Well, I finally got back online, after a bit of a wait, last night, though I didn't spend all that much time on it. I went to bed fairly early, but as I posted before, didn't quite manage to sleep.

The stomach's better, thankfully. Suspect a bit of food poisoning. Had a cheap steak Thursday night, and thought it tasted a bit off, but supposed it was just my imagination, as my sense of taste isn't quite what it used to be. I've noticed that since I had that dental abcess that put me in hospital back in January, that I can't taste things quite as well as I used to. Don't know if it's related, or if it's something else

The cats are fed and so am I. I was too tired to cook, so I had a tun-fish sandwich already made in the fridge, and a tin of microwavable soup, so I had lunch for breakfast. Probably the only one on the planet who will have lunch for breakfast, and breakfast for dinner. But, my schedule sometimes is so wonky, that I don't think my stomach knows the difference, any longer.

Flame just hissed at her brother, Charlie. She does that. She'll hiss at him one day, lick him on the head lovlingly another day--kids, what ya' gonna' do with 'em? Charlie came over to me, mewling, feeling sorry for himself and looking for some sympathy, giving me those big, sorrowful eyes of his. Mind you, half the time she's right to hiss and bat at him, as he does like to provoke and tease Flame.

Flame's a smart little biscuit. With the boys, I'll wiggle my fingers under the quilt (counterpane) and they'll attack, thinking it great fun to get at whatever's under there. Not Flame. She'll simply try to lift up the quilt, and then give me a look like, "Yeah. That's nice. You're wiggling your fingers under the blanket, how rubbish is that? Now quit messing about with the boys, and throw me my toy mouse, mum."

The cats are demanding, yes. But, they also give, and give and give. What too many non-animal people will never realize, is that 80 percent of the time, if you love a cat or dog, that pet will love you back, unconditionally, 110%. Of course, some pets won't. They're just like people, personality-wise. Some animals--like some people, are just...there. Hard to describe, but trust me, some have character, and some...just exist.

I guess it would be foolish to expect everyone to be receptive to animals. And, in fact, some pet owners (and some parents with their kids as well, sadly) see their pets as nothing more than living knick-knacks. Bric-a-brac with fur. A walking, breathing status symbol.

Other people just aren't made for pets, for whatever reason....a fussy, controlling neat-freak, a person who doesn't like commitments, or someone who is constantly on the move. Perhaps a busy person with no time for anything else but his or her own wants/needs, or someone whose lifestyle wouldn't suit pet ownership. Then, sometimes, a person might not comfortable with loving and/or caring about animals, someone who's never been blessed to spend time with animals--or perhaps someone who is either afraid of, or uncomfortable with cats, dogs, whatever. And, that's fine.

But I bless my pets. They love me, they make me laugh. Sometimes they make me angry, or sad, as well. But, they are always happy to have me around--as I am to have them.

Well, off to work.