Raven on a Writing Desk

Ok, this is it, you guys, I have approximately 60 minutes of transcription left to do. I have the exam for certification next week. I'm going to be in here, tapping away at this keyboard, finishing the class work and studying for the test.

Yes, I will be at Royal University Meridies on Saturday the 21st, learning to perform my duties as Voice Herald for the Barony of the South Downs.

Yes, I will be at Starbridge workday on Sunday, mowing the grass.

Also, my birthday is coming up at the end of the month; right now, I'm planning to camp out at Café Intermezzo, possibly Saturday afternoon (July 28, that is). I don't know what other people may want to do for my birthday, and I'm sure my mother still cares. If you want to celebrate with me, drop me a line in the comments and I'll figure out how many people I can cram into the time frame.

The kitten has been peeing in a tray in the bathroom, so I've put the bath mat back on the side of the tub. We'll see if she's satisfied with her sand, or if it's about the bath mat.

Charlie has put up a "squirrel-proof" feeder, since the deterrents we were using were ineffective. The smaller birds have already found it good, but the larger birds seem a bit put off with it. However, so far, the squirrels are put off too, so that's good. A couple of them have explored it, but found it wasn't worth the effort.

And yes, while we haven't had the bird feeder up, there have been many more mosquitos.

That's all for now.

The kitten is really suddenly discovering the thrills and chills of disappointment and misbehavior.

Last night she dashed up to Charlie's plate and stole a piece of fish. We spent the rest of the mealtime removing her whenever she tried to climb up by us. I did not give her my last bite, like I've been doing, and the plates went in the dishwasher immediately. After dinner was done, we allowed her to play with us some more, punishment over, but I could not believe how bold she was.

Now, I'm going to 6 Flags.

A few days ago, the kitten started to become really active. And eat! She was barely finishing the kibble it took to cover the bottom of a saucer in a day. Now she eats at least twice as much. Charlie feeds her when he wakes up -- she's already started the meowing and racing to the kitchen bit, so he hasn't much choice, since he's the official Starter-of-Day wake-up guy.

We're both having more success with pouncing and jumping games, and she's starting to climb into things. She's pretty good at not turning things over so far. Wait 'til adolescence, kitty, you're fixin' to hit a growth spurt.

I can tell she's larger today. She definitely has those jackrabbit hind legs and lopes along at quite a pace. I've thought of naming her Artemis.

She has finally got her baby name, though: "Dilly." I said "Dylan," and Charlie said, these things must be done "dilly-cat-ly." And I liked it. She's a dilly, alright. So, we think she'll be Miss Dylan, Dilly for short. Although we may give her additional names as we grow older... she could end up Miss Artemis Aphasia Dylan... So, we have something to play with, and something to call her so we can stop saying "she," and "the little one" and "the kitten."

( Cut ... in case of overly doting kitten love. )