Reimagining the concept of a line

This happened while I waited in line at Subway about a month ago:

A customer who had been sitting at a table got up and walked in front of me.  By way of explanation, she said, "Hi.  I was sitting down."  It wasn't worth arguing over, so I just said, "I see."  The response I thought while saying this, however, was, "And I've been standing here.  That's how waiting in line works."

Perhaps being isolated from people for so long during this pandemic has caused some of us to forget how to act.

Watchcat protocol DCXLVI

In October 2009, Watchcat Headquarters instructed Watchcat Rosie to talk security tactics with her reflection...

...and there was nothing wrong with that, per Watchcat Headquarters or Watchcat Rosie!  Who says a watchcat can't solicit feedback from herself?

Watchcat protocol DCXLV

Sometimes, it might look as though the watchcats' minds are starting to wander, but rest assured; they're still paying attention to their assigned sector:

October 2008: Watchcats Rosie and Sammy looked a bit glum, but that didn't stop them from keeping things secure.

Watchcat protocol DCXLIV

There's no doubt that Watchcat Rosie was multitasking in June 2009.  Each of her eyes focused on a different segment of her assigned sector:

Witch cat watchcat protocol XXII

Intruders, be warned:  You'd better exit the premises quickly when a witch cat watchcat leans forward and sees you acting suspiciously.  In fact, you'd be wise to make an extremely hasty retreat when three witch cat watchcats have their eyes on you.  Just trust me:

October 2009: A trio of not-to-be-trifled-with witch cats.  Pretty intimidating, eh?

Watchcat protocol DCXLIII

It was understandable that Watchcat Sylvia would relax a little while on duty in Spring 2009.  After all, her watchcat backup was a tiger:

Witch cat watchcat protocol XXI

Are your foodstuffs safe for consumption?  With your consent, witch cat watchcats will monitor them as you prepare your meals:

November 2015: Three witch cat watchcats concluded that a meal was ready to eat.

Heavy sighs and Pepto-Bismol ingestion II

Since the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last Friday, I've been contemplating what to write.  How do I pay tribute to someone whose majority opinions and dissents correctly promoted equality under the law?

I found my answer in Justice Ginsburg's own words.  Two days ago, I watched an interview she'd given at Harvard Law School in 2013.  "Law exists to serve the society," she said, "so how can you not think about, 'What is the impact on people of...the court's decisions?'"

Exactly.

Watchcat protocol DCXLII

There was no doubt in my mind that Watchcat Nemo was alert and ready to confront intruders in Spring 2009:

Someting about the gleam in his eye tipped me off.

Watchcat protocol DCXLI

Have you ever checked to make sure that the brick stairs in your home are built to last?  If not, don't worry.  A watchcat will check for you:

September 2003: Watchcat Sammy confirms that a staircase is safe.

Watchcat protocol DCXL

Is your coat insulated sufficiently?  A watchcat will check it for you, as Watchcat Sylvia did in 2011:

Watchcat protocol DCXXXIX

There are multiple ways for a watchcat to convey that she's in charge of her assigned sector's security.  One way is to look stately, as Watchcat Rosie did in July 2006:

Watchcat protocol DCXXXVIII

A warning to intruders: Watchcats have weapons at their disposal.  You never know when a watchcat will confront you with the Tiger Tail Of Admonishment, which Watchcat Sylvia kept nearby in 2011...

...or the Something-Or-Other Of Admonishment, which Watchcat Nemo had at his disposal that same year:

 

Watchcat protocol DCXXXVII

There was no doubt in my mind that Watchcat Rosie was alert and ready to confront intruders in April 2003:

Watchcat protocol DCXXXVI

There was no doubt in my mind that Watchcat Sammy was alert and ready to confront intruders in October 2004:

Watchcat protocol DCXXXV

When a lamp goes dark in a museum, the watchcats on duty check to make sure that the light bulb is actually burned out:

August 2003: Watchcats Sammy and Rosie confirm that a light bulb has reached the end of its life.  I'm not sure which watchcat installed a new bulb.  Most likely, it was Watchcat Sammy, under Watchcat Rosie's direction.

A linguistic irritant CXII

I'll admit to saying this irritant more than most others I write about.  When someone gives a lukewarm review of a book, TV show, or musical artist, such as "It's OK, I guess," I sometimes say or think sarcastically, "That's a ringing endorsement!"

Why is a rave review considered a ringing endorsement?  Are church bells expected to chime when someone recommends something enthusiastically?  That has never happened with me.  Then again, I'm not usually that enthusiastic.

