Mystery Solved?

We think we know what's up with Roger.

We were watching "Cats 101" on Animal Planet (yes, I have no life) and they were talking about a rare breed of cat called a Turkish Van. It caught our attention because Roger has unusual markings that kind of match to these cats. Plus, her personality fits (that of a "dog dressed in a cat's body" -- that explains her propensity towards playing fetch).

At the end of the segment, they mentioned that these cats are not good around little kids because they're hunters and they will "stalk" small children. Sorry, Alice-Grace, welcome to the bottom of the food chain.

The good news is that she can't be a purebred Turkish Van. The bad news is that we think she's also part Satan.

Those Aren't Bath Beads!

Saturday night, Alice-Grace was taking a bath. Our cat, Roger, walked into the bathroom, saw that she was in the tub, and THREW UP IN THE WATER! Poor Alice-Grace was scrambling up the walls like a crazed spider monkey. It was so gross.

The other day, Roger was sitting calmly and we one at a time held our hand out to her. She nuzzled up to Frances, ignored Nigel, and tried to shred all the skin off of Alice-Grace's limb.

Once Roger was hiding in a bag and whenever Alice-Grace walked by, she would jump out and attack her legs. If anyone else walked by, the cat would just ignore them.

What is with my cat's obsession with trying to kill my youngest child?

I Didn't Realize Reading was a Full-Contact Sport

I remember a lovely childhood filled with my mother reading to us. We would laugh and cry through "The Birds' Christmas Carol" every December and attempt to understand the beautiful poetry of "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." It was great.

Now whenever I try to read to my children, it always breaks into a huge melee with much yelling, screaming, and eventually bleeding as they all fight over who gets to sit where and who's touching whom and who's taking too long to look at the pictures.

Any suggestions?