Cat!

Eve claims that Quantum (their cat, a lovely sweet black one) likes to interrupt people who are reading or working, which reminds me of Rhiow in "The Book of Night with Moon." Quantum has often come up to me as if she wants to be petted, but as soon as I pet her (even though I theoretically know where she likes to be scratched) she walks away and stays just out of reach! According to Eve, she always does this, because it's not proper worship if you don't have to work to scratch her. But another I was working on a talk I'm giving on Tuesday about Young tableaux and Specht modules, so Quantum came up onto my work and I got to pet her! She even let me pick her up and keep her in my lap for a bit, which is a first. She's a beautiful cat.

I've never had pets of my own, and I've always thought that having a cat would be too much responsibility/trouble because of having to find cat-sitters, etc.; plus there's the fact that gleameil, orions_eagle, and Olivia are allergic to cats, whereas I'm allergic to dogs. But Quantum is surprisingly little trouble except that we have to keep a certain door closed so that part of the house can be cat-free (i.e., only serious allergies matter). So I'm enjoying her company. I told her ophblekuwufu missed her but would be here to see her very soon.

Speaking of animal non sequiturs (non sequuntur?), thenemm and Chris and Eve and I watched Where the Wild Things Are today. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but as an extension of the book (which to me has been a strong reminder of what childhood can be ever since I first had it read to me) it works.