A Very Good Bad Cat /  by LoLC

Maxee (~2000 to June 29, 2013)

Deemed a lost cause by an NYC shelter nine years ago, Maxee went on to help four apartments feel like home, keep my feet warm at night, and lick the bejeezus out of every soft fabric I owned. She was a skilled mouser, ant-er and ribbon-er who loved high perches, tiny boxes, and surprise attacks. She woke me up most mornings by systematically knocking my David Sedaris collection off the bookshelf, and thanks to her, brushing my teeth while standing normally will now always feel weird.

Max was quirky, quick and plucky till the end. She will be greatly missed.

Matriarchs /  by LoLC

Last Friday my grandmother passed away.

I was lucky to have spent a great deal of time with her in recent years, and she remained, at 93, one of my nimblest sparring partners and staunchest supporters.

She played no small part in my lifetime love of reading and ease around animals, and I also have her influence to thank for the time I caused a bartender--and everyone else within hearing range--to stop talking mid-sentence and stare perplexedly at my 20-something self when I unironically ordered a glass of port at a cocktail party.

My grandmother had a mischievous sense of humor and was amused by this webcomic-y endeavor of mine. For my birthday this year, she designed a bumper sticker of her own, inspired by my collection and carefully written on a blank sheet of mailing labels. I laugh every time I see it.

(click on image to enlarge)

She was also more appreciative of my cats' antics than most, having shared her living space with them for several long stretches and grown fond of their peculiarities. So while it may take me a little while to get back in the swing of things here, I am hoping to post a few more drawings from my crazy-making cats series this week. I'd like to think they would have inspired a grandmotherly chortle or two.