Harry was Right

I was off for a few days.  Had lots planned to do but then it got hotter than the hinges of Hell, as my dad used to say, and that was the end of all outdoor activities for me.  Still, even though my house is not air conditioned and I spent time worrying that the cats and I were going to melt into the floor, I had fun anyway.  Did a bunch of reading.  Even managed to knit a bit.

This morning, Harry was upset.  He snagged my clothes and I almost had to choose something else to wear as I wasn't positive he would let me have them in order to make it to work on time.  You see, I'd been getting up and opening my house around dawn to try and cool it down some before the heat of the day set in.  I'd go back to bed and Harry and I would read for awhile before we got up for real.  Today, he didn't seem to want me to go any more than I did.

Alas, in the end, he relinquished them.  It was a VERY long day.  Why is it that it takes only minutes to get out of work-mode and forever to get back into it?

Oh No!

Harry’s favorite toy is missing and he’s very sad. (Reminds me of a song in the Dr. Seuss Song Book I used to play when I took piano lessons as a kid, Somebody Stole my Hoo-Too-Foo-To-Boo-To-Bah. As I recall, the expression on the critter’s face resembles poor Harry’s.)

Last night `he sat staring at me with his mopey little face, looking so dejected that I quit trying to send him to find it on his own like I usually do and helped. We spent over an hour crawling around the floor, his head right next to mine, looking under things, poking around with the yardstick, taking apart the bottom of the refrigerator but to no avail. This time he tucked it away in such a good hiding place that I can’t find it.

I kept asking him where it was, telling him to go to it so I could fish it out from wherever it’s stuck. He led me all over the house but nope, still no toy. It’s a handmade, blue and green plaid catnip mouse with a green ribbon tail and he loves it.

I’ve already hidden it in the bottom of the toy box and he yanked out the other fifty toys to get it. That’s how much he loves his little mouse. Of course, nothing else will do when it’s missing. Oh, he plays with the others too but only after he’s dropped his mouse in my lap. I think he does that for safekeeping, so no one else can touch it. The one time Quinn tried to pandemonium ensued and fur flew. Yes, Harry has sharing issues but only with that one toy. And really, is it so bad

Generally in the morning after the boys have breakfast he plays while I check emails and write. He’ll bring it for me to toss, always dropping it right on my foot so it’s easy to reach. Today, he sighed at me and took his sad self back to bed. Let me tell you, nothing tugs at your heart like a despondent kitty.

I once again asked the other boys to help Harry locate it while I worked today but it wasn’t in the middle of the floor when I got home so I suspect we’re in for another evening of search and rescue.

Bittersweet Birthdays

Look, even Harry thinks it's too hot!

Today's his birthday. You know what that means? More birthday tuna. Yeah! No cooking for me tonight. He's going to be four and still hasn't outgrown his terrible twos. Yes AJ, cats have them too. His latest trick...unrolling the toilet paper while I'm attempting to sleep. Yell at him and he comes to the door to peek at me before going right back to it. I can actually see his naughty little boy smirk. On the odd occasion when I do manage to sleep through it, he's kept it up so long that he rerolls the paper in the other direction. That got me thinking the first time it happened. I tried putting the roll on the other way, just in case that was bothering him and nope, didn't matter. He still messed with it.

The other birthday today is a sad one. My dad's. He would have been 79 today. Since he ran out of things he actually needed years ago. I started the tradition of taking him to see a Broadway show every year. He was an awesome musician and loved musicals. Although he could play anything, he specialized in the piano. He was one of those who could play just about any request you could come up with. When I was young he was in a band. One night they played at Crystal Cave. Being five, I thought he meant in the cave itself. I hadn't been there yet so I envisioned him sitting at a baby grand like he did at home, surrounded by sparkly crystals in the floor, walls, and ceiling. This stayed in my mind for years until I went to the cave on a field trip and then came home and asked him about it. Turns out he played in the little club of the same name right next to the cave.

He was a Marine during the Korean war. During that phase of his life, he played a French horn in the Marine band on Parris Island. I wish I'd been able to see him in his dress uniform. I bet he was dashing. There are a few pictures but it's just not the same.

After that, he became a teacher. Music and history to start. Then he switched to guidance and eventually got his psycologist's license to help troubled kids in even more ways. I was always amazed at how quiet he was since that just doesn't fit with the whole Marine/musician image but that was my dad, a mass of contradictions and all of them interesting. My father was a genuinely nice man with a kind heart and a caring soul. I can't tell you how much I miss him.

My dad's favorite was cheesecake. The kind with both a cream cheese and a sour cream layer. It took all afternoon for me to make one since first you make the crust with melted butter which then has to chill. Next you add the cream cheese mixture, bake it and let it chill again. Finally you put on the sour cream mixture, bake it and chill it one more time before it's ready to eat. I sure wish he were here for his cheesecake now.

Yes please, Amarinda...trade away!