Take a Bath to Classical Music

Thisbe, the younger, more sensitive feline, bathes to classical music. She is not the first cat we've owned who liked to bathe to the beat, so to speak. A former cat once took a bath for an entire symphony, and never missed a note. Last Sunday the New York Times Sunday magazine had an article on the scientific study of animal's personalities. Anyone who has ever spent time in the company of a creature assuredly knows that it has a personality, a distinct personality.

Among the little herd of Scottish Highland cattle, we have Old Mama, who is aggressive and don't take no you-know-what from anyone. There is the sweet young bull who rubs noses with the others and doesn't realize that he could be, well, a bully. The formerly shy cow was formerly shy, but in the meantime has integrated herself into the herd. Last year's baby gets bullied by everyone except this year's baby, who is still sweet and big-eyed. Old Mama won't share handouts with her, either.

When we lived in Illinois, we had several families of raccoons who came for nightly treats. They, too, had distinct personalities. On the bird feeder, we had the War Dove, who was very aggessive and chased the other birds off the feeder. A mean dove? Yup.

Everyday I open the mailbox with anticipation, but no word from any agents. In the meantime, while the writing does not exactly "flow," the pages of the new novel are piling up, and it's beginning to look like a "real" manuscript. What will happen when I am awash in unsold manuscripts? Maybe they can become a long, long memoir. The lives of a cyber-sleuth?

Tomorrow we celebrate the Chinese New Year with a meal of Sechuan shrimp, eggplant, rice and stir-friend veggies. And almond cookies. I have been doing this for years, and it's always fun. The Year of the Dog. What do you think that means? I'm a rabbit myself.

Nibble, nibble.

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