How fitting to start the week that Bill had to go back to work with totally gray skies and rain. Actually, it's rather comforting to feel socked in like this today. I've enjoyed sitting here and writing all the entries for the past several days that I had missed since I've been feeling so tired. I have to say that it sure felt good to get back in my usual routine. Well, as much of a routine as I have. Being busy with morning coffee and computer work, taking care of daily living errands like picking up prescriptions and getting library reserves from the drive-through, folding clothes that Bill has washed, and straying into the bedroom to watch some TV has been relaxing. It's been great not to have to cook for an army and not having to load the dishwasher twice a day. Yep, I'm all for After the Holidays. I took this picture yesterday when it was sunny. It's a rather amazing picture because I have never seen them both lie together like that. I knew it wouldn't last and it didn't. Like I've mentioned before, if you've been following these entries, Dusky HAS to take over wherever it is she's lying. This spot was the only spot in the sun so he coveted it even more. He jumped up there where she was and, for once, she didn't budge. Good for her. He sat down and kept looking at her. She ignored him which was unusual for her. Usually, as soon as he makes his appearance in her space she immediately yields to him and jumps down. She knows that if she doesn't he'll be batting at her or biting her back side. But this time, she didn't look him in the eye and let herself be intimidated. But...her ploy didn't work for long. I soothed Dusky into lying down instead of being a bully. For about two minutes... Long enough for me to snap this picture of paradisical bliss. Then, he couldn't take it. He sniffed at her back hairs, which she instantly felt. Cat hair ends are ultra sensitive. And that's all it took. She went into alert mode. He instantly noticed. So, he pushed it further and sniffed more. She reacted more by getting that wild-eyed look she gets when she knows she's about to get slammed by him. Her ears flailed around, too. He reacted more by sitting up. She knew her time was up and jumped down but not before Duskly put in a faux bat at her as if to say, "Yeh, that's right, bitch, you better get down." Sigh, I hate it when he's so aggressive like that with her but I don't interfere. They had to establish their own ways of getting along. Since Todd and Amy came down for Christmas after all, that means that they won't be here for New Year's Eve. I'm not sure which way I would have preferred it. I know. I want BOTH! Hmm, maybe I'll still do an appetizer kind of meal anyway. I've invited Marilyn over but haven't talked to her this week yet. She went to Thunder Bay, Ontario for the week of Christmas. She's probably too tired to deal with New Year's Eve plans yet. I'll have to e-mail her. Then I'll have to get on the menus and get out to the store before it gets crowded again. Let's see. To do list: pick up prescriptions, take back library books, pick up library movies, take back video store movies, make menus, go out shopping for menu items. And I thought I was staying in today. Actually, all these things can be done tomorrow. Ah ha, procrastination. What I do best. We're supposed to have this gray, rainy crap all week. Unbelievable! Good thing I put in for some movies from the library. I'm going to need them.