...of the computer kind. We're under-the-weather & also trying to troubleshoot Spotify, the music service. It downloads but then does zip. This is causing all manner of upset here. (Well, Giulia is not bothered one bit, of course. She likes the Christmas music/Beatles iTunes playlist currently in rotation. But her editor will not rest until she has more more more & can tell everyone about it.) We decorated for Christmas on Twitter, take a look (you can, you know, even if you're not signed up). We're decorating our tree today/tonight (it's an ongoing process:), & also our laptop. Here's one of a million free Christmas wallpaper sites. We chose a glittering Paris scene; no doubt we'll switch it up to London, New York City, Rome, & Strasbourg before the holidays are over. We feel more festive already. Joyeux Noël!
Merry ciao-meow/GGCM
Such a large tummy/ I can't wash it all at once/ A squeegee would help. -- Cat Food Breath
The funniest cat on Twitter now has a website. That's right: Cat Food Breath is now entertaining supplicants at more than 140 characters. Those of you who resist Twitter & Facebook can partake of the wit & wisdom of a 17-pound Siamese with a sushi habit. CFB stays au courant, as well, so #OccupytheCouch is now part of the Twitterverse.
CFB brightens our day with pithy one-liners, haiku (original & um, reworked), & philosophical asides, even fashion advice (accessorize with cat fur. It's gonna happen anyway). Not a day goes by without a laugh-out-loud moment. Or several. This is not a one-sided affair either; CFB will gladly converse with you & set you straight as to who is the boss. Be sure to use the word 'cute' in any reference to CFB, it will smooth the way. Here is a funny interview that CFB gave to the lovely author of paper bag & string (& of the website Careers For Your Cat, more about which soon).
What follows are some original haiku by the master. Read in bemused tone as if to an oaf. Used by permission.
Has your cat been fed?/ Don't let the bowl stay empty/ Kitty needs food now.
Are you wearing black? / Accessorize with cat fur/ You will look stunning.
Quit hogging the bed/ You are always on my side/ I need more pillows.
Where's my crunchy food? / My bowl seems to be empty/ Fill it now or else.
ciao-giggle-meow/GGCM
(photograph with kind courtesy of CFB)
GG Central is taking a little break of about a week to get some writing finished. Have a great week!
ciao-meow/the Management
August 10 Update - A little under-the-weather + internet problems = delay in return. You can follow us on Twitter! Also, please check with the World Food Programme about Somalia(& the entire Horn of Africa) famine relief. Thank you.
August 21 Update - We hope for internet to be fixed soon. The Verizon strike is causing tremendous problems. No matter that Verizon claims that it is not.
(photograph by Sadie W. Harris via Ms. Muse)
A new series with a familiar name begins tonight in the States: Upstairs Downstairs. In case you've been hiding under a rock (listen up, Mia aka Bronx Zoo Cobra), the series is related to the venerable old show in that 165 Eaton Place is the center of the action & co-creator Jean Marsh is involved. Unrelated to the original series: there's a monkey named Solomon. Giulia can hardly wait for this simian storyline.
Here's a review/recap by Jane Austen World. If you'd like to attend the Twitter Party, click on Jane Austen Today (or just log on & use the hashtag UpDownPBS). Tweeting begins at 9pm EDT. These people are hilarious if you just want to laugh at one-liners. GG's editor isn't modern enough to watch & tweet simultaneously. Ahem.
ciao-pip-pip-meow, darlings.
(photograph via PBS Masterpiece)
Have you followed the adventures-by-tweet of the now-recaptured Bronx Zoo's Snake? She's a witty Egyptian gal. The zoo's naming contest Who's that Sssssnake is open through Thursday (EDT). We hope she continues to tweet as it has provided many laugh out loud moments since March 28th.Update - The cobra has been named "Mia" & will make her debut-at-the-zoo on Sunday, 9 April.
ciao-regal-meow/GG Central
ciao-meow/GG Holiday Central
GG is rousing from Spring Break. She & her editor are still under-the-weather but invite you to the Human Rights Art Festival in Silver Spring, MD this Friday through Sunday (23-25 April 2010). We will be posting this week about the festival, but consider this your official invitation! Stay tuned. If you can't attend, we'd still love it if you clicked the links & read what it's all about (& see all the exciting sponsors, events in our neighborhood).
Some Giulia fans have asked if she will be at the festival. We have hopes but her recently diagnosed asthma may make this impossible. We'll see. (She hates that answer.) GG's editor would love to meet you, though. Be in touch through e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, or her blog, bricolage (where you can leave a comment).
ciao-meow/GG Central
[image by Tom Block/all rights reserved/used with permission]
(original post from 19 September 2008; Update: still find it slightly alarming.) On the other hand, some field workers & reporters in dangerous places in the world (& others who do not go on about eating ham sandwiches) have found it very helpful. As with Facebook, no one said you have to update your every thought. In fact, we beg you to stop it. The 'what are you thinking/doing' is merely a prompt, a suggestion; not a command. Something to keep in mind. You can contact juliethecat if you like; she has a restricted account. (Update - it's unrestricted. C'mon over!) Since this post, a Twitter Tips site has sprung (along with widgets). Have fun.]Giulia & her editor find this Twitter business amusing & slightly terrifying. We signed up because friends around the world kept sending us messages that they wanted to 'follow' us. Yikes. We still aren't sure how we feel but we love, love, love this logo detail & want this adorable bird on GG's site. ciao-tweet-meow/GG
Giulia & her editor find this Twitter business amusing & slightly terrifying. We signed up because friends around the world kept sending us messages that they wanted to 'follow' us. Yikes. We still aren't sure how we feel but we love, love, love this logo detail & want this adorable bird on GG's site.
