The sun has almost completed its journey over the redwoods. This is the signal for me to get off the computer and get to work, as it will ultimately be too bright on this deck (I have several) for me to see the screen. However, I couldn't shut down with saying something about Lilo's break from routine. When I have no place to go or anything urgent to be handled, I get up in the morning, make a pot of coffee, and retreat to the deck for my morning web browsing. Lilo doesn't understand why his needs are not higher on my list in the morning. Rather than accept that I'm too self-absorbed during these mornings, he assumes I just need to be reminded that he would like some canned food. His efforts to jog my memory are very simple. He meets me at the door, and begins talking to me. He runs to the kitchen, talking the whole way. Since his desire to get to the kitchen is more extreme than mine, he goes much faster than I. In an act that defies my need for logic, he manages to run through my legs several times as I stroll the fifty feet to the kitchen. Either he is actually able to be in two places at once, or when he gets too far ahead, he runs back just to try to trip me. Maybe he's hoping I'll understand better if I've fallen flat on the floor and can look me straight in the eye. Meanwhile, Sandy is also talking about her need for canned food, but she's too smart to get under foot. She's seen Lilo take flight a few times when his timing involves crossing over a rising size thirteen foot. This typically goes on until the sun clears the redwoods, and I take care of my morning chores.

This happens all the time... except for today. I'm on my fifth or sixth cup of coffee, and he hasn't budged. He is just sprawled out on the floor. He looks at me as I go by, but has nothing to say. Sandy has a look of concern that without Lilo's encouragement she will a) not get any canned food, and b) not look like the "good" cat if she resorts to Lilo's tactics (never mind the cat feces on the floor that she has deposited during the night). I don't honestly think Lilo is sick. I think he's exhausted. He spent several hours outside yesterday. Normally that would not happen. However, I saw him dodge under the deck, and I wasn't about to crawl under there to get him. The next thing I know, he is on the opposite of the house rolling in the dirt and chewing on grass. It was starting to get late, and he jumped up to go under the house. I informed him (we understand each other) that if he didn't come out, he'd spend the night under there. At that point he permitted me to carry him into the house.

Maybe if I let him do this more often, I'll not feel so much like the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk during my coffee mornings.

Fee-fi-fo-fum