Category Archives: bookstore management

Yarn Porn?

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DSCN0278Just as Jack was getting on his plane to head off to Scotland, friends of friends were having a yard sale here. And my friends told me about their friends’ yard sale because said sale sold yarn.

I guess I have a reputation or something…..

Being tied up all day, I couldn’t get to said yard sale, a knotty problem, to say the least, yet quickly solved by friends stringing together a series of emails in which I prepaid for the haul, and they hauled it to me.

The boxes and bags – about 200 skeins in all – arrived the day after Jack left, leaving his side of the bed the logical place to stash the, er, stash until I could get it put away at the weekend.

Hence “The Photograph.” I got my friend Elissa (yes, the one who shoots kittens) to document a playful moment and thought no more about it – until that night, when I put said playful photo on one of the many, MANY crochet sites out there on Facebook. The caption read, “My husband is gone for a month, so I’m trying to make the best of things” or something like that.

An hour later it had 700 likes and several very funny comments. And then it disappeared. Admin took it down and now I find my posts (on other subjects) blocked.

I don’t know which is funnier: taking it, taking it down, or taking it badly. Some people get their knitting into twists, y’know? And some are just too tightly wound.

Truth be told, makes me feel kinda empowered to have been banned from a crochet group, like maybe I could still have a shot at being cool?

Nah. I rescue kittens and my idea of a hot time while Jack is gone is binge-watching Netflix until midnight while crocheting and drinking club soda. (Wine while crocheting leads to some interesting pattern innovations.) I have long hair and wear sensible flats and the last time I had an affair it was with a fictional character in a classic novel. (Never you mind who; get your own book daddy.)

But I HAVE been banned; surely that counts for some kind of honorary coolness points?

Jessie Lea, Den Mom

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jessie leaHi, I’m Jessie Lea, and I’m temping at the bookstore. It’s a grant-funded position, I believe, because they keep telling me I’ll be moving on when the last of the kittens have been adopted.

Excuse me, won’t be a moment–

JACK AND MAC! GET DOWN FROM THERE THIS INSTANT!!!

Sorry, as I was saying, I came here about two weeks ago, and they put me in what they call the mystery room, and wouldn’t you know there were three motherless tykes in there, poor souls, all confused and nervous. Never been in a house before, dry food a mystery to them. Well, I’d just had a little procedure following my own kittens, and perhaps I was feeling a wee bit nostalgic because I just set right in. They needed a good seeing too – washing behind the ears, teaching paw maintenance, the works. I soon had them shipshape but no sooner were we on an even keel than the door opened and here came the cat carrier again!

All I heard from inside the carrier was hissing and spitting, so I stuck my head inside and the fuzzy wee lad struck at me! Really, these foster children. They just need a bit of loving-kindness and a reassuring lick. So I talked him and his brother out of the carrier, showed them ’round the place, introduced them to the others here.

Oh, excuse me–

IS THAT ANY WAY TO TALK TO YOUR BROTHER?! I DON’T CARE WHO STARTED IT! APOLOGIZE AT ONCE.

Sorry, where was I? Oh, yes, the new arrivals. Soon they were all using the playground nicely, taking turns on the catnip slide and having a nice game of jingle ball soccer. And then the door opened AGAIN!

This time, to my joy, a lovely wee girl was in the mix. Three kittens; two didn’t actually stay long; some adoptions are faster than others, but when Rita’s brother Dexter left, she stayed here. I played jacks with her to keep her mind off things. And just this morning we’ve gotten another little fellow, Giacomo. (Really, who comes up with these names?) He was hissing and spitting at the back of the crate, so I just climbed in and sat with him awhile until he calmed down. Now he’s having a game of chase on the jungle gym with Fforde – oh dear….

jessie 6YES YOU DID PUSH HIM. I WATCHED YOU. DON’T MAKE ME PUT YOU IN TIME OUT.

Of course, some kittens take longer to learn manners than others. Take the Feral Brothers; they really were raised in a barn. So of course the litter box was a new thing, but I’m pleased to say they’ve made all their box targets today.

Yes, it’s cozy here in our little corner of the bookstore, the six – er seven – no six, one was adopted, that’s right – kittens and me. In the mornings I help them with their wet food etiquette, and about lunchtime we have a plate of crunchies. Mid-afternoon I read them a story before their naps, and then after supper we have some extra playtime so they tire out before bed. It’s all quite simple to manage and I’m sure the nice people who run the shop could do it themselves, but I understand the lady’s husband is about to leave for Scotland, so I’m just staying on a bit longer before my own adoption comes through. I don’t think she could do without me.jessie resting

Now, the kittens are all down for their naps and I’m just going to have ten minutes of me time. Let me just put the kettle on; would you care for some catnip tea?