Random Geek Child

Stay Warm!

Folks with cold winters, stay warm. It’s been extremely cold here these past few days (I’m talking ‘two layers of gloves, three jackets’ kind of cold) and it’s important to stay safe out there, especially if you’re going to be outside for extended periods of time.

That said, happy holidays everyone! May this last week of 2022 bring only happy plot twists and benevolent mischief. See you next year!

When you clear a shelf the cats can reach…

…the cats are going to sit in it. When you only partially clear a shelf the cats can reach, they’re still going to try to sit in it. And of course if you leave a blanket on the couch, someone might burrow their way under.

There are two shelves - the upper one has a stack of books on the left side and a blue cloth on the right, while the bottom one has an Arwen. She's sitting crouched and alert, staring off to the right of the camera.

There are three shelves. The top one is full of books. The bottom one is empty. The middle shelf has some books just barely visible behind June, who is crouched on the front edge with three paws partway over it, looking at the camera. It is abundantly evident that she doesn't actually fit.

There's a blanket bunched up on the couch, with a green pillow behind it. Zuko has settled largely under the blanket, against the pillow, with only his head and part of his back visible. His head is resting on another section of the blanket with his eyes closed.

The Couch Is Comfortable And So Is The Sink

Like I’ve said before, afternoon nap is routine. I’m used to the cats curling up on the couch. By now you’re probably used to my cats curled up on the couch. It’s super cute (and here are more pics to further prove it). What I was not expecting was for Arwen to come curl up in the bathroom sink. Naturally, I have evidence.

Zuko and Diane, curled up in what's effectively a 180 degree rotation of each other with their heads touching. Cute. Pretty normal.

June and Arwen together on the couch, Junes head resting against Arwen's neck as Arwen holds her head up like she's about to start bathing June. Also cute. Also pretty normal.

The white porcelain counter gives way to white and black fur as it dips into the basin. The faucet head is close enough to the back of the sink that Arwen could comfortably be standing in it, if she so desired, but no. She's curled up with her tail on her side and her head resting on the front of the counter, looking tiny and absolutely ridiculous.

Arwen Appreciation

Just Arwen being cute on a TARDIS comforter. Enjoy!

White and black kitty, curled up with her nose on her tail, the center of her own little crater as the blue TARDIS-strewn comforter dips down beneath her.

White and black kitty, curled up with her top back leg outstretched and her chin up for scritches. Her visible ear nearly touches one of the many TARDIS images on the comforter beneath her.

White and black kitty, curled up on her side, front top paw outstretched to cross her likewise stretched out back paw. She's using part of the TARDIS comforter as a pillow, where it hasn't dipped under her weight.

Wildberry Lunch and Undying Mint

This is, in fact, another photos post, but I figured it warranted context: we recently found ourselves in downtown Chicago to see The Twenty-Sided Tavern – fantastic show, hilarious and interactive, Mom’s going to post about it so I’ll link to that when she does – and opted to have lunch at Wildberry Café. These are their Chocolate Vanilla Swirl smoothie and the Banana Coconut Cream Pie crepes. Both were as delicious as they sound/look!

The third picture is our mint refusing to yield to the cold. Persistent, that one.

Update: Mom’s post can be found here.

Afternoon Nap

Quite possibly our cats’ favorite pastime.

Zuko, the grey cat with stripes, is stretched out on the couch in front of a back pillow, with Diane, the larger black and white cat, curled up practically on top of him.

Diane, black and white, June, tortoiseshell, and Arwen, white and black, curled up in that order from left to right on the couch. June seems to be using Diane's head as a pillow for her body and Arwen's body as a pillow for her head.

Again, Diane, June, and Arwen curled up on the couch, but now June's head is on Diane, her back is up against Arwen, and her hind quarters are awfully close to falling off the couch.

Context Is Overrated

Zuko, standing with hind legs on a piled stuffed animals and front paws in a window, head turned to look out the other window in the adjacent wall.

A rainbow striped Build-A-Bear, leaning against a pink wardrobe with stickers of paw prints and catchphrases; one of the visible ones says "Pawsome." The bear is in a light pink, sequined dress, holding a heart-shaped wand and sporting a matching pink tiara.

Diane (black and white cat) is laying on the floor with her head rested on a fluffy toy spider. The lights are low.

Mystery Chocolates

I can’t remember which store was carrying them or why they were there, but I somehow wound up with a bag of candy – mostly chocolates – labeled in languages I don’t know how to read. Because I have the fortune of having no known food allergies, this is lots of fun! I’ve tried eleven so far. Of those, here are some of the most notable, along with my observations: