I'm sure there used to be more hours in the day...

[llywela]

I came home from work sick this afternoon. Not really sick, just...kinda queasy and wobbly and headachey and tired, enough that I preferred to lose an afternoon's pay rather than sit at that desk and keep my eyes open for another couple of hours. I think it was just reaction, as much as anything else - months of stress and then this sudden relief, and it just hit me. Plus, there's a bug going around. So, I came home, wrapped myself up in a blanket and slept, which I feel was time well spent.

And now, by way of being productive, I present you with...Poppy picspam! As promised the other day.





Those first three pics were taken with my camera phone, at arm's length as she sprawled across my lap. Poppy is very affectionate, and loves to cwtch.

The rest are all from the real camera. First up, variations on the theme of Poppy's patented 'I'm an adorable treasure and that's why you love me' face.




Still a kitten at heart. Poppy's shiny new scratching post is a big hit, after the old one had been effectively demolished by those sharp, sharp claws over the months.


And finally: the reason I often get very little done while sitting at the computer!

Comments

[galathea-snb.livejournal.com]

Poppy = adorable! ♥

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Hee, yeah. You remember all those times when we've been chatting and I've suddenly said 'it's really hard to type with a cat draped over your arm'? Well, now you have the visual to go with it! LOL

[agentxpndble.livejournal.com]

She is such a *gorgeous* cat - Her coloring and markings are really beautiful. :::snorgglesbelly:::

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

She's my pretty girl! And she knows it...*G*

[siluria]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

Sorry you're not feeling well though xx

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Turns out, feeling lousy yesterday was the beginnings of a cold. So, I shall be taking lots of lemsip to work with me today!

[rosie55.livejournal.com]

Poppy really has grown into the most beautiful cat and you can see how affectionate she is (typing left handed here as my Fluffy is sitting curled up on my right arm... sound familiar, lol?
Hope you feel better - sometimes you just need to curl up and sleep!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Why on earth would we want to type when we could be cuddling, eh?

Yesterday turned out to be the beginnings of a very definite cold. Today I can't breathe at all, but at least I'm awake! Time to stock up on tissues and lemsip.

[catsdownunder.livejournal.com]

Cats own us, we don't own them.

These are so beautiful ... she is a very loving cat.

Thank you for uploading. MEOW !

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Aye indeed. Poppy has got into a routine with me being back at work - she did love having me at home - but she is very jealous of her cuddle time!

[babelmira.livejournal.com]

Stress is like that. Last year when Stewart didn't settle in at school, I kept soldiering on, because it's what we do, but as soon as it became apparent that this year was going to be better I caught the cold in a big way and spent a week sleeping and crying at the weirdest shit. I fucking bawled like a baby at Marco's funeral in Neighbours, I cried at Middleman and I cried at some fanfic. I gret that much that Stewart actually thought somehting was the matter with me.

Got that letter yet?

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

It'll take a while to get the letter - they have to get references first, which means writing to referees and then waiting for them to respond. Not that the uni doesn't already have about 15 copies of my references, of course, but heavens forfend they should transfer references for one post to another!

[kelzies.livejournal.com]

Hope you're feeling better soon. Get some rest! Poppy is so cuteness ♥

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Cheers, Kel.

[karenmiller.livejournal.com]

What a little madam. *g* Bless!

When the body says sleep, obey. It's a bugger, but sometimes you just have to.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Yep, Poppy rules the roost - no doubt about it!

I've definitely got a cold, but now that it has come out properly I feel much better for having let myself rest yesterday.

[karenmiller.livejournal.com]

Homemade chicken soup with loads of garlic really does work for colds.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

*makes mental note, ta, considers recipe, and then remembers I have homemade soup stashed away in the freezer somewhere...*

[karenmiller.livejournal.com]

Heh. From your icon can I take it you hum along to the Ballad of John and Aeryn? *g*

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

ROFL I've never been what you'd call a shipper, but I am all kinds of fond of Farscape, yes. *G* Wild, crazy fun.

Although having said that I still haven't seen all the episodes through in order. Must finish that rewatch.

[karenmiller.livejournal.com]

Oh, me too. So many stories, so little time!!!!

