So I’ve pretty well decided to change the layout of the site – yes, again – mostly because I can. I accomplished what I wanted to with the look you’re currently taking in, and now that exercise is over. Also, I want a bit more elbow room. Easy enough to do with Thesis and its custom file approach (insert standard disclaimer about being a DIYthemes employee here); the hardest part will be deciding just what look I want. Anyway, the change won’t happen soon but will be total and immediate when it does take place, so consider this fair warning.

Another photographic visit from guest kitty Willow. The camera, it just loves her.

One more shot of Willow, whose story is recounted in this previous post. Here she’s practicing her Halloween look. Willow’s new custodian is a talented photographer, yes?

Some time ago, M was working among the perennials in the front yard when three young boys came walking up the sidewalk; one of them carried a young gray cat. For reasons that we will likely never learn and would probably not understand, the boys elected to surreptitiously abandon the cat in our driveway. That is how we came to have six cats in our household – again.

Don’t worry. This story has a happy ending.

Is she not beautiful? Graceful yet endearingly goofy, tiny little miaow, curious about everything, and utterly unafraid of the established felines in the household. Which is why none of the other cats could stand her, I think.

M did not want to give the little miss a name, because to name a cat is to keep it. That’s been our history, anyway. When I took the kitty to our trusted Kingsbury Animal Hospital to check for a microchip (none, of course) and for the dreaded feline immunodeficiency and feline leukemia viruses (none, thank goodness), I checked her in as Jane Doe. Jane was a hit at the vet office; the doctor admitted to being a little jealous of our having come into guardianship of such a perfect little critter.

Back home with Provisional Cat Number Six. I had already given info to the local Humane Society in case anyone came looking for the lost kitty, and also placed a ‘found cat’ ad on Craigslist (which neither M or I would have thought of, but which was suggested by both a lab tech at Kingsbury Animal Hospital and a staffer at the Humane Society). There was nothing to do but wait, and after waiting, we heard nothing.

In time – and simply to avoid calling the cat ‘Hey, you’ – we gave her the name Sofia.

This is where regular readers of the blog would probably expect to read, “And Sofia has been with us to this day” – but no! Mirabile dictu, we found a good home for the cat: one of my colleagues at the library where I work had a daughter who dearly wanted another feline in her life. They are good people, cat people, just the kind of folks we would want for any former stray. They have given her the name of Willow, which we think is wonderful. Here’s a recent photo of her taken by my colleague:

There are so many more cats in need than there are people with room in their homes and hearts. Willow is a very lucky girl.

A federal judge in California has ruled that Prop 8 – the voter initiative that banned gay marriage – is unconstitutional:

Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples. Because California has no interest in discriminating against gay men and lesbians, and because Proposition 8 prevents California from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide marriages on an equal basis, the court concludes that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.

*Yeah, it’s uncharitable, but they started it.

As M is recovering from a nasty sinus infection that had her out of action for a week and a half, she can amuse herself with lyrics from an episode of Curious George titled “The Inside Story.” First, the backstory (for those of you who don’t watch PBS in the morning before work):

George doesn’t feel so well. He’s sneezing and can’t taste Chef Pisghetti’s sauce. He learns that he has a germ inside that’s given him a cold. George wishes he could make the germ go away so he could feel better. Gnocchi curls up with George and they both go to sleep. In his dream, George wakes up inside himself, with Gnocchi at his side. They are facing that pesky germ – the bluesy, singing Toots (or Tootz, if you prefer) and his Germettes, who have set up camp inside George. George wants them to leave, but they are having a wonderful time and never want to go! George and Gnocchi chase Toots through George’s body (nose, stomach and lungs) in an effort to evict him. Will they succeed? And if so, how?

And now, the lyrics (if only the video was available online; oh, well). Take it away, Toots!

(electric guitar echoing from distance) (chatters “What’s that?”) And they weren’t alone.
You better look out, ’cause Tootz is in town.
♪♪ I’m in your nose ♪♪
♪♪Achoo, he’s in your nose♪♪
♪♪ I’m in your nose ♪♪
♪♪Oh, yeah, he’s in your nose♪♪
♪♪ I’ll make you sniff and I’ll make you sneeze ♪♪
♪♪ You won’t be smelling that smelly cheese ♪♪
♪♪ Down to your belly ♪♪
♪♪Down, down!♪♪
♪♪ I’ll mosey on down to your belly ♪♪
♪♪Look out, he’s in your belly♪♪
♪♪ So don’t eat a thing, that’s my suggestion ♪♪
♪♪ ‘Cause I’ll be giving you indigestion ♪♪
(Tootz laughs) Sing it, Germettes
♪♪ Go, Tootz, go ♪♪
Oh, I like the sound of that.
Do it again!
♪♪ Go, Tootz, go ♪♪
(laughing heartily) I love this place!
Whoo!
♪♪Bad-dap, bop-dah-bop, wow!♪♪
♪♪ Gonna head to your lungs ♪♪
♪♪Hey, Tootz, where you going?♪♪
♪♪ To the lungs ♪♪
♪♪Oh, yeah, he’s in your lungs♪♪
♪♪ Well, I’ll be making you wheeze and cough ♪♪
♪♪ You better take the whole week off ♪♪
♪♪ And if you’re wondering who to blame ♪♪
♪♪Don’t forget Tootz’s the name♪♪
♪♪ ‘Cause we’ll be making you sweat and squirm ♪♪
♪♪ ‘Cause that’s our job ♪♪
♪♪ ‘Cause we’re germs ♪♪
Yeah!
Whoo! Ha-ha-ha!
♪♪ ‘Cause we’re germs. ♪♪

I’m going to have this running through my head all day.

So M gave me permission to purchase a new Weber grill. A big Weber grill. A Weber grill with propane-powered ignition for starting the charcoal.

I made my way at once to the nearest home store to make the buy. Naturally, the box did not fit in the car. I made do by opening the box right there in the parking lot and stuffing the vehicle with each and every part. Then I flagged down a nearby sales associate. “Recycle this, please,” I said cheerfully as I handed him the empty box.

The Weber Performer, before assembly:

And after:

Ta-dah!

The Performer has indeed performed for us. The summer has just been upgraded.

Listen to my wife as she talks about perceptions of disability in American life, and learn how to change those perceptions. Written transcript of the linked video available.