New faces / old hobbies
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| Pippin is crosseyed; she does look funny! |
Actually, they're not very distracting because they were feral and so aren't yet good with people. Pippin will usually hunch at the bottom of her kitten cage and stare wide-eyed at us, though she has reached the point of being prepared to sit up when we're around, but Ziggy spends all the time while we're around hiding under an old bit of carpet that came with them from the foster home. The carpet was put on top of a nice basket we got from them, and he's turned the carpet-topped basket into a hidey-hole, poor little chap. Hopefully he will come out and make friends at some point. They're lively when we're not around, however, and I was woken up by the sounds of romping and mewing this morning.
I miss our old cat terribly, we both do. She was so loving and friendly. In a way, the kittens' shyness just emphasises how lovely Boycie was. I am sure, though, that they will soon start to relax and feel more at home.
I'm also toying with giving up burlesque. The show had to be cancelled because the venue double-booked, and I'd put so much work into my routine and costume. I've had to move classes several times because people kept flaking out of other classes, and I'm now on my third class. My prosopagnosia makes it hard for me to remember people, and also hard to remember details about people, and I'm not sure I'm really up to learning a whole bunch of new names and faces. It's all now feeling disappointing, and I'm starting to realise what a ridiculous hobby it is for a middle-aged fat lady. I do love learning to dance, but... I dunno. It could be Mim negativity; I'm usually a massively positive person but every so often it all comes crashing down. So I don't want to rush into giving up classes just because I'm in one of my temporary downward blips. I'll see how I feel about it all in the new year...
Last week, I was showing Danny the photo of your room in France (we're studying architecture) and he scrolled down to the photo of you in the cafe.
ReplyDelete"That's Mim?" he asked, shocked. "I thought she was much older."
"How old do you think she is?" I asked.
"I don't know, a teenager?'
" I think she's forty." I corrected him.
"She is NOT forty! I KNOW what forty looks like, and she's NOT forty!"
So there you have it from the ten year old-you're lookin' young and hot. He's not aware of burlesque, so I didn't ask his opinion on that, but based on your teenaged good looks, I think you're safe shakin' whatever you like on stage.
Good luck with the new kittens. Being slightly cross-eyed myself I have a weak spot for little Pippin.
Bless him, I'm 41! He can be my new favourite person. People often estimate my age at anywhere up to a decade under that - probably all that sun-avoidance in my goth years paying off, or the fat padding out the wrinkles :-D
DeletePippin is a sweetie. They both have such big scared eyes, I want to pick them up and hug them all the time - which they would hate. They never scratch or bite when I do pick them up. I'm trying to strike a balance between getting them used to being handled, andstressing them out.
Your new kittens look so gorgeous, I hope they come out to play soon. My childhood cat was feral and he turned into the most gorgeous, friendly chap. Great shame about your show, how frustrating. If you still enjoy the dancing keep doing it, no matter what age or body shape!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think I need to change my perspective on my dancing - I'd got so worked up about doing the show, I'd lost sight of the fact that I wasn't doing it with an end goal, I was doing it because I liked it. I need to get back to that.
DeleteThe kitties have started being vaguely sociable - they're not running away as fast, and when they're at the top of the stairs Pippin loves having her head scratched. (But only when she's there.)
Sorry to hear you sound a bit down. I am in agreeance. I never though that you were in your 40's, you certainly don't look it, and please don't give up your burlesque if it makes you happy. There are lots of curvy burlesque beauties and I think that it gives it a bit more va va voom if you have something to shimmy. Shame about your classes though. That must be a annoying.
ReplyDeleteYour new kittens are beautiful. What lovely wee faces. They look so cute and full of mischief. I know that it will still be very hard just now without you lovely old cat. You see very kind to rehome two feral. A lot of people would have left them behind. Xx
I will get my love of burly back. Perhaps I need to fire up my hotfix gun and spangle a bra, glitter always helps...
DeleteThe kittens are beautiful little beasts. They're getting friendlier. I think it helps that we're at work all day; it gives them time to explore in peace.
How adorable are those little kittens?! They've brightened up my rainy morning!
ReplyDeleteI'd hold on to those sparkly bras if I were you, it's such a shame about the venues and class moving and all, but it sounded like you were having such a blast with it. I'm sorry to hear you're a bit down, I hope it passes soon and you return to the stage in a blaze of burlesque glory!! xx
I am going to get back to it!
