It’s true. They love Modest Mouse, are impartial to Kaiser Chiefs, and absolutely hate Jimmy Eat World. We were driving on Wednesday night (or very early Thursday morning, I don’t know. We left at 8:30 Wednesday night and got here 24 hours later) and I had in Modest Mouse’s We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. Now, I knew Avocado likes Modest Mouse. It was obvious from the day I brought home this CD. I put it in and he just curls up with me and starts purring like mad. I don’t know.

But then the CD ended, and I put in Jimmy Eat World’s Clarity (you know, their best album), and you should have heard the noise that both of them started making! It’s absolutely ridiculous. Are my cats the only one? (Virginie told me once, driving back from the airport, she was singing and Azabel started yowling… as soon as she stopped singing, Azabel stopped, but when she started again, so would Azabel. Virginie’s not a great singer, haha.)

Okay, so we’ve been in Chicago since Thursday night, but due to the craziness of moving in (and my sucky, sucky former job not paying me and me having a panic attack as a result), I haven’t been able to find time to write a post. The good news is that we made it here without dying. And my car made it here without dying (that was a close one!). I made quite a scene at the rest stops with my cats walking along on their leashes (well, Ginny walked beside me fine; Avocado’s scared of the loud trucks so he just sat there most of the time). It took so long to get to Chicago because during the day, the car got really hot (the A/C stopped working a while ago) so I stopped pretty much every other rest stop and let them out for a half hour or more to cool off, stretch their limbs, and get them fresh ice water. Because I take care of my kitties.

We finally got here at 7:30 Central time and they immediately took over one of the windows (as you can see in the picture). After I unloaded the car, I was absolutely exhausted but took the time to set up their “jungle gym” because they love that thing. Except… I threw out the instructions after I put it together the first time (in March) so I had to do it by memory. Which took an hour. Ha, my memory’s not that good! Avocado’s glad to have it back, though. I’ve set it up in front of the window (I rearranged some of the furniture) so he sleeps on it at night with the breeze coming in on him.

Now I have the daunting task of teaching them not to run out the door when I open it. That’s the problem with going from living in a house (every door leads to another room they can explore, except the door that leads outside) to a studio (they know the door doesn’t lead outside, but they haven’t grasped the concept that it’s off limits). Well, right now Ginny’s the problem, as Avocado’s still wary of his new surroundings. But in a few days I’m sure he’ll be trying to get out as well. But maybe they’ll learn quickly, as they’re smart. Or they’ll be too smart and figure out how to dart out quickly.

Other than that, they’re adjusting really well. I think they’re not enjoying the heat too much (it’s been ridiculous humidity since we got here, although today wasn’t too bad in comparison) but they’ve been playing, sleeping, and eating like normal. Ginny has a vet appointment on Monday (I hope I can afford it!) and Avocado should be getting his sutures out on Friday. Finally!

Anyway, I need to take a picture of the adorable dishes I’m using as their food and water bowls. They’re fish designed and supposed to be used for sushi (the one I’m using for water is a dipping bowl). I picked them up 90% off their original price of $7 back in February and haven’t used them since (I didn’t feel it was appropriate for a vegan to use them for sushi dishes, even if it’s vegan sushi). But they’re cute as cat dishes.