Pack Up the Tomato Box

God bless MDK. Really. I was starting to read various knitting blogs, and they were on ALL the blog rolls -- so they couldn't be any good, right, if everyone liked them? Well, they are good. And fun. I am slowly working my way through all the archives. The bookmobile post was enough to yank out all of their lurkers.

The bookmobile was such a stressful event. God help you if you left a due book at home, outside the big sturdy box we used for our three-reader supply. It was only a 7minute drive to the next stop, but my mom viewed it as a huge imposition. Once inside the bus I had to be yanked out. I always checked out my books to the sound of the engine revving up.

I was fascinated by the black woman who worked on the bus. My school was all white and I think the librarian was the first woman of color that I saw working at any job -- and a job that was so idolized! I was six and I thought she was so cool and distinguished behind the little gate.

That bookmobile may have had more books than my elementary school library, which was shoe-box-sized. I quickly rebelled against the grades 1-3 books and was allowed to take out the bigger books. We were only allowed to take out books every other week, but they let me do it every week -- a big stack from my hands to my chin (this was before tinies had backpacks).

disclaimers: this is my book, but that is the porch bench afghan, which is not of my issue or choosing! The dark circles under my eyes are totally there and not a camera shot issue. It was a bad day and i just read a 200p book in an hour and a half. You would be too!

Red in Tooth and Claw

Other blogs have their book tours and their babies, now I bring you my own circle of life.

This morning I left the house for work to find Porch Kitty trotting forward with a whole dead chipmunk in his mouth. He was only out for 2 hours that morning and I've never seen a chippie in my neighborhood: the squirrels dominate. Also, both front paws were declawed by previous owner. So, the rodent had a better chance than usual. I was pleased as any mother at a dance recital. I petted my cat while he had a corpse in his mouth and told him how proud and impressed I was. Mighty Hunter!

Though there was nary a slice of compunction pie at the grisly scene, I did draw the line at running upstairs to get the camera. Who will admit to being the target audience for dead chipmunk photos? Even totally precious action shots of proud killer kitty with prey al dente?

The dead still adorned the porch at my return, so chipmunk salvage was quickly carried out.

This is the preying mantis that was standing near the body. Puzzling since I hadn't thought that they were carnivorous, but soon realized that the mantis was staking out the corpse flies and having quite the nice supper. Chillin like the old guy at the college club. The mantis got quite perturbed when I leaned in, and started to book it towards the plants, but was determined to enjoy his fly To Go.

At least someone feasted.