Thursday, November 5, 2009

Thoughtful Thursday: Adaptability or Something Else?

Last Thursday, I mused about my dear adaptable kitty, Ruby Azazel, and what an amazing traveler the feisty little thirteen-month-old has become. No matter where Dan and I have ended up in the past year, it’s taken her no time at all to familiarize herself with our new environs. As long as she knows where her toys, food and water bowls, fleece blanket, and litter box are, she seems content – even more so if there’s an accessible window – her own personal viewfinder on the world. She’s so flexible, in fact, that I’ve begun to think that I could learn a lot from her “unabashed curiosity and enviable serenity,” as I noted last week. Perhaps I could even figure out how to apply such adaptability to my own life – not to mention my writing.

Then, just the other day, I was looking for her in her usual haunts when, lo and behold, I found her perched atop our garment bag. For a moment, I thought, “Now, would you look at that? She’s not just adaptable – she thrives on traveling. She doesn’t just mind it – she loves it!” Suddenly, I noticed her resolute expression, and I began to reconsider my misguided thought process. Perhaps her stance atop the garment bag meant something else entirely. Perhaps, after a year of experiencing our nomadic existence, she was finally putting her proverbial paw down: “No more traveling, Mom and Dad, at least for a while...”

Well, too bad for her. Because I just found out today that my book proposal was indeed accepted by the fine folks at Avalon Travel, which means that once my work for the Big Easy International Film Festival ends next weekend, I’ll be making plans to head further east to the Florida Keys, where I’ll begin researching and writing the first edition of Moon Florida Keys. After that, we’ll drive west to Los Angeles to prepare and execute our fifth annual Beverly Hills Shorts Festival, and by May, we’ll be headed north to Michigan, where I’ll soon be hard at work on the fourth edition of Moon Michigan.

So, sorry, little Ruby. When we adopted you from that rescue facility in the French Quarter, you might’ve wished for a nice little stationary family, in a nice little stationary home. Well, I’m afraid to tell you... that’s not exactly what you got. But, on the flipside, you couldn’t have asked for a Mama who would love you more.

19 comments:

Susan R. Mills said...

Cute kitty, but I'm allergic. Ruby probably loves moving around. You guys amaze me!

Laura Martone said...

Aw, Susan, that's a bummer. My mom had me convinced me that I was allergic to kitties when I was little, but I've since learned the truth. Good thing, too, 'cause she sleeps all over me at night.

I sure hope you're right - I hope she loves to travel 'cause she sure is stuck with us! ;-)

Becky said...

OMG!!! Congrats!!!! I'm so thrilled for you! Yipee!! Can't wait to follow you on your next adventure. So does this mean you won't be getting a place to stay in N.O.? Whew Hew!!

Laura Martone said...

Thanks, Becky!!! I'm so bloody excited!!! Heck, I'm thrilled to SHARE my next adventure... and, yes, at least for now, this means that we won't be getting a place to stay in New Orleans. We're still trying to work all that out. :-)

Angelique Mechel said...

I didn't get to meet her last time. I hope I get to meet her this trip!

Joshua McCune said...

Congrats... sounds like a whirlwind tour, but a fun one.

Stephanie Thornton said...

Congratulations!

When I opened your page I thought, "Oh my gosh! What is Isis doing on her blog?"

Your Ruby and my Isis could be twins. But Isis is naughty... Sent straight from the devil to torture me ever since my daughter was born three years ago.

Laura Martone said...

Angel, yahoo! This is momentous - your first visit to my blog. I'm so excited! I miss you so much. :-( And you will definitely get to meet Ruby this time, if we have to drag her over to your apartment in her little carrier...

Thanks, Bane! I'm so freakin' excited!

Laura Martone said...

Hi, Stephanie! Oh, I see Ruby lookalikes all the time. Common look for a kitty, I guess. Bet Isis is just as cute and just as naughty as my Ruby. That's why her name is Ruby AZAZEL (which is a demon in the movie FALLEN). She can definitely be a little brat sometimes, but I sure do adore her... and she knows it. ;-)

dolorah said...