And Scorpius? One of the most delicious villains ever to grace the small screen. Him and John together. What a pair! And I am a shipper, insofar as I don't have a problem with onscreen romance Especially when it was written into the story from the getgo, like John and Aeryn. Farscape's an epic love story, if it's anything.

And so brave!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't have a problem with onscreem romance. What I mean is - you know, some people tend to 'ship ahead of all else, so that the couple they are rooting for seems to be the only reason they watch. Me, I love to see a variety of character dynamics and relationships unfolding. And I like to see those relationships developing, rather than getting stuck in a rut as some shippers seem to want.

The way all the characters bounce off each other in Farscape is great - the fact that they didn't choose to be together, but must rely on one another for their survival nevertheless, despite the fact that a lot of the time they don't even really like one another. It's a fascinating dynamic, and the show has great fun mining it!

John and Aeryn = ♥

...but I only have two Farscape icons, so much repeat this one *G*

[karenmiller.livejournal.com]

I know, I know. I come across a rabid shipper and I run far, far away. *g* Like you, I'm there for the full story, and I try to remember that I'm not the one driving the car. And I'm a drama queen, and an angst whore, so the more trauma in my drama, the better. *g*

The character work in Farscape is fabbo. They're all flawed, they're all frelled up, they're all broken and patched and barely holding on. Farscape, BSG, Firefly and Supernatural have those wonderful things in common -- everything's difficult, everything hurts, and yet somehow they keep going. That to me is the essence of brilliant storytelling ... besides which the Trek Next Gen and Voyager and Enterprise series were largely sterile endeavours. Especially Next Gen. DS9 got it closest to right, for me, and funny that, Ronald D Moore was a part of it. Buffy sometimes got that right, most especially with Spike for me. And Angel sometimes, but best again in the final season when we got Spike and Angel interacting.

I like to live in those dark places, story wise. That's why I'm loving what they're doing with Supernatural. I mean, hello, let's take one of our heroes, let's eviscerate him and send him to hell, and then let's smash him to pieces on top of it, and destroy every last good thing he felt about himself and the world. Let's do that, huh? It's so brave. I really hope they don't back off it. I hope they don't listen to the fans who resist growth.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

It's so brave. I really hope they don't back off it. I hope they don't listen to the fans who resist growth.

I really hope so, too. I think that's part of why I felt so cheated in the last couple of episodes, because it felt like they were telling us that Dean had full memory of hell without showing the full impact of that trauma - it felt crammed in around the edges of all the plot focus. And that annoyed me, because I've been saying for months that in this show death always has consequences - someone can be brought back, but there is always a massive price to pay. It was fine when he didn't seem to remember - the full impact was still to come. But then to tell without showing felt a bit too much like backing away from the consequences of this awful thing they'd been brave enough to do.

I think part of it has been because they thought they were only going to have this season to wrap up the show, and so focused on plot development, which pushed Dean's emotional story to the side. I'm hoping that now they feel confident of a 5th season, the pace will slow and we'll get some solid character focus, which will help reconcile me to the way it has played out up till now.

With me, it isn't even that I love dark storytelling above all else. I love honest storytelling, that follows the characters rather than forcing them to follow a plot that doesn't fit them, and I love storytelling that explores the full range of human emotions and relationships. It frustrates me with a lot of TV/film/writing/whatever that everything seems to get boiled down to sex a little too often these days, belittling the depth and beauty of other kinds of relationship.

But that's another hobby horse. *G*

[karenmiller.livejournal.com]

Catch up catch up catch up ... arrgghhhh!

I guess with the Dean in hell stuff -- maybe in the end it will turn out not to have been done properly. Or maybe, for Kripke and co, what they've done is enough for them. I just don't know. But we still have 12 eps to come, with lots of time for consequences. My faith is holding. Mainly because they are making tough choices, they are throwing rocks at the boys, shaking things up, undercutting what they've done so far. I know there are fans who just want two lovey dovey brothers on the road killing things, but tha'ts static and boring, to me. This is a drama. This is a story with an endgame. And drama is conflict, and they needed to shake things up. I love the shakep. I love the character progressions.

Mind you, check back at the end of the season and I could be spitting chips. *g*

And I agree with your last comment, too. Although I think that honest storytelling inevitably becomes dark, because that's humans for you. *g* Sneakily, I think SPN is telling the most profound story about family that's been done on tv for a long long time. I'm looking forward to being able to stand back from the story as a whole and really assess it.

