For the Pagan folks

A new Pagan Census is being conducted, as a 20-year followup to the prior one. If interested in adding to the voices there, click here:

http://wildhunt.org/blog/2009/09/add-your-voice-to-the-pagan-census.html

For the Deborah Tannen fans - a local presentation

For folks who are fans of Deborah Tannen:

Internationally known linguist, Deborah Tannen, Ph.D., author of You Just Don’t Understand, will speak to us about her newest book
You Were Always Mom’s Favorite!: Sisters in conversation throughout their lives

Saturday, October 10, 2009 ~ 5:30 to 10:00 pm
Palo Alto Art Center Auditorium
( details follow )

Socializing cats...

Am sitting in my room with two cats who are, so far, getting used to one another peaceably.

Our neighbor found a little grey kitten, with a collar but no nametag. Posts on the neighborhood mailing list didn't turn up an owner; nor was there any ad on Craigslist; and we took the little kitten to be scanned for a microchip - there was none. No signs posted in the neighborhood, either.

So, we now have a new little kitten, and we've got her in a cat-carrier in my room, in an effort to get her and Penwiper adapted to one another with a bit of a barrier between them just in case. We also sprayed the room with a pheromone-based cat-calming agent, to help them each experience the other as not-a-threat.

It seems to be working so far, in that they're about 3 feet apart - sometimes looking at each other, sometimes ignoring each other. Occasional meows from one or another of them.

Actually, Penwiper's behaviors surprised me - she went and hid, upon first becoming aware of the kitten. I was expecting a full display of hissing and territory-defense... but she was more doing the "nope, there's no kitten here" thing at first... followed by a bit of discomfited mewing. Oh dear, I think the kitten may end up being alpha... ;-)

The kitten, when we met her at the neighbor's, was playful and inquisitive and unfazed by 5 new people tromping into the room. She sniffed us, batted a ball, and is reported to be snuggly when sleepy :-)