This is how I wake up every morning, with Oliver wrapped around my head. He usually stays off the bed when I'm going to sleep, leaving that to Scout and Atticus. However, when I wake up he's on my pillow like this, purring. Maybe he waits for me to doze off, I don't know. Sometimes I'll go back to sleep. Or, when I've woken and chosen to just lie in bed, sometimes he dreams and gently bats each side of my head with his big paws. It's completely adorable.

To get this shot, I slept with my camera in my bed so I could catch it. The light was low and I had limited range, so it came out grainy. I like it though.

The update on Oliver is that he continues to feel more comfortable every day. He hadn't had a lot of opportunity to just be a cat, so he had to learn what that was all about. It wasn't about living in a dung heap, with trash and filth and a lazy, irresponsible human living in a fantasy world who didn't know how to care for you. It wasn't being in a shelter, and who knows where he was before that. It's about being loved and talked to. And brushed, pet and played with. And, allowed to explore and feel safe. He's gotten quite a beautiful coat as it's grown fuller. I'd had to cut a huge matted ball out of his "mane" because the girl didn't brush him...ever. I did that when she still owned him, and not a day later, brought her brushes which I dont' think she used because she's completely irresponsible. Because of that, he had a chunk missing out of his mane. That's almost all grown out now, as is a lot of his belly fur which was shaved for his surgery. Because he's healthier and happier, it has a shine and glow to it. Thank you all again who helped him get to this point. I think a pat on the back is due if you haven't given yourself one lately. I think it's just going to get better. It's fun and gratifying to watch him start to enjoy his life. Scout and Atticus have adapted well, though Scout isn't pleased when Oliver tries to play with her. He just doesn't get that he's twice her size, so she may see his pouncing on her a tad differently than she does. He and Atticus have played, and it's adorable.

Like I said in my last post, my dad came to town. He got to meet Oliver, which was fun. It was great to have him in my apartment and "house warm." it. He bought me some cosmo ingredients which I thought was really nice. I already miss having him here, as I was driving past the hotel where he stayed and got a little pang. It was great knowing he was just down the street. The last night he was here, we hung at the hotel and chatted in front of the fireplace in the lobby. I had a cosmo, of course. The great thing about this hotel is it's smaller and really feels intimate, so you can actually sit and chat and feel at home. It's also just blocks from me, and ironically sits on the very soil where I first stayed when I was in Los Angeles. The area used to house a long-stay hotel and I used it my first week of life in Los Angeles the first time I moved here. It was a great little place to stay and worked for me just fine. It was eventually knocked down and this boutique hotel replaced it.

I'm still working half-time writing recaps for a major network's primetime shows. I know people reading this will probably think I've scored the greatest gig in the world. I get paid to sit at home and watch television. The DVD's are messengered to my house and I watch them and write the show recaps. Truth is, it can get lonely. Sure, I get to call my own hours, but I only work 20 a week. It's one of the reasons my days and nights have mixed up. However, the people I work with, or communicate with through email and phone are just great. I met them once when I went to the studio to get oriented. I'd love to work with them full-time, but I just don't think they have the work. I'm going to make sure that I let them know I'm interested in case anything pops up. I've supplemented that income with some freelance work. However, things are pretty dry right now. On this job, I have to say I'm a little honored that they've put the shows that they have in my hands. I feel obligated to do them justice. After working on "The Wire," I know what goes into each of them and feel they deserve the respect of my doing my best to represent them online.

I've also been revamping my portfolio with spec work filled with the kinds of work that I want to do. We'll see if it helps. I have a strong feeling it will. I've already showed the ads to a new client who decided to hire me through one of the creative agencies that represents me. Two of the ads, for Ghost Hunters that I've created are quite striking and showcase the copy. That's where my design degree comes in helpful, that I can clearly communicate the ideas and concepts. I can't do what most designers can do, but I can make it look pretty professional. I came up with the ideas when I was watching the show last week. They are already up on my portfolio.

And that's about it. The air has cleared up, the fires are mostly out. I'm doing ok, I guess. Just ok. Nothing more.

The fires here are pretty incredible, eating up neighborhoods like an uninvited uncle at Thanksgiving. It surprised me that we're having them so late in the year, and I'm always curious at how they start. I know we are having Santa Ana winds, but what I want to know is where the spark comes from. Once one starts, it can set off several due to flying embers carried by the wind. It's smokey here, so much that my apartment smells like I have a fire place and after returning from a late night jaunt to the grocery store, my clothes smell like I've been sitting around a camp fire. Outside, my apartment, the courtyard lights create beams because of the smoke in the air. What's incredible is that nearest fire is twenty miles from here. Yet, the air quality is very poor because there are so many and they form literally, a ring of fire around Los Angeles. We've been told to conserve power because a lot of transformers that supply power to the Los Angeles area have burned.

This afternoon, the daylight had a yellow glow and rays of sun cast orange highlights. The news is 24/7 fire coverage. Literally. I'm guessing they do that because people who are displaced or traveling in those areas need the immediate information to know if they can go home, or status on their neighborhoods if they've been evacuated. Montecito, near Santa Barbara was completely torched. I really feel for everyone who lost homes. It's going to be a long, hard road back. Displacement has to be one of the worst things to go through emotionally.

My hat's off to the firemen and women out there fighting the fires, and my heart goes to those who have lost homes.