Blair and I have started a nice little morning ritual where he feeds the fish and then we sit together on the couch in semi-darkness, sipping coffee and watching them eat. Sometimes we talk, sometimes we don't.  It's a peaceful opening to the day before "the world" intrudes.

Of course, if you have cats, "the world" always intrudes. The other morning we were sitting quietly, contemplating the fish when suddenly kung-fu cat appeared and attacked the fish tank.

"WAH-HAH-HEE-AIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE-YAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Lucy leapt onto the dining room chair and pummelled the glass barrier. Her paws were a blur of karate chops. Fish scattered, Blair and I both jumped and kung-fu kitty, having made her point, leapt off the chair and raced out of the room.

"Is she high? Blair asked, brushing spilled coffee off his robe.

I have no idea what gets into her. After 80 billion attempts, you would think she would have clued in by now that the fish tank is impenetrable.  Apparently she thought ancient Eastern martial arts held the key to success.  Hopefully she's learned her lesson.

Although I'm concerned she hasn't give up. I saw her studying a book of dark magic the other day.

Be very afraid...

I haven't posted pics of the girls in a while, so here you go. This one is Lucy in her throne-perch above the fish tank. We pulled a dining room chair in front of the tank so she could be eye level, and she does spend time there. But she's recently decided she likes being high to view her "subjects."

Click to enlarge This is Lucy's "Feels like Sushi" look.

Click to enlarge.And this is Olivia. She was sitting on the couch across the room, watching Lucy watch the fish. 

I do love my girls. And they love their fishies!

I fear my fish have fallen in with the wrong crowd.

Serpa Tetra's

Everything was fine at first. We started the tank with four serpa tetra and aside from my concerns that the little guy wasn't getting his fair share of the food, everything was going along--forgive me--swimmingly.

Then last weekend...

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Look at our new babies! Aren't they sweet? Yes, I have crossed over to the fish side. We brought our four Serpa Tetra home on Christmas Eve. Blair taped Christmas paper over the glass windows leading into the library so the cats wouldn't be able to see the fish before "Santa" brought them. We have great video of Olivia on Christmas morning staring at the tank, mesmerized.

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I am mentally willing my right hand to unclench. It's locked in "painter's claw" as I have spent the better part of the week in the exercise room, painting trim. The original trim was this deep, dark orange (Don't ask. We're not the ones who did it). But it took primer and 3 coats of paint to cover it.  Some panels on the door actually took four coats. At that point I was just a madwoman, flinging white paint at anything that stood still.

Still...it's beautiful. Tonight we move the furniture back in and the room is ready for use.

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