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June 21, 2006
more self indulgent diarizing
Here is a picture, from last weekend's bealart year end show, of me and art history teacher Marg Blackie. Marg is the person who taught me to knit, fifteen years ago, when she held a sockknitting workshop in the art annex library. I finally got to say thanks, and brag about my accomplishments to someone who cares, and look! In keeping with the contrivances of the genre, Marg even agreed to pose with my Opal Tiger sock (since completed; just a heel and shank to go on the other, but I'll confess they haven't been warranting too much of my time of late). Because I'm a vain little bitch I had to put the photo most flattering to me here, but here's one where Marg doesn't blur like a bobblehead.
The prints on the wall behind my head (not the ones behind Marg) are by Raven Buckingham, the daughter of some old friends of ours and now a graduating bealart student and printmaking superstar. I haven't seen Raven since she was 13 years old (she's 20 now), and barely recognized her at first, but I think it's so amazing that she grew up to do the same thing I do, and she's damned good at it too! This is what it feels like to get old, isn't it? I should have found out where she's going to university next year.
I also have to tell you all this: the old kitty let me stroke him last night. I felt his skull, his ribs and all of his vertebrae; he even pushed his head against my hand, wanting more. He's got such a sweet, gentle disposition, and if he had had a different life, I know he would have made a really loving pet for someone. However, he is a wild cat, and I will never be able to take him into my home. I am going to keep giving him food though, and Peter says he doesn't mind keeping it up when I'm gone, since Old Kitty is really the only truly wild alley cat we've had around here of late (all the rest have either been scooped up by the city or have not survived). I never dreamed that I could turn him into a domesticated lap cat (although it's happened in my family before, with a 16-year-old tom who was wilder and more savage than Old Kitty could ever be), I only wanted for him to trust me. And I have that. Now all I want to do is get some meat on his old bones before winter.
Posted by jodi at June 21, 2006 04:05 PM | categories: general
Comments
Wow, your hair looks great!!!
Love the bobblehead.
Posted by: Sarah HB at June 21, 2006 04:55 PM
NO FUCKING WAY is that you! I've NEVER SEEN YOU SMILE in a picture!
:-)
Posted by: NWJR at June 21, 2006 05:08 PM
Old Kitty is so lucky to have a friend like you. It's making me a little teary. (..um, also, Zak is away and I get teary easily right now.) You look gorgeous in that photo. :)
Posted by: Mandy at June 21, 2006 06:10 PM
hahahhahaaa - NWJR totally beat me to the punch! you have a stunning smile!
Posted by: brenda in toronto at June 21, 2006 06:43 PM
I don't know if stray cats are as much of a problem there as they are here in Osaka, but the old lady I got my cat from said that feeding cats is a bad thing and if you want to help them, get them vaccinated and spayed (only females, sexist society) and other things. But I'm sure that this cat is not contributing to the cat problem...
I'm glad he's letting you touch him.
Posted by: Hari at June 21, 2006 09:22 PM
Could old kitty be scouting his retirement home/pension fund? I've heard stray cats who are finding the going too tough sometimes scout out a place or two before choosing one.
If old kitty can't be a housecat, maybe you could build him a mini version of a shelter like the strays on Parliament Hill have. (Google "stray cats Parliament Hill" and you'll see.)
Posted by: Marie at June 22, 2006 02:58 AM
wow, i love how your tattoo kinda matches marg's sweater; it's the first thing i noticed in the picture! i am SUCH a missoni freak—i love anything that even resembles a missoni fabric . . . so, nice armband!
Posted by: anne at June 22, 2006 12:21 PM
Hey, if you can't be self indulgent on your own blog... (says the woman who just posted 4 pics of me with no excuse at all to my own). The hair's looking good. And while I can't cross the border at the moment, perhaps you and Pete could make it across to Royal Oak for dinner and general hanging out with Terry and me?
Posted by: Kirsti at June 23, 2006 01:52 PM
Wow is Raven Verick's daughter? You have to send me an email with the clips you want so I can make them for you :)
Posted by: Krista at June 23, 2006 05:51 PM
You just earned my deepest respect for the caring and love you are giving to the kitty. It takes alot to tame a feral cat..takes a special person.
And you knit and have tattoos and piercings...girl after my own heart for sure.
Posted by: rebecca at July 1, 2006 11:21 PM