31 December 2005
A nice pile of books, mostly birthday gifts from Rob. I figured that, since we're back in London, you deserve a picture of something pretty, and books can be nice. There's a general theme of domesticity, with Tom Wolfe to round things out. I read I Am Charlotte Simmons in America (bought at Gatwick as my travel book), but I've never managed to read The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, though it's been on my list for years. I really enjoyed Charlotte Simmons, by the way; it's university life exaggerated enough to be interesting, and the writing is just superb. I'd publish it.
In more squirrely news, here's one of the fluffy tree rats on my parents' deck. My parents put out seeds and peanuts on the handrail, and when the food's gone, the squirrels come up to the window and look inside to beg. Like pets, but without the cuddling!
The birds apparently acquired a crack habit while at the bird minder's for two weeks. When Em watched them in October, they came back plumped up quite a bit (she feeds her cats caramel, you know). But I think their stay at the minder's was more akin to bird detention camp than a visit to their kindly aunt's; they're much leaner and have picked up words I would have never taught them.* I also suspect they saw very little of the outside world, as I think they were kept in a heated shed with about ten other bird cages and a tarantula (really). Ever since I opened the curtains by their cage, they've been pinning themselves to the side and peering out with great interest. Is that flaming disc in the sky going to get us??
* Since they are birds, and some birds mimic, I should point out that they haven't actually learned any new words. Why expand on a perfect routine? A-beepa-beepa-a-beepa-beepa!
Cara*mac*, not caramel. Caramel might hurt them, whilst I think caramac is made from condensed milk.
When she wants some, Amber my cat actually says 'mac', you know.
posted by mermaid princess at January 3, 2006 11:45 AM