lenega's Profile

I felt a little silly for clicking on this post, but it delighted me! I'm in a small apt with a very slim closet in the bathroom and now my bath towels, though taller, have about an inch buffer on the sides and aren't crammed in. #easilyamused.

I've found it really helpful to commit to spend 15 min on a project that's looming like a black cloud (or will/could) and I set an online timer. It reassures me I won't be lost forever in it, and I'm almost always surprised how much I can accomplish and how much better I feel for digging in a bit. It also reinforces a little more eagerness for the next 15 min session...

I want everyone I invite into my home to feel safe and welcomed. Full-time critter residents and two-legged guests, all. So there's some compromise--I do always disclose the cats in case there's an allergy situation, and they could be separated in the other room for a bit (and the rat stays in his cage) if someone turned out to be frightened. But yeah, all my peeps are pretty much animal people, too. By the time they leave, if they didn't arrive that way :).

It's tragic that people have lost birds to cats, and that should give one pause about moving to quickly, but it's simply inaccurate to say it *can't* be done. I had several cockatiels' whose cage door was only closed when I left the house. They walked around the floor with the cats. I've had that with pet rats and cats, too. The message might be more: you cannot assume that the cats will not be a danger to the birds, and be very, very slow and cautious about if and whether they interact.

Bottom line is you have an obligation to the quality of life of all these animals, so warehousing some in another room without a lot of dedicated attention is not an ethical solution (esPECially with birds, who have intense social needs). And if you have patience, interest, and animals who seem like they can work with the situation, it's very short-sighted to ditch some of them. Safety first: make sure they don't have the opportunity to hurt each other (the cage won't allow the cats to catch a leg in them or isn't too light that it can be knocked over).

Like everything, this can be done in a boring or exciting way. I keep gifts that I can hardly wait to give--from museum gift stores often--things that are clever and funny and VERY well received in my crowd (like "Wash Your Sins Away" handy wipes).

Years ago, I went to an exhibit at a SF museum on "Where the Wild Things Are." It's a book that's beloved and personal to a number of people. I bought earrings and pins and key chains and have given them where it meant something over the years (girlfriends moving in together loved the WTWTA keychain as a housewarming gift). And I always try to choose things that can be regifted if they're not the recipient's cup of tea.

They're great to have when you're invited to a friend of a friend's for dinner--funny ice breaker. And I agree, sometimes they're best for folks you don't know as well or to augment a more timely, purposely-chosen gift. Or as a pick-me-up when someone's having a crappy day or does you a favor at work.