Where was I?

[rolanni]

Well, let's see. . .

So, I didn't sprain my ankle, after all, only stretched the tendons.  Which, while it still involves braces and elevation, and lounging on the couch under a coverlet of coon cats, is a Completely Different Order of injury.  Of course, lounging on the couch with the Mencken Table prepped with laptop, tablet, phone, pad and pens, water bottle, &c does discombobulate the living room utterly, so I'm expecting a call from our real estate agent any second now, asking us to leave the house for three days in order to accommodate various Showings.

Today, I have Various Things to catch up on, as one does upon return from vacation.  Bills need to be paid. The Hot Folder needs going through.  Appointments for haircuts need to be made.  I need to write a short story; possibly, I need to write two short stories.  We shall see.  I expect the galleys for Carousel Seas to hit the inbox realsoonnow.  And!  I need to sort through the Bits that didn't go into the book that became Dragon in Exile and figure out how much of that belongs in the next book, which I Very Much Hope will be Easier on Us All than Dragon. . . was.

Speaking of Carousel Seas, time's a-wastin' if you want a signed and/or personalized copy of the trade paper edition, due out from Baen in January 2015.  Here's how to get one.

In cat news, Sprite is helping Steve sort the laundry; Mozart is asleep on his super-soft fleecy-thing under my desk. Scrabble is asleep on my, Mozart's, her rocker and Trooper is taking a well-earned rest after a game of Flying Mouse so vigorous, the stick snapped off in my hand.

Anybody know where to get Flying Mice?  Our local pet shop doesn't carry them anymore.

Well.

Time to get on with the day.

Hope yours is productive and interesting.

Comments

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Any chance of rigging an emergency backup Flying Mouse stick? Sticks we got, here in Maine . . .

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

The stick that broke was a flexible plastic tube (though obviously not so flexible anymore, after years of use). A downed stick from the back wood won't, I think, do. A willow-switch would do it, but we lack a willow tree. I *think* there may be a fiberglass ex-fishing rod downstairs, which would be just the thing, for a temp measure. I've been trying to remember where that might be, if, indeed, it is still with us...

[bandicoot.livejournal.com]

That would probably be the answer if you could find it. A tenant gave me a one-piece fiberglass rod (bright red!) that I've tied various feathers and other assorted teasers to as the previous ones get thrashed. Very flexible and quite strong.

[martianmooncrab.livejournal.com]

my local Wilco carries stuff like that.. so your basic Feed n Seed in the cat aisle. But I will look anyways.

Wow, there are a lot of "flying mice cat toy" out there...

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Not being familiar with the flying mice cat toy, I poked around a bit. It looks as if Amazon has a big selection. I think you might like

http://www.amazon.com/GoCat-Apart-Feather-Assorted-Colors/dp/B000F9JJJE/ref=pd_sim_petsupplies_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0J3HYXNCF9Z4WC1HK2Y0

Which provides your basic rod, with feathers. But wait! Take a look at

http://www.amazon.com/Refill-Attachments-Catcher-Clarion-Flying/dp/B00E4WNS9K/ref=pd_sim_petsupplies_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0J3HYXNCF9Z4WC1HK2Y0

Which gives you not one, not two, but three furry flying things! And look at the alternatives available.

Apparently this is a very active area for toy makers? I hope one of the offerings out there fits your needs.

Re: Wow, there are a lot of "flying mice cat toy" out there...

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Mike.

I am the first to admit that I'm an over-protective cat-mom. That said, I'm Really Leery of the toys that suspend the mouse/bird/feather from a wire. That just seems like asking for trouble.

However, one of your links led me to another, which seems to be closer to what I think is wanted. Will need to do research.

And, yeah -- cat toys are a booming business, even more than dog toys.