Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon

I recently started this series; can't think how I missed it when it first came out. I found it by reding three recent novels she wrote about Lord John Grey, who apears as a character in some of the series. Time travel, history and romance are a perfect combination in my mind--I myself would sometimes like to step through a portal to an earlier time. Except for the lack of indoor plumbing. And central heating. And chocolate...OK, so maybe it's a good thing ot only happens in books!

Anyway, I enjoy the accuracy of her historical details. I find the characters compelling, and the story moves along at a good pace. I actually started the second book while I was reading the first, so I'll be moving on to the rest of the series soon.

Also on my "next up" list: "Reserved for the cat" by Mercedes Lackey and "The house of Lanyon" by Valerie Anand.

How to watch a movie, with cats

Watched Pirates of the Caribbean, World's End with my daughter tonight. We were both kind of disappointed, except for the bloopers. What made it memorable was watching it with the assistance of Charlie the lap cat. He was sleeping on the bed when we came in to start the movie, and didn't move as we set the movie up, moved ourtselves onto the bed, arranged water, etc. After a short while, tho, he decided to take advantage of the availability of my lap, and gradually worked his way up my legs, purring up a storm. Of course, once I started to pe him, I was not allowed to stop. Soon it became a three-way fight between Charlie, my hands, and the remote. The cat won, of course. Then, just as I had given up on the idea of replyaing any scenes or skipping any of the bonus features, he moved on up to my chest, so that every time I breathed in, I was getting hair up my nose! (Yes, he does have very long hair!) Then one of the dogs decided to join us , landing her entire 60 pounds of dog breath and one very soggy chew toy right on top of the cat--on my chest. Cat fled, dog decided to chase cat, we settled down again to watch the movie, and after a few minutes, Charlie was back, pushing his head into my hand & finally putting a tooth very gently to my finger to remind me that my primary purpose for being there was to pet the cat, not watch the movie.

Studies say that petting a cat can lower your blood pressure. I have yet to see that deomstrated around Here!

What gives?

As I was driving home through the slush this evening, thinkng how lucky my 4 cats are, it occurred to me that I have yet to post anything about the 2 items in my title: cats or books!


Allow me to remedy that: currently, the clowder is set at 4:
Charlie, the grand old man at 12, who has recently been through 2 surgeries for bladder problems. He has lovely long black fur, except where it was shaved for the surgery.

PacoBell, 9 years old, also black, but with short, sleek fur. He is not named for the composer, rather for the Taco Bell chihuahua.

Orangie, also about nine. He came to us as a stray who had obviously been an indoor pet, and he is a love bug of the highest order. My daughter named him, so you can coorectly assume that he is not black.

Midnite, the baby at just over a year. Also long, black fur. Definitely in the juvenile delinquent stage of cathood.

They cuddle, they wrestle, they generally keep us amused.

Next up: cat escapades and the latest on my reading list. It's been a long day.

Super bowl--not a super bust

I usually spend the duration of "Super Sunday" crocheting and politely nodding my head as all around me comment on the game, jump up and down and gerally have a roaring good time. Not that I have anything against football, but unless the Packers are playing, I just can't get that interested. This game kept me watching tho! I didn't really care who won, but I was with some people who did care, and they were not disappointed at the outcome. All in all, worth staying up past my bedtime & missing Masterpiece Theatre.

The only disappointment for me was Tom Petty. He didn't sing all of Freefallin', and just was not out there long enough.