I don't know if I should say "congrats" to Laura or "poor Kitty".

I guess I'm a modern nomad, as your are Laura. I've move about 10 times over the last 6 years. My kids are displaced. This last cat, however, has only moved three times in his 18 months of life.

Not very experienced at all if you ask me. But, he did love living in the mountains, on the golf course. Had the worlds biggest litter box, the most manicured green. And more trees than he could climb with squirrels, possums, rabbits and yes, dear to emulate.

He perfected the fine art of shape shifting. Not a ninja cat, disappearing in plain sight. He shape shifted into whatever varment was visible at the moment we went looking for him.

Now he's back in town; and spend most of his days, and nights, curled up under his cat-tree. Not a good rendition of a tall, California Pine.

The owner giveth, and the owner taketh away. Trees, that is. And the inspiration to shape-shift.


Well; Roni@fictiongroupie.com gave me the Honest Scrap award; and I'm passing it on to you. I couldn't figure out how to copy/paste the emblem on my post; so if you find it out there and figure out how to post it to your blog; congratulations.

I love your "simple pleasures" blog Laura, and all your efforts at CIC; "Come In Character". You inspire me as a writer with your posts, and so I send you the award; though it is incomplete unless you figure out how to post it to your blog.

Thanks Laura for your honest reviews, and the efforts you put forth on the blogosphere.

..........dhole

I have faith in your blogger powers.

Angie Ledbetter said...

Sorry, not a cat person. I'm sure your little furball will be fine.

How do you travel so much and still get it all done? Congrats on project acceptance.

Laura Martone said...

Thanks, Donna! Your comments mean so much to me - and I really do appreciate the award!

Oh, and Angie, how can you not be a cat person? They can be so cute... and so not-cute. Okay, I get it, nevermind. ;-) Oh, and in answer to your question, I'm not sure exactly. Lack of sleep? P.S. Obviously, I don't get EVERYTHING done - I still owe you some interview answers. Oops.

Josie said...

This lurker must offer her congrats! Great news and can't wait to read the book as the Florida Keys are on our top-ten list of places to visit! Congrats!

TheWordWire said...

Congratulations!!! What excellent, inspiring news about your book proposals. Sounds like very fun research -- I'm sure Ruby will love The Keys.

Laura Martone said...

Hi, Mary Jo! Thanks so much! I really appreciate the warm fuzzies - and I'm excited to be writing for someone I know. I'll definitely keep you posted on my progress - the guide should be out next fall.

P.S. I haven't forgotten you, by the way. I'm enjoying your novel - I just haven't had time to gather my comments. Once my film fest is over next week, I'll have some time between it and my travel guide work - and I plan to finish all my beta-reading. My poor patient online pals...

Laura Martone said...

Thanks, Wordy! I really appreciate the kind words... and I have no doubt that the research will be fun. Let's hope kitty likes her new surroundings.

Deb said...

Congratulations Laura!!!!! I'm so excited for you-and Florida wow-I'll be looking forward to your posts from there while I'm sitting up here in the snow. Ruby will be fine as long as she's wherever you guys are. Whoo hoo!

J.B. Chicoine said...

Yay, Laura! I'm so glad all that hard work will pay off. Perhaps you'll even entice me to visit Florida! I'll bet all that research will be tortuous, especially come midwinter, and all. Can’t wait to hear how it goes.

Laura Martone said...

Deb, OMG! I'm sorry I missed your comment. What an airhead I am. Thanks so much for the congrats. I will definitely be posting from the Sunshine State soon enough - I'll try not to rub it in too much. ;-) And I'm sure you're right - Ruby tends to thrive wherever we are... at least, that's what I tell myself. Hehe.

Thanks, Bridget! I'm pretty excited about this project - and I now consider it a challenge to entice you down to the Keys. Visiting Key West is always tortuous. ;-) Hehe.