I want to take my cat with me!

I have this idea that my cat, Pumpkin, would like to see the rest of the world. That is, the world outside our house. So I've been looking for a cat carrier that I could sling over my shoulders and carry her on my chest. I found one on the web and ordered it from a company called petstore.com.


Meet our cat, Pumpkin.

Don't you love ordering things on the Web? I do. First, because it's so instantly gratifying. Second, I love getting packages in the mail. Harkens back to something in childhood I guess. Anyway, the cat-pouch came today and I took Pumpkin for a walk down the block. She complained a little especially when I tried to wrangle her into the contraption. Once in she seemed reasonably OK ... I think it'll take a few trips to get her used to it. We also bought a harness for her so we can clip her into the carrier, disabling her ability to spring out all of a sudden.

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We brought Stacey's used computer over to my Aunt Sissy's house. She had been using an ancient model that used a free Juno email hookup that was text only and terribly slow. I thought she should graduate to real internet/email so we're loaning her this setup. I spent several hours with her yesterday, by the end of which she was exhausted and overwhelmed. It's not easy for older folks to absorb that which we (and even younger "we's") take for granted.

I went over to her apartment again this morning and spent another hour. A few more lessons and I think she'll be able to work Outlook Express and surf the web. When I walked in this morning she already had the browser open and was perusing the NY Times site. We'll see. But I think she already realizes how fabulous, though daunting, this new setup is with its color and pictures.


My Aunt Sissy and her snazzy new computer.

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For those of you in Brooklyn -- there has begun a weekly peace vigil at Senator Charles Schumer's house:

Every Sunday from 7:30 to 8:30 pm.
9 Prospect Park West in Park Slope

As you might know, Schumer (not to mention Hillary Clinton) has been supporting the war in Iraq. Amazingly, he has refused to call for Rumsfeld's resignation saying "he wants to hear more." How much more do we have to hear (or see)?

Last Sunday there were 100 or so people who turned out. There hoping to double or triple that tomorrow. If you're around, then GO! This is being sponsored by that very good and very active group, Brooklyn Parents For Peace.

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Had lunch today (Saturday) at a new restaurant on Brooklyn's fabulous new restaurant row: Smith Street. This was a cute new place called Village 247 at 247 Smith Street. They had a garden in back (man! it was hot!)and a light menu with some Cajun stuff on it. The bonus: they're on IGT (one of those dining discount clubs that we belong to). So, in addition to their moderate prices we took another 25% off. Now that's nice.

After, we drove to Park Slope looking for some coffee and spied Anja Schlein (Lonnie's daughter) on the corner of 7th Avenue and 1st Street, with her boyfriend, Robert. That's the second time in one week...an amazing coincidence. Robert took off on his BMW motorcycle, headed for work. We walked Anja over to the Green Market at Grand Army Plaza. What a nice meeting and all by chance. While we were at the market we ran into my friend, Elisabeth Rucell and her family: husband Geoff and kids, Wilhem and Gemma. They were picnicking.


Geoff and Elisabeth at their house on Vanderbilt Street.

It's nice in New York to bump into friends in unexpected places. Despite its huge size and scope, New York can be a small town at the same time. I love my city.