Beautiful Morning

How the worm has turned. When I was working, I used to dread Mondays--in fact, I could hardly even enjoy Sundays, tainted as they were with the knowledge that I'd soon be back in that necktie harness. Now, with all the work going on in the house during the weekend, my feeling about Monday mornings couldn't be more different. They've become times when I sit back and say, "aaaahhh....." The self-indulgence is delicious. I've spent the past hour or so reading and commenting on all my friends' blogs--there was Cuidado and her fantastic music, and a couple of trips: Zoey's to the vet and Nan's to New York. I identify with both trips--although New York would be anybody's choice over the vet, don't you think?

Our two cats, who never go outside, haven't seen a vet in years, I must confess. They're happy and healthy, and the big yellow one, Nicholas, is always so traumatized just by the sight of the carrier we fear if there ever is something really wrong, it will be made worse by the stress. That happened to us once before with a dear old friend named Napoleon. I've already decided that the next kitty we get will have some phsychology done on him: he'll be taught that the carrier is a fun thing. We'll put him in it outside to watch the birds. Then, just maybe, we won't have the high drama we do now whenever the cat carrier makes an appearance. For the bi-weekly summer trips to Delaware, we just give the cats the run of the car. No carrier. They're sullen some of the way, but they get used to it.

I recorded the Oscars last night to watch a bit of today, zapping through the interminable ads, of course. I already know via the newpaper who and what won. I'm more curious about my man Jon Stewart. He always seems so uncomfortable in the quintessentially showbiz establishment role of hosting that show. It must be the money and the exposure that attract him to the gig....well, who would turn it down? It's fun to see how big a bite he may take out of that generous hand.

And later I will do some "fun" work--get on my hands and knees and wipe dust residue off the hardwood floors with some cleaner. It's an easy job and the reward, shiny, clean floors, is instant. We have a color expert coming this afternoon to advise us on how to paint the rooms. Hope she likes the warmish tan we've put in the living room, because we've already decided it will be in lots of places. But we are open to suggestions for the dining room and the kitchen. I'll post a picture of the living room and den when they're done.

Happy Monday!