Watchcat protocol DCXXXIV

In October 2003, Watchcat Rosie watched the microwave to make sure the food was cooking properly.  Meanwhile, Watchcat Sammy sat on top of the microwave to make sure no one distracted Watchcat Rosie from monitoring the food.  Watchcat Headquarters considered that a sensible division of labor:

Only in college XVI

If you talk with enough other students in college, you'll have an exchange similar to one I had in my dorm:

Other Student, seeing me reading a prose and poetry compilation: What class is that for?
Me: English Lit.; it's English 202.
Other Student: I'm in Physics 375.
Me:  I didn't intend for this to be a competition.

I'm still not sure what response the other student expected--"Wow, that's impressive," possibly, or "You win, then."  I didn't say either of those things in 1991, however--and still wouldn't today.

Wishing for blissful ignorance

On this day 19 years ago, I watched TV news coverage of the September 11 atrocities while the cats, Rosie and Sammy, chased each other.  Every so often, I'd see them scamper past the TV.

"How great it would be to be a cat today," I thought.  "I would be sheltered from the evil acts of terrorists.  I wouldn't have to walk around in a daze after being reminded how much of an impact despicable acts of rage and fury have."

As I thought this, Rosie and Sammy ran by again--two young, healthy cats attempting to pounce on each other.

I still have some of that recorded news coverage, but I doubt I'll watch it today.  I'd rather think about those cats.

Watchcat protocol DCXXXIII

Sometimes, a watchcat gets a look that says, "Something's not right here.  My security team and I are on it."  Such was the case with Watchcat Lily and her backups last night:

Watchcat protocol DCXXXII

Monitoring both the inside and outside of one's assigned sector is no easy feat.  Watchcat Sammy took it upon himself, however, to stand up as much as he could and peer out the window in October 2007.  Watchcat Rosie was ready to jump in, if necessary:

Truth in advertising? XL

While shopping for Listerine recently, I was surprised to see a limited edition variety of it combining two unlikely flavors, coconut and lime.  For a moment, I considered buying it.  Then, I thought, "If this were a soda, juice, or a type of chocolate in a sampler, would I buy it?  Maybe once, out of curiosity.  But mouthwash?"

I like lime flavoring, within reason; in fact, I think ginger lime is the best of the Diet Coke flavors introduced three years ago.  Combined with coconut, though?  I can tolerate coconut flavoring once in a while, but I don't seek it out.

I reverted to a less daring mint flavor of Listerine.  My sense of adventure has its limits.

Watchcat protocol DCXXXI

Was Watchcat Rosie falling asleep on the job in October 2010?  No, according to Watchcat Headquarters; she was just narrowing her eyes:

I gave Watchcat Rosie and Watchcat Headquarters the benefit of the doubt.  Sometimes, being a watchcat means honing your focus.

Witch cat watchcat protocol XX

Was the person who just entered an authorized visitor or an intruder?  Watchcat Sammy and a witch cat checked this out in October 2014:

Watchcat protocol DCXXX

Per Watchcat Headquarters, it's permissible for a watchcat to look content while on the job.  Watchcat Rosie showed her tranquil side while surveying her assigned sector in Spring 2013:

Witch cat watchcat protocol XIX

Watch cat protocol doesn't mean just following directives from Watchcat Headquarters.  Sometimes, incantations are involved, as well.  The witch cat watchcats looked on in October 2006 as Watchcat Rosie prepared to recite an incantation from memory:

Watchcat protocol DCXXIX

Even Watchcat Rosie was a little surprised when Watchcat Headquarters assigned her to guard her own reflection in October 2006:

I'm still not sure why the powers that be thought her reflection might go rogue.

A subtle sign of respect

The wallpaper on my computer is a photo I took of my dearly departed cat, Sylvia, on July 17, 2008.  Although I noticed a long time ago that the toolbar on this computer reflects the dominant color of the photo used as wallpaper, this is the first time I've ever seen the toolbar take on two colors.  About two-thirds of it is gray, reflecting Sylvia's dominant color.  The remaining third, however, is beige, reflecting part of her stomach:

I know that computers are inanimate objects, but I can't help feeling, based on this only instance of a two-toned toolbar, that the computer misses Sylvia as much as I do--or at least has gleaned how much I miss her.

The two shades are considerate, in either case.

Watchcat protocol DCXXVIII

Policing your fellow watchcat comes with the territory.  In October 2011, Watchcat Rosie looked over at Watchcat Sammy and determined that he'd done nothing suspicious:

I have no idea if Watchcat Sammy reciprocated.  Knowing him, however, he probably did.