Happiness is....................

Cleaning your house and finding a pair of shoes you own and really like, but had completely forgotten!

What a difference a day makes.

Cosmo came to visit us for 24 hours. Cosmo can only be described as a force. 65 pounds or so of pure energy in constant motion. We spent our time playing, rough housing, running at full speed in circles in the yard, tearing apart play toys, and digging lots and lots of digging. I'm not sure where Daisy went, be I didn't see a hair of her for the entire time.

Sunday, ah, sunday was rest and relaxation. Ah, it's good to have a little of everything in your weekend!

Tired! That Cosmo wore me out.

All About Daisy

Me pretending cats like to cuddle.

Poor Daisy is the overlooked member of my little family*. She rarely makes the blog. When I run into friends, they frequently ask after Otto, but rarely after Daisy. I don't even talk about her much. Honest, I'm not a cat person, I got her because getting a new dog seemed stupid. But she's a good cat. She tries to play with Otto. When I'm sleeping or watching a movie she's right there. Not in an obnoxious cat kind of a way, just in a solid warm slightly purring body next to me kind of a way. When I go work in the yard, she hangs out and keeps an eye on me. She's very loyal. Really, one couldn't ask for a better cat.

So for today's blog I thought it could be all about Daisy. Here are some pictures of Daisy's latest obsession, my bathroom sink. Every time I'm in the bathroom she runs in there and jumps on the sink. She likes it if I turn the water on just a little bit so she can play. Okay, she's a cat, she's a little weird.

*My sister might argue that Sebastian is the most over looked member of my family, that that's a different story.

If I sit here long enough, she'll turn it on.

Okay, still waiting, maybe if I watch it, it will go on.

Whoo hoo I'm jumping for joy, but I must play it cool and hang back, in that cat way.

You know Roberta, this camera thing is just a bit undignified, don'tcha think?

Completely Gratuitous

Otto spent his entire day blissfully soaking up the warmth of the sun. I'm just happy he was able to find a pillow.

Guilty Pleasure #4, Manhattan Mondays

The cherry is gross, I go for a little orange rind twist myself.

So back about 13 years ago my stepbrother got married in India. A bunch of us Americans (around 30 or so) headed out to Jamshedphur India where we were wined and dined and given the Indian royal treatment for a week of wedding festivities. But actually, we weren't 'wined' and dined, we were scotched and dined. In India, you don't drink beer or wine you drink scotch. In fact, beer and wine are very hard to come by in India. (I remember once someone ordering a beer and we found out later someone had sent their servant to the store to buy some.) But everyone in India seems to have scotch. It was there that I gained my love for scotch. Not only do I like the taste of it, but scotch represents a festive atmosphere. It represents friends. It represents a time completely removed from your normal day to day life, where things are a little more exciting and a little brighter.

When I got back to the US, I didn't drink scotch very often. It was something I might drink on a special ocasion. One in a while I'd go out and the night would just feel a little more special than a beer or a wine night. I'm not sure when I tried my first Manhattan, but they quickly took over as my favorite drink. A good Manhattan, and just one really, makes for a good night.

Manhattan Mondays don't happen any more, but for a while, a friend and I were going out to dinner every Monday night. We'd go to the King Fish Cafe and I'd usually get a Manhattan to drink before dinner. The King Fish has mighty fine Manhattans. Something about a Monday nights and drinking Manhattans made the night feel special. Mondays are typically a serious, rather dreary night. It's the beginning of the week. You've just gone back to work and have many more days ahead before the weekend. But somehow, when you're drinking a Manhattan, Monday night goes away for a minute. You can pretend it's the weekend. Or you're off in Jamshedphur India attending another wedding party surrounded by friends. And suddenly the week seems a little brighter.