4 x 9 Lives
A Little Qwerty, June 2026, now with 400% more cat photos
What’s New: Household update
I shared last summer that we lost our absolute angel of a big black cat Theo just as The Best Advice was coming out. I didn’t share that a few weeks later, we brought home Hurry—an even bigger black cat. We wanted Sammy, our then 16-year-old, to have a buddy, and had room in our hearts and home even as we were sad about Theo.
At this rate we are probably just going to keep adopting increasingly large black cats until we die being mauled by our pet jaguar. Hurry came from a foster home who was calling him Blake, but when I updated his microchip info, I noticed I was getting notifications for a cat named Hurricane. We realized this must have been the name the given by his original owner, who had to give him up to go into memory care.
Is it a coincidence that as soon as we figured that out and started calling him Hurry, he stopped hiding under the bed so much and integrated himself into the household? Probably, but the storyteller in me likes the symbolism. Over the fall, winter, and spring, as Hurry got more comfortable in our house, this cat we were told didn’t play and would be timid around strangers became one of the most playful cats I’ve ever had, and always comes to check out what’s going on when we have company.
Sadly, in April, we took Sammy, then almost 17, to the vet to get a cough and labored breathing checked out and learned that she had a mass in her chest causing fluid buildup that was dramatically compressing her heart and lungs. Although she was older, Sammy always seemed like one of those cats who would live into their twenties. I’d been so sure she’d be coming home with an antibiotic prescription, I stayed home so I could join a stupid conference call while my husband took her to the vet. They called me and I rushed over in time to give her a gentle sendoff. (We have been big proponents of in-home euthanasia for our pets but this time it didn’t seem kind to make her endure another car ride.)
Sammy was an absolute legend of a cat. She’d been a barn cat when we adopted her, but she quickly adapted to a pampered indoor lifestyle. She loved to watch TV and was especially fond of the Woodstock bits of Peanuts holiday specials. She was an absolute fiend for the laser pointer. She was so obsessed with my husband, she would sometimes just sit and gaze up at him adoringly for hours. We are pretty sure she sent a telepathic death threat to my sister’s 60-pound pit bull because she was sitting in Sammy’s spot on the couch. Her toe beans were a mix of black and pinkest pink.
Once again, we had a vacancy for someone who needed a home, and felt especially driven to get a playmate for Hurry, whose attempts to play with Sammy were usually rebuffed. This brings me to our newest tiny (especially tiny) friend, Agnes. With a vacancy, yet again, in our home, we were on the lookout for a calm adult cat who would be a good companion for Hurry. We already had an appointment at a local rescue when I checked their website and fell instantly in love. Agnes is what you would get if you combined a dust bunny, a scrap of dryer lint, your grandma, and a kitten (even though her rescue thinks she is about 5 years old). She is perpetually disheveled. She is literally less than half Hurry’s size but is already showing signs that she will rule the household.
Hurry and Agnes don’t hang out together much yet, but I’m sure they will be good friends soon. Meanwhile, I hope Theo and Sammy are sharing a sun patch somewhere
What’s Next: Speculative Dabbling
Whenever I finish a draft, I put it away for a little while so I can come back fresh to edit. This makes it easier to look at my work objectively. This is usually when I send it to beta readers, too. While I’m taking a break from Shakespeare Project #3, I’ve been working on something with speculative elements. Here’s a glimpse at what I’ve been reading for research.
What’s Good: Caprese Pasta
While I’ll eat a tomato/fresh mozzarella/basil situation any time—Pizza Margarita, Caprese salad, yum!—this combination is really best in summer when I have a pot of basil growing outside and local tomatoes are at their peak.
My favorite way to eat this combo is a variation of something I saw Martha Stewart make on TV years ago. She called it “Spaghetti No-Knife” because she tore everything up with her hands. It’s perfect for a summer evening when you want something a little heartier but not a true hot meal.
In a large glass bowl combine:
1 clove smashed garlic
1 Tbsp olive oil
Salt & pepper
A pint of diced or halved cherry tomatoes
A splash of balsamic vinegar
4 oz fresh mozzarella, in small pieces (I like halved ciliegine)
Let this marry while you cook 4 oz pasta. Any kind will do but I’ve mostly been buying the Barilla Protein+ Cellentani these days. After you drain the pasta, dump it on top of your tomato and cheese mixture. Wait a few minutes, then toss with plenty of fresh torn basil. This makes 2 servings, but you can scale it up or down and leftovers are good as a cold pasta salad the next day.
Word Count Accountability
I’ve been really busy at my day job, and in research/revision phases with my writing projects, so some days I am only getting a handful of words but I’m still going!
Good luck with your new pairing. I'm waiting for a call from the animal shelter telling me that my kitten is weaned and ready to come home.
I am so sorry about your cats, Amy. But you are my type of person that you rescue souls in need of a good home. Your new family members are beautiful.