I recently picked up some new toys for my cats. Not cute fuzzy mice. Or squeaky birds. Or even those little balls with bells in them. No, I bought my girls an ax, a steak knife, a cleaver and a saw.
Here’s the review I posted:
Needless to say, this was the review that inspired me to buy the set of bloody knives. The critique may have been written by Anonymous, but I thought it was great:
“It’s so weird how one of my cats is a cat and the other one is a 3,000-year-old demon pretending to be a cat.” –Dana Reyna Liebelson
It may be the beginning of July, but I’m in Christmas mode.
In last week’s issue of A Bit of Good News, I wrote about a lovely 9-year-old girl with cancer. Since she may not have much time left, hundreds of people banded together to give her the chance to experience some Christmas joy. While the tale was bittersweet, I was warmed by the compassionate nature of everyone who participated. That is what the Christmas spirit is all about: giving, loving, helping, bringing goodness into the world.
Light knows we could certainly use it right now.
I also spent a bit of time last week searching for our annual Christmas ornament. Nearly every year since M and I have been a couple, we’ve purchased a single ornament to celebrate spending another holiday season together. I do all of the research, looking for 20 or so options. We rate each bauble on a scale of 1 to 5 and then select the ornament that receives the highest scores. This year we’re getting two ornaments, one for us and one for our kitties. (They have their own stocking too.)
I’ve started my Christmas shopping, as well. We’re keeping things simple this year, nothing too extravagant. Nevertheless, if I can find things on sale throughout the year and finish up my entire list by Nov. 1, I’ll be able to spend the holiday season just enjoying the festivities and not worrying about last-minute shopping trips.
Are you celebrating Christmas in July? If not, it’s the perfect time to pick up some holiday cards on deep discount.
Pour yourself a spot of tea. And warm up a pan of chocolate chip scones. I’m in the mood to talk about all things death-related and you’re invited:
What did you do this weekend? Play a game? Try a new restaurant? See the latest blockbuster at the movies?
Me? I met a library tortoise.
On a friend’s recommendation, M and I headed to the Leach Library in Londonderry, N.H. It’s a charming spot to wile away an hour or two browsing the bookshelves or reading in a comfortable chair. Every work table comes with a hub so your devices can charge while you toil. There’s a private room for those who wish to write or study in silence. The library also offers a seed catalog for gardeners and a “library of things” for everyone else.
After wandering through the stacks — and yes, checking out a book — I did something I almost never do. I visited the children’s department. Like all of my favorite libraries, this one has a children’s section that’s separated from the main area, thus allowing those who are wee to run around and squeal to their heart’s content. But this children’s area features something I’d never seen before.
Oscar is a Hermann’s tortoise and he’s around 11 years old. He joined the library last year and lives in a warmed terrarium that’s covered in cool tortoise-y facts. Did you know that all tortoises are turtles but not all turtles are tortoises? Or that a group of tortoises is called a “creep”?
Oscar also had a hard shell, and when you touch it, he can apparently feel it (sort of like when someone touches your fingernail). The librarian was kind enough to give me the opportunity to scratch his back, which I wholeheartedly took advantage of. He was so adorable — and I am definitely going back to see him again soon.
