10 Reasons My Cat Is Awesome

10. She's Thai. Not very many people have a Thai cat, so she makes me feel unique. Although, being Thai, she is perpetually cold here in San Francisco.

9. She'll attack anything that moves, or is longer than it is wide. Shoelaces are her favorite. And the fake mice we buy for her. As well as any small insect that is unfortunate enough to make its way into our house.

8. Most of the time, she doesn't attack us. (Except for feet under the blankets. But that's excusable.)

7. She loves cheese. And her name is Mouse. Need I say more?

6. She's friendly, for the most part, unlike some cats who like to hide in the corners when other people come over. She'll come up and sniff you and wait for a pet. And then later if she thinks you're warm she'll probably jump into your lap when you least expect it.

5. She likes to sleep under the covers. If you're asleep she delicately licks your face until you wake up and let her under with you.

4. She seeks out heat in any form. Warm laps, recently occupied seats, a spot in the sunshine or next to the heater? DONE. It was a little disconcerting when we got her an electric bed and she stopped sleeping with us for a while and we realized it wasn't US that she loved, just our body heat.

3. She's perpetually hungry, if you ask her, which I don't recommend. PLEASE, can I have just a little more food?? Pretty please?

2. She's got the best purr ever. When we wake up in the morning and pet her for the first time it's almost like she's going to burst from purring.

1. She's mine. :-)

Window Lights

A simple picture for today, but cheerful. There's something about holiday lights that can raise all but the most dampened of spirits.

Into the Alleyway

Sometimes I think it's time for another trip. Travel is in my blood (literally! two generations of travel agents are in my family tree), and it always seems like a compelling answer. Surely, around the next bend are great photo opportunities. If I head to Paris, or back to Thailand, I can make great photographs!

But the truth is, if I spent as much time really seeing here as I do when I travel, when I wander around places for hours at a time, I wouldn't have to go anywhere. Witness this magical alleyway which I had never seen before but just happened on a few nights ago. Add to that some magical lighting, and I was set.

No need to jump on a plane. Just slip on some shoes, walk out the front door, and keep your eyes open.

Houses at Night

I find always so much more intriguing than houses during the day. Daytime houses can be sauntered breezily on by. But nighttime abodes catch the imagination and fire it.

Take this one. I imagine some witches live here and pretend to be helpful librarians by day, cooking up noxious potions by night.

And then again, maybe not! What do you imagine?

Cable Car Ride

There is something about riding a cable car that makes anyone feel like a tourist. I rode one today, and the fresh air combined with the jolting and the smell of the brakes was kind of exhilarating. I'm so glad that a few cable car lines are still around. And that they're included in my monthly pass!

Growing

This one is from a couple of months ago. I found it while attempting to get my photos into some semblance of order. It's a nice reminder of summer.