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

I love the nuzzly picture, she seems very content with her life!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Yeah, she has grown up all beautiful and content. She is going to love the new house, once we move - it'll take a while to settle her in of course. She'll be horrified at first. But then...cat flap!

Hopefully the freedom won't go to her head...

[femsc.livejournal.com]

There's definitely something going round. Himself was home ill today, and that's very rare for him. I've got razor blades in my throat and cotton wool where my brain used to be. You don't want to know what my sinuses are full of - it feels *horrible*.

Poppy's adorable.

GWS.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Get well soon to you and Himself, too, in that case!

This is definitely a cold. I thought yesterday it felt like the beginnings of one, and then woke up this morning unable to breathe, which pretty much confirms it. Marvellous.

[sunray45.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you are feeling so sick. As you say, it could be a reaction to the relief of stress. You are doing the right thing by sleeping. Hope you feel better soon.

That little Poppy is such a cuddler, so gorgeous. In the 4th and 5th pics she has such a seductive look in her eyes, no wonder you can't resist her. :)

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I've woken up this morning with a very definite cold, but feel much more awake, at least!

Poppy knows that she is irresistible, and plays on it shamelessly! LOL

[daphnis.livejournal.com]

Indeed, a most cuddlicious catcreature! I love cats when they're really friends as well as one's owner (in their minds, I believe), and when they make an effort to live co-operatively with their humans! I just can't have furry people in my face frequently or allergies build up ~ I'm grateful for Tara's willingness to be a floor and under-bed doggie rather than a lap adornment . . . . . . . to say nothing of the huge QUANTITIES of hair she sheds all over EVERYTHING she spends time with or on. I don't see how she can lose so much hair and still not go bald all over ;^)

Cuddles to both of you; remember all the people who really DO care about you and your family!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Poppy is a very definite companion, although she tends to be shy of anyone and everyone who isn't me.

Pet fur allergies are horrible - I'm glad you and your Tara have reached a happy compromise of companionship that works for you both!

[bowtrunckle.livejournal.com]

Kitty! I love the picture of here sleeping with her front paws stretched out in front of her. The last one of her draped over your hand screams, "Pay attention to me!" *loves*. One day I will have to get myself a furry feline to cuddle with.

I hope you're feeling better soon. Nap well.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Hee. Yep. "Stop typing! Keep still so I can sleep! Give me looooove!" I get that one a lot. And then if I fail to keep still enough for her liking, she wraps her paws around my arm and very languidly sinks her teeth in...

I can thoroughly recommend having a furry little friend. The first year tends to be a little fraught - I'd advise putting all breakables in a safe place for 12 months or so! But they are wonderful companions.

I want more nap time! But my bank balance says no, back to work today. Think they'd notice if I lay down under my desk to sleep...? *G*

[francy-m79.livejournal.com]

Aww, Poppy...cute!!! :D She's a very loving cat!!!
We cat-owners definetely have to grow skilled at doing things with just one hand! ;)

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Yep, we sure do!

[wildcard-sej.livejournal.com]

Aww - she's so cute, but I bet those arm-warmers start to get heavy when you're trying to type. ;)

Hope you're feeling better soon. *pets*

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

I can live with the heaviness...it's when she starts biting that I start to object!

Yesterday's lousiness has manifested as a full blown cold today. Stocking up on lemsip...

[solosundance.livejournal.com]

I love kittypics! Poppy's a sweetie. The third pic from the end is just adorable. My kitty kind of does that, only she bites my fingers if they type rather than tickle. Heh *g*

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Heh. Yeah, Poppy cuddles nicely as long as I stop typing and give her love. If I continue to type...then she rather languidly sticks her teeth in!

[birggitt.livejournal.com]

Sorry about you not feeling well *send you virtual tea and hugs*
But Poppy is I'm sure she can make you feel better in a whim, with her magical cattitude =D

ETA: Deleted and reposted because I have no clue why, but a laughing face intrude in my post *iz shocked*

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

I saw the laughing face in my notifications - LJ is really weird!

*hugs back, carefully so as not to breathe germs on you, and sips tea*