So in this rare case a pissed off cat is a good thing?

For many cats it's the default attitude. I once saw a book by a vet titled "All My Patients Are Under The Bed".

For dog people - on Shakespeare's Sister she rcommended making your dog "meatsicles" - unsalted beef broth frozen in an ice cube tray. Her dogs love them; judging by the pictures, it's a treat best enjoyed outdoors.

And I was watching "Shelter Stories" - on PBS, showing how dogs are brought into a shelter, evaluated, and fiind homes. One was a female, probably some bulldog in her background - she had that heavy underbite. In one scene, the guy who evaluates the dogs (for temperament, mostly) has been working with her and he's sitting on the floor. She's sitting next to him, her head on his shoulder, looking up (adoringly) into his face. Such a sweet scene.

Oh, was that on last night?

I think I tivoed it.

Toddson - did you see the cute bull-type dog that was in The Killing this week?

No - I don't have cable (as I keep telling people - it's possible to have a rich, full, life without cable).

P-C, I love that you and your brother are so close. My brother and sister have gotten me through many a shitty time.

I can't even fathom not being close to your siblings. What's the point of brothers and sisters otherwise?

Go, Chemo, Go! Slay the cancer! Sword and shield for Ginger's immune system!

Same to you, Cass's dad's Radiation treatment!

I think there was something else I was going to say then I got caught up in cheering for the bad-ass slayers of cancer.

Oh, right...

For many cats it's the default attitude. I once saw a book by a vet titled "All My Patients Are Under The Bed".

That was a great book. I used to have it. Lots of funny stories, as well as genuine caring on the part of the veterinarian.

I can't even fathom not being close to your siblings. What's the point of brothers and sisters otherwise?

I wish I didn't feel like such an alien around my brothers and sister. It feels like they make and change rules together, and don't tell me about it, and end up pouncing on me for not following their rules. That's part of why I always craved having my own family so much - I wanted the power to make the rules (except my rules were going to be nice, about forgiving and communicating and not shaming people).

Toddson - did you see the cute bull-type dog that was in The Killing this week?

I did. But I was kind of appalled, given the events of last episode. Kid is acting out by stomping animals - let's get him a dog!

For many cats it's the default attitude.

Milo is a generally pissed-off cat (tends to get called variations on 'bastard cat'), although compared to Merlin he currently seems like a cuddly angel. Py is friendly, needy, and always deeply confused. (He only ever goes out through the cat door in the back, and tends to stay in the garden. One day he went out the front door when it was open. We found him an hour later in next door's front garden, apparently trying to work out where he was.)

That's adorable, Toddson.

I'm not very close to my sister - we're just very different people. We have fun when we manage to get together, though, especially now that she has two little girls (fun involving such things as books, balloons and paint can be had).

My sister and I went through a period of estrangement, but we're best friends now. It's nice. She still drives me crazy, but I don't know what I'd do without her.

None of my cats are pissed-off. Currently.