Please meet...

...Cuddles!

Hubby John and I adopted her from a local shelter last week and today's her one-week anniversary. It's been really hard for me to take the plunge and get a new cat after losing Cindy in January, but I recently decided (with a little help) that if I don't take the risk, I'll never get the reward.

I had a little trouble with her name at first -- it's bit cute. But she really does love to cuddle -- more like splay out on your lap and stretch all four paws out in different directions really. She's adjusting remarkably well and is really well-behaved. We're determined not to spoil her as much as we did Cindy, but I don't know how long we'll be able to keep up that level of resolve.

She really isn't that interested in getting up on the furniture if someone isn't already sitting there. One thing she can't resist, though, is footstools. Weird.

It's really nice having a cat around the house again. I had started to get used to being without Cindy and thought that's how I wanted things to stay. I think that telling myself that made things easier, but it wasn't the truth. This one was definitely worth waiting for.

The Friday Shuffle

Five random songs from my iPod. Just push play.

1. Cannonball - Damien Rice, O
Stones taught me to fly. Love, it taught me to lie. Life, it taught me to die. So it's not hard to fall when you float like a cannonball.

2. The Rising - Bruce Springsteen, The Rising
There's spirits above and behind me. Faces gone black, eyes burnin bright. May their precious blood bind me, Lord, as I stand before your fiery light. I see you, Mary, in the garden, in the garden of a thousand sighs. There's holy pictures of our children dancin' in a sky filled with light. May I feel your arms around me. May I feel your blood mix with mine. A dream of life comes to me like a catfish dancin' on the end of my line. Sky of blackness and sorrow (a dream of life). Sky of love, sky of tears (a dream of life). Sky of glory and sadness ( a dream of life). Sky of mercy, sky of fear ( a dream of life). Sky of memory and shadow ( a dream of life). Your burnin' wind fills my arms tonight. Sky of longing and emptiness (a dream of life). Sky of fullness, sky of blessed life. Come on up for the rising. Come on up, lay your hands in mine. Come on up for the rising. Come on up for the rising tonight.

3. Love On The Rocks - Sara Bareilles, Little Voice
Hot as hell. Cold as ice. Sip it slow 'cause it's so nice. Dulls my senses, drives my pain but I do it again. Burns a bit to the touch. Dangerous if it's too much. If this bottle could talk. Love on the rocks.

4. Flickr - Jonathan Coulton, Thing A Week II
A visit to the dentist. A place to get some pie. A rainbow floats above a waterfall. A ferris wheel. A carousel. The landlord never learned to spell. Someone put graffiti on the wall. Atop the Christmas tree, a shining star and Dwyer's rocking out on air guitar.

5. Billy Liar - The Decemberists, Billy Liar - EP
So the summer is eternity for you? Sleeping in until your father's shaking you down, he's shaking you down. And the mailroom shift gets a real short shrift. As you dole out the packages, no one seems to want you around, all skulking around. Let your legs loll on the lino. 'Til your sinews spoil. Will you stay here for a while, dear,? 'Til the radio plays something familiar, plays something familiar?

The Friday Shuffle

Five random songs from my iPod for a rainy, humid morning. Just push play.

1. Another Cup of Coffee - Cowboy Mouth, Word of Mouth
Well I used to keep my money in a cookie jar. It was shaped like a cat. It was a present from my mother. I read a lot of books but I couldn't see between the lines. I'll have another cup of coffee if you don't mind.

2. Talkin at the Texaco - James McMurtry, Too Long in the Wasteland
Well, if you're lookin' for a good time, you're a little bit late. We rolled up the sidewalks at a quarter to eight. It's a small town. We can't sell you no beer. It's a small town, son, may I ask what you're doin' here?

Hey what you up to? I already know. I heard the boys talkin' at the Texaco. It's a small town. I know how you feel. It's a small town, son, and the news travels quicker than wheels. Who you lookin' for? What was his name? You can prob'ly find him at the football game. It's a small town. You know what I mean? It's a small town, son, and we all support the team.

3. Indiana - David Mead, Indiana
Say hello to your friends. Guess we'll call it a night. I'm pulling off at a truck stop. It's a glamorous life. Indiana's the wrong place to be breaking apart on a road that goes on forever like a hole in your heart.

4. Title and Registration - Death Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism
The glove compartment isn't accurately named and everybody knows it. So I'm proposing a swift, orderly change. 'Cause behind its door there's nothing to keep my fingers warm and all I find are souvenirs from better times.

5. Don't Change Your Plans - Ben Folds Five, The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner
All I know is I've gotta be where my heart says I oughta be. It often makes no sense. In fact, I never understand these things I feel.

The Friday Feast

Appetizer
When was the last time you had your hair cut/trimmed?
One month ago yesterday. I have an appointment this afternoon, which is great since my hair looks like a mushroom cap.

Soup
Name one thing you miss about being a child.
I'm kind of having my second childhood right now.

Salad
Pick one: butter, margarine, olive oil.
I'm going to cheat. If I'm baking - butter. If I'm cooking - olive oil.

Main Course
If you could learn another language, which one would you pick, and why?
Lately I've been thinking about learning some basic Polish, because my mom's side of the family is hard-core Polish and I'd like to be read the t-shirts at Polish Fest. There's a beginning course this fall at the Polish cultural center in Milwaukee that I'm trying to work up my courage to take.

Dessert
Finish this sentence: In 5 years I expect to be…
Doing something to help at least one person realize he/she doesn't have to be stuck in the same ineffective way of living because of family dysfunction, fear, or worry.

Yup.