Okay, I vaguely remember what this place looks like.

Gah. I keep setting updating goals for myself, and then I start a post full of awesome stories about my cats and how much I adore them and how adorable they are and all that other stuff you love to read, and then I get sidetracked, or I get given work to do, of all things, and the post either languishes in the 'draft' folder or it just doesn't look as good anymore, or I can't put the words on paper.

Screen, whatever.

I'm taking two classes right now in an attempt to get back into my school mode (and move from the thesis option to the research paper), and I've written three papers so far for the class. The first was just a critique of some readings we did, but the second was a research proposal that I completed on Thursday, and the last was a discussion of trends in the alternative dispute resolution field that I wrote in an hour and a half. It's probably crap, but they're all done and turned in, which is the important thing.

All of this to say that between the turbo writing for school and some writing/re-writing I'm doing for work, I seem to once again be getting unblocked. I know pretty much every post I write lately seems to consist of the same thing, but there it is.

Anyhow, one of the other reasons I wanted to update today is because I'm leaving for Cuba in about 8 hours, and I'm not expecting to have any kind of internet access while I'm away -- but there will be photos and so on galore upon my return, especially since the DB has purchased a digital camera of his own, and I'm bringing mine. Of course, I may be too busy sleeping on the beach to be willing to rouse myself for pictures, but I'll make the effort. :)

Otherwise, I don't seem to think there's much to say. The kitties are funny, Venus has finally started to relax again around the house and boss us around. She likes to have her little freak outs around 11:30 at night, when we're either both occupied with computer/television, or I'm trying to get ready for bed. She's back to being talkative and demanding, and as annoying as it can be at times, I'm really pleased to see it. Thena has reverted to her kitten habits of waking me up 20 minutes before my alarm is set to go off, if she hasn't already done it sometime in the middle of the night. *sigh*

I realized yesterday that it had officially been four years ago that I brought Thena home -- Valentine's Day in my first apartment. She was a tiny little bundle of fluff that nuzzled my chin and purred and rolled around on my chest as I laughed and cried out of happiness for my new little kitten. I'd debated naming her Valentine and calling her Tiny for short, but I waited to see what personality would emerge, and I wanted to go with something Greek-themed. I liked the name Thena (from Athena, if you've never picked up on it), and while I didn't initially pick it for the warrior goddess associations, it certainly proved to be true. :P Thena Demon Beast is her extended name, when she's annoying me.

One of these days I'll get around to updating my flickr account with the photos that are currently in my buzznet account, but today is not the day for that.

Anyhow, I'm going to wrap this up here. I'll be back in a week, full of pictures, Cuban food, possibly a sunburn, and lots of booze. Enjoy the cold and snow. ;)