DeleteWork has been very stressful and I think that's had an impact on other things. I need to remember I'm dancing because I enjoy it, not because I had a goal in mind. Dulcie might be doing Bollywood dance classes, and I'll give those a go too - so completely out of my normal thing it'd be really refreshing.
I love your two new kitties, they're just so cute. When Norman first came to us he was a rescue cat about 18 months old and had suffered quite badly at his previous home. He was incredibly nervous when we first got him and hid underneath a cupboard for ages. Eventually I sat down with my legs out in front of me to the side of the cupboard, just quietly reading, and after several hours he crept out and sat on my lap. I guess the point I'm getting at is that persistence will pay off and I'm sure once they're used to you it'll feel a lot different. At least they have two parents who will love them dearly. x
ReplyDeleteAw, poor Norman.
DeleteThe kittens are coming round. When she's at the top of the stairs, Pippin will let me fuss her - in fact, she loves having her head rubbed and has a purr like a tractor engine. Ziggy is still very timid, but he approached me while I was rubbing Pippin's head the other night, so I stretched out my hand... and he very slowly and deliberately bit me! That's progress of sorts. He let me stroke him last night, but I don't think he was relaxed enough to like it, only to tolerate it.
Pippin and Ziggy are gorgeous, Jon and I were sighing over them last night. So happy that you've found two babies to replace Boycie. A home isn't a home without a cat or two. My first cat, Misty, was a feral girl and in time became a wonderfully affectionate pet.
ReplyDeleteIt seems such a shame to give up something you so obviously love. Stick at it. I'm never offended if people forget my name and I'm sure I'm not unusual in that. xxx
Yeah, I'm going to keep up the dancing.
DeleteThe kittens are cute, and slowly becoming less terrified. I think it helps that we go out to work, as they have quiet time to explore the house and make themselves at home.
lucky you, wish we still had pets, but as we are away so much it just doesn't seem fair.
ReplyDeleteBut look at all the amazing travelling you do!
DeleteIf I had time to travel more, I probably wouldn't have pets. It'd be one or the other, not both. As you say, it wouldn't be fair.
Oh look at those two cuties! Pippin and Ziggy are gorgeous - they will get used to you and their new home in time, and mean as much to you as Boycie did, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteFeral cats do need time and patience - one of my old cats had been neglected, she lived with many other cats in an old person's house, who then died leaving them all in a bad state and needing rescuing. It took ages for her to gain confidence and stop being so scared and upset, but once she did, she adored me, and was the sweetest cat, very affectionate (if a little needy!) I did love her dearly.
It would be a real shame to give up on burlesque - it isn't a ridiculous hobby at all. If you love it (and you do) then keep going, despite the frustration of having to change class and the show being cancelled. Even if you don't do a public performance, you can always demonstrate your skills in a private show for Mr CR! xxx
They're coming round faster than anyone expected, I think. I've always been a bit of a Cat Whisperer, and Pippin's already enjoying her evening headrubs. Ziggy is more nervous still, but he has now allowed me to stroke him. They're better in the evenings than in the morenings. I don't see them at all in the mornings, but as Boycie used to pat my face at dawn so I'd get up and feed her, which got really annoying at 4am in June, that's no bad thing...
DeleteToo cute for words!!! Seeing these darling little grey fur babies reminds me of when our own girl, Stella, was little. She was a shelter rescue that we got when she was about 11 weeks old (and was feral, too), so we didn't have as an super small (feline) babe, but she was, and has always been, a tiny (petite) cat and still looks more like six month old than the seven year old that she is. Those first few months when any pet is small are so incredibly precious. They go by in the blink of an eye and are worth their weight in gold (or cat nip - depending on which party you're asking :D).
ReplyDeleteTons of hugs to all of you,
♥ Jessica
We're amazed at how much noise they can make for two such tiny cats. They are adorable creatures, and every little breakthrough in socialisation feels like a MASSIVE achievement.
DeleteThey'd probably have been really tricky to rehome, so I'm glad we've been able to have them.
I think most kittens seem to be more interested in each other at first than the people around them. They will soon recognize you are the provider of good things and thank-you for it.
ReplyDeleteWell, they had a scrap of pheasant each last night - we had it for tea - and it's the first time I've seen Ziggy be wholeheartedly positive about anything! No suspicion, no hesitation, he just tucked right in. I think we'll have to bond with him via treats.
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