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Glen managed to capture on film the beginnings of an epic cat battle. It seems to start innocently enough - Otto sweetly cleaning Lili’s head. Very considerate - she can’t reach it herself. Soon she becomes irritated and begins to fend him off. The rest of the battle happens too quickly for good photos - Lili puts her ears back, hisses, swats at her brother and then chases him around the apartment at a breakneck pace.

Interestingly enough, cat attacks on humans begin in a similar manner - except with petting instead of cleaning.

I totally ripped off Mike’s blog and added a “moblog” feature, which consists of a daily picture from my cell phone. It’s a mobile blog post, if you will.

The Chicago Activities Committee came through in a pinch, recommending a day at the Museum of Science and Industry and dinner at Morton’s. The science museum was sub-par in most respects, with the notable exception of Body Worlds, “the anatomical exhibition of real human bodies.” True to its word, this exhibit includes dozens of real human bodies, many of them posed in athletic positions with their various internal organs exposed. The bodies are “plastinated”, which allows their muscles and brains and other organs to hold up under months of bright lights and gawking strangers. And while the plastination gives the organs a, well, plasticy look, the hair and toenails remind you that these are real bodies. It was fascinating, if a little disturbing. Equally disturbing was the gift shop at the end, which we could have done without. I’m sure the donors would agree.

For those of us over 10, there was little educational value to be found in the remainder of the museum’s exhibits. For example, we discovered the following blasphemy in the aviation area:

If Dr. Anderson taught me anything, it was that Octave Chanute was little more than a glorified historical footnote in the history of aviation. On the other hand, Chanute did live in Chicago.

Another museum exhibit devoid of any intellectual content was the “Fairy Castle,” which is notable only for sparking the following exchange, overheard between a mother and her young daughter:
Mother: We’re going to the Fairy Castle now.
Daughter: Is it a real one?
Mother: No honey, it’s just a model.

Later that night, we had some excellent steaks at Morton’s. Not quite top-three material, but still excellent. I was surprised, though, to see people wearing jeans in a restaurant that charges more than $150 for a two-person meal.

There has been quite a clatter calling for more cat posting, and apparently I, as a woman, can post as many cat updates as I like without having my sanity/masculinity/coolness/blog-worthiness called into question.

Mr. Otto has also decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day belatedly, cuddling up to the “Love Bug”, a gift from my mom one Valentine’s Day passed.

Photo by Glen

I just discovered that The Arcade Fire played Champaign this past November, and where was I? Behind the curve, as always! Nobody interesting EVER plays Champaign, unless you count Sting or Prince or Nelly. Arghhh! How could I miss this? I vow to be musically proactive from here on out.