The Improbable Cat by Allan Ahlberg

Cover of The Improbable Cat

The Improbable Cat by Allan Ahlberg is a Gothic-y, Edgar Allan Poe-ish, (extremely vaguely) Coraline-ish, tale told in the first person by David Burrell, a 12-year-old whose family takes in a cat.  From the front flap:

At least, that's what the creature appears to be. But David and his faithful dog, Billy, immediately sense something terribly amiss.  Then indeed "something crazy -- impossible -- horrific" happens . .

 I didn't find myself as drawn into this one as I'd expected.  I read it with my almost seven-year-old daughter, however, and she seemed to enjoy it.  I intentionally chose to read it with her on a bright and sunny day sitting on the couch in the living room where we are house-sitting.  I think that helped make it a little less spooky for her (and maybe for me. :))  I think it's funny that Ahlberg is also the author of The Jolly Postman and Each Peach Pear Plum among other picture books.  I like it when authors can genre-switch like that.

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

Image via Wikipedia

I'm not even sure how to start this blog post.  I'm in a really, really low place in my life.  I feel alone, I feel aching sadness, I feel deep grief, and I feel raging anger.  I feel abandoned and unwanted, I can't imagine how to make this new life work and I'm scared to death of the future.

At the same time, I feel so supported, so cared for, so lucky, and so blessed.  I can't begin to make a complete list of the people and things I'm thankful for.  People who have known me for years, new friends, and a few I've not even met, from very close by, from across the country, and in a few other countries, are the only reason I'm still keeping my head above water.  I know I keep saying that but it just really is the essence of my life right now.  I'm so sad and I'm so scared, but if I try just a little I remember that there are some people out there who love me and think I have some redeeming qualities.

I know I'm gonna need to figure out how to make it and I know there is a lot for me learn.  I know there are going to be some more amazingly hard things thrown at me.  But sometimes I think that maybe some good things will come as well -- it's just harder to imagine what those things are. As I said a few months ago, I'm pretty sure that the tears of the recent past have brought me a few more lines on my face, but I'm trying to have faith that the world has more laugh lines in store for me as well.  I'm thankful for hope.

I'm thankful for running water and the cat who is currently between me and the back of my chair.
I'm thankful for friends who open their hearts & homes to me.
I'm thankful for my daughter who is healthy, kind, and strong.
I'm thankful for phone calls, e-mails, letters, and care packages.
I'm thankful for those who give me the benefit of the doubt.
I'm thankful that life is both so short and so long and I hope I can remember both of those aspects.
I'm just so thankful, so gol-durned thankful for love.

Image via Wikipedia

I'm thankful for people who believe there is goodness out there for me and tell me so -- and for those who believe there is goodness in me and tell me so.
I'm thankful for people who get that I know it could all be so much worse -- and yet get that it still all sort of sucks at this moment in time.
I'm thankful for really cozy blankets and deep bathtubs.
I 'm thankful for hand-me-down jeans that feel good on my body and for crafty projects to work on and for the crafty friends who help me learn new skills.
I'm thankful for pretty peaceful snow falling from the sky.
I'm thankful for sleep and for chapstick.
I'm thankful for lotion and safe neighborhoods.
I'm thankful for bills that are slowly being paid off and customer service people who are kind to me on the phone.
I'm thankful for people who are kind to my daughter and who are walking alongside her in this time of change.
I'm thankful for clean mirrors and fun socks.
I'm thankful for you if you are reading this and feeling compassionate.
I'm thankful for ridiculous songs I can sing along to and I'm thankful for new possibilities, even if I can't envision them right now.
I'm thankful for my grandparents and the presence they were in my life. 
I'm thankful that I'm here today, able to live and love and try and fail and try again and be thankful.

A walk to the pet store turns into an hour-long shoe tying session at Ross. (Page down fast and it's a flip book!)

On Monday afternoon Fiona really wanted to go and see the animals at the pet store.  Her warm weather hating mama sucked it up, put on sunscreen and a long sleeve shirt, and we headed out for our walk to Petco.  She especially liked the ferrets and we got to watch a couple of dogs being groomed.  We also did some wishful gazing at the brushes (me) and toys/beds (Fiona) we'd like to get for Tucker and Felix.

 On the way back we pass a Ross Dress for Less and Fiona asked if we could go in and look around. I said we could, but we couldn't spend money. (Our car won't start so who knows what will be happening around here financially.)   She agreed and we went in.  I believe this is the first time she's ever said "Let's go look at the clothes that are in my size."  So we looked at clothes for a while and then started looking at shoes.  I realized that she probably will need shoes in the next few months, almost certainly before winter sets in, so I looked with her for a bit.  There was one pair that was quite lovely and that had velcro but it seemed too small in a 12 and we couldn't find a 13.

Then Fiona found this pair and they seemed to fit quite well and were under $20.   However, Fiona has not yet learned to tie her own shoes.  In general, I don't think this is a big problem but I thought that having her main shoes have laces might be a bit frustrating for everyone involved, Fiona included.  

 So we spent quite a bit of time sitting on a padded leather coffee table, each with a pair of shoes, and practicing the many steps involved in tying one's own shoes.  We must have worked on this for at least half an hour, if not an hour.

She didn't quite get it today but she made lots of progress and she said that she would like to keep practicing and, when she has it down, go back and get that pair of shoes. 

 Learning a new skill isn't always easy or fun and I was proud of how hard Fiona worked.  It was a good day to be a mama.

Continuing to enjoy and experiment with my new camera

Colorado is a sunny place and we are fair, fair people.

Drinking...

drinking . . .

water too low to reach. . .

Hey, I'm hanging out here, not bothering anything, but I did notice your water is almost gone. Weird.

Things that are good about today

A new meme I've discovered... 
Thanks to Miz B ...

13 things that are good about today

1. Our car doesn't have a giant issue to fix after all.

2. My husband made me a mug of tea this morning.

3.  I found a bus ticket so I can get home from PT

4. beautifully mild weather

5. clean clothes to wear

6.  The cats made Jeremy and I laugh as we watched their antics this morning.

7.  Fiona woke up happy and healthy.

8. I can now put deodorant on without increased pain in my shoulder and arm!

9. I'm looking forward to touring the Celestial Seasonings factory with my in-laws when the come next month.

10.  My daughter really likes the new socks she bought with some of her birthday money.  Each sock has a different day of the week on it.  :) 

11. She and I will get to spend some time at the Tattered Cover after physical therapy today.

12.  Our neighbor gave us some tortillas yesterday which means we now can have quesadillas for dinner.  We will live to fight another day!  :)

13.  I was able to buy myself a camera with my birthday money and it will soon be on its way here!





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