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17 September 2003 — Heart of the Family (16)

I'm home sick (really sick) today, curled in bed with my iBook and a purring kitten to comfort me.

I've not said much about Nemo lately, and that's a shame. In just a few weeks, he's become the heart of this house. He's the instigator. He's the lover. He's the one bringing us together as a family. Except Toto. Toto hates him, and she's not shy about saying so. Her ire has become so uncontrollable that we lock her away at night and let Simon and Nemo have the rest of the house to themselves.

What's so great about Nemo?

He purrs on contact, and continues to purr until given a reason to stop. He sleeps with us of his own accord. He plays. He plays with Simon: though Simon is about five times his size, Nemo launches himself at the big lug and takes him down. Simon loves it. Simon has never been happier. He no longer demands to be let outside, no longer disappears to the neighbor's house for hours at a time. He wants to be inside playing with Nemo. Nemo is happy to oblige.

Nemo doesn't like his food; he likes Simon's special urinary-tract infection prevention food. Simon doesn't like his food; he likes Nemo's special kitten growth formula food. They've got some special deal worked out whereby they wait until I am not watching and then they eat each other's food, even though their dishes are at opposite ends of the house. I try to police them, but I can't. Nemo prefers certain human food to cat food, though. He especially likes Trader Joe's chocolate-covered red licorice. And toes. Nemo likes toes. He uses his sharp little teeth and needle-like claws to get at our toes in the middle of the night.

He's a rascal.


I have three great ideas for weblog entries—Johnny Cash, scientific pantheism, foldedspace cast of characters—but I didn't get to any of them last night because Kris and I somehow squeezed in another three episodes of Six Feet Under.

We were only going to watch one episode, but after it was over Kris said, "I'd rather watch another episode of this than watch the queer thing," (meaning Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) and so we watched a second episode. Then we were going to bed, but after the second episode was over Kris said, "It's hard to wait for the next one," so we didn't. This show is like a drug.

"Nobody's ever who they seem to be." — Parker
"Nobody interesting." — Claire


Now it's time for me to go sit in the bathroom trying to decide whether or not I'm going to vomit again. Whee!

On this day at foldedspace.org

2005Autumn Comes   In which signs of autumn abound.

2004A Bit of a Puff   I've been smoking my pipe lately.

Comments
On 17 September 2003 (09:45 AM), Tiffany said:

I hope you feel better. Being sick sucks.

We are having problems with our cat food too. Porter and Gir are more interested in the kitten food. While Gaz, our kitten, does not want to eat the kitten food. Both Porter and Gir have put on weight since we got the two new cats, and I must blame that on the kitten food because they are getting more exercise then before.


On 17 September 2003 (10:02 AM), Tammy said:

I bet you've got the same thing as my kids ahve got. Goodness, I hope I don't get it. I have a pretty tough immune system. On the other hand cleaning up puke and diarhea may just be enough exposure to give me the virus!


On 17 September 2003 (10:14 AM), mac said:

were you sick last night when I called? do germs spread throuh phone lines? Hope you feel better.


On 17 September 2003 (10:24 AM), Denise said:

So sorry to hear you are sick, especially to the point of yacking.

Another comment - Six Feet Under is one of the best shoes on television. My whole family is addicted to it.


On 17 September 2003 (10:32 AM), Jeff said:

Look at that. School starts back up and everbody gets sick!

Could this be God's punishment for those who send their kids off to school rather than home-schooling them? ;-)


On 17 September 2003 (10:34 AM), J.D. Roth said:

toto--in an act of penance?--has hopped up on the bed. she has curled by my side, on top of my left hand, and is purring purring purring. see? i'm a good cat she seems to be saying, and for the moment it is true.


On 17 September 2003 (11:24 AM), Mom said:

I'm sorry to hear you're sick, J.D., but I'm glad you have the cats to keep you company. I hope you feel better soon.

My cats still eat the special, expensive Prescription CD cat food that the vet prescribed for Kraft after he had a urinary tract blockage. I consider it a preventive measure now even with Kraft gone, and the remaining three like it, so I figure why change to something cheaper and wind up with another cat (or more)with urinary tract problems and having to switch back again.

It's pretty amazing how cats can set the tone in a household. :-)


On 17 September 2003 (11:43 AM), Nick said:

Six Feet Under is one of the best shoes on television.

I wish my typos were as entertaining.


On 17 September 2003 (12:49 PM), Amanda said:

Welcome to the 6FU addiction society! What a truly wonderful show.


On 17 September 2003 (01:37 PM), Denise said:

Well, not everyone can have my talent, I guess!


On 17 September 2003 (07:51 PM), Rich said:

there's something to be said for vomiting. it's not often when you are truly and completely not in control of a situation, and vomiting is one of those times. there's a certain beauty in turning yourself over to something else and letting it take over. i don't vomit often...once every three or four years, and when i do, i am disgusted by it. but yet compelled to be interested. it's sort of like the feeling of standing in the ocean and getting knocked around by the waves.

enjoy yourself, J.D.


On 18 September 2003 (08:24 AM), Joel said:

I wouldn't describe myself as someone who vomits routinely. I'd rather talk about my other glowing qualities like my prodigious appetite, or the time in sixth grade when I SINGLE-HANDEDLY won a game of dodgeball. But, if asked, and clearly during all this talk of vomiting there is an unspoken question, which counts as a semi-direct query if not an actual interrogation under lights with big syringes of sodium pentathol, I will admit that I vomit several times a year. I like to describe this as "prophylactic vomiting" which is to say, "vomiting for the greater good." Sure, it's messy and temporarily incapacitating, but wouldn't it be better, after enjoying that twelfth White Pollock, to spend some time apart from it? To get a little space in your relationship with said Pollock? Many's the time I've dragged myself into work thinking, "Well, I bet I'd feel a lot worse if I hadn't vomited."


On 18 September 2003 (10:21 AM), Dana said:

I, for one, am more than ready for another topic of conversation... :P


On 18 September 2003 (11:03 AM), dowingba said:

Now, I'm not one to get diarrhea often...


On 18 September 2003 (02:09 PM), Dana said:

Thank you for sharing. (Ick!)


On 18 September 2003 (06:09 PM), Kris said:

Senior year of high school, my pre-debate tournament routine usually included a quick vomit. Calmed the nerves, cleared the head-- just bring the toothbrush!


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