So, I Don't Get This

Haiku and Taki like to sit on the office chairs in the computer room.  And tonight, when I went into the computer room to do some computering, they were each in an office chair.  So, I moved the wireless laptop to a TV tray and sat on the lounge chair. No big deal.  Taki jumped down to the floor, and kept nattering at Haiku in her office chair.  Haiku finally had enough, and left. Taki jumped into the chair in which Haiku had been sleeping, and ate from the cat food dish, then returned to the floor. Haiku returned, and jumped on the chair that Taki had been using. So I returned to the chair at the computer desk where Haiku had been originally, and plugged the laptop in again, for charging and printing purposes.  Musical cat chairs.

Musical Chairs

Musical chairs might better be called musical cat chairs.  I have two office chairs in the computer room, and a lounge chair.  The cats tend to prefer the office chairs.  I am not sure why, but one reason might be that if I have the space heater on, they are closer to the space heater, but the heat does impact the rest of the room, if I close the door, at least part way.  So, often, one or both office chairs are occupied by a cat.  If one office chair is occupied by a cat, and that is at the desk, I move the chairs around so I can have the vacant chair at the desk.  Taki does not mind this, it seems. But it used to be if Haiku was on a chair, and I moved it, she immediately jumped off.  This no longer happens.  If both office chairs are occupied by a cat, because I have a wireless router, I just move the laptop to a TV tray and use the lounge chair. Or, I sit in the lounge chair and watch TV. Or read a book.

A New Chair

I have been thinking about buying another office chair for the computer room. More often than not, and for years, the cats have laid claim to the padded office chair I have. So, they are on the padded chair, and I am on the metal folding chair that has a padded cushion. It is not the most comfortable chair I own.

I have over loaded the office with furniture and equipment.  I have a desktop PC, and a notebook that are very slow to use. And, I have a notebook that I can use.  I have a defunct printer that has only been defunct about 1-2 months ago. I have a roll-top desk, a computer desk, 2 bookshelves, an area for a kitty litter box. And a folding antigravity lounge chair. I use my anti-gravity lounge chair to relax and get some comfort, even in an upright position.

Today, after work, I went to a meeting at the Catholic Charities Resale Center in Lubbock, They have recently accepted a donation of a hundred office chairs. I bought one for my office, to replace the metal folding chair. This was fortuitous.  I have been thinking about replacing the metal folding chair with an office chair.  Most recently, Office Depot had a sale on office chairs, and I almost bought one for $60. But did not.

So, I was late getting home, as after the meeting, I stopped at Subway http://www.subway.com/en-us and bought a salad for dinner.  When I got home, no cat was waiting for me at the door.  My punishment for being late.  I took the groceries and lunch bags into the house. Then, I moved the chair into the house, having unloaded it from the Vue before I brought the Vue into the garage.

When I returned to the house, the cats were on the new chair, interested, and guarding it so I could not move it into the office.  Until they gave me the say so.

I replaced the metal folding chair with the new office chair, and found the new chair as comfortable at home as it was at the Catholic Charities Resale Center. I had some chores to do that were best done spread out on the dining table. When I returned to the computer room, Haiku had taken up residence on the new chair, and was not about to give it up. Much to the consternation of Taki.  Guess what, I need to go back to Catholic Charities and buy another chair.

Oh well, my cats are smarter than I am, and I know there will be plenty of chairs to chose from at the Catholic Charities Resale Center.

My New Seat

A coworker with back problems swears by her therapy ball as a seat at her vanity table.  I have a lot of trouble with the seat I use at the computer desk, including that Haiku thinks it is hers, and sometimes cries so plaintively when I am in it. She convinces me she wants something, and she does. When I get up to see what she wants, she gets on the chair!

Therapy balls are not very expensive, and they come with their own hand or foot pump, so I bought one tonight.  The jury is still out. I bought the one for my height, but I had trouble inflating it to 22" diameter.  I got up to 19" several times, then lost air.  With me not sitting on it, it is higher than my desk chair.  But it squishes down.  I am thinking I may need a larger ball, but for now, I will see how this does.  I think it is comfortable, but I may be a little low for the desk surface.  But it seems to be a good angle for my hips and knees.  That being said, it will relieve some of my back and hip pain, but it might bother my shoulder.

Immediately when I took it out of the box, Haiku and Taki were INTERESTED!  They watched when I inflated it and followed me back to the computer when I moved the chair and replaced it with the ball. I could see Haiku sitting on the tray near the computer contemplating jumping on it.  And Taki is just staring at it.  I have been very stern with them about leaving it alone. While I do not want to ruin it, my biggest concern is if one of them pops it and in the process is injured, not to mention horribly frightened. I am not sure where I will store it, probably in the closet in the computer room.

I am adjusting well, but when I first started keystroking, I was bouncing around and made some typos.  In 30 minutes or so, that has already improved quite a bit.

This is an experiment, and not an expensive one.  We shall see what happens with it.

Haiku is Nothing if Not Persistent

I am sitting at the desk tonight, working on the computer.  Every time I move, to get a drink, use the bathroom, get a Kleenex, Haiku gets on my chair. She is just sitting on the tray next to the chair, waiting for her chance. She has been doing this all night, even before I turned on the heating pad, although she really likes the heating pad.

I am offering Haiku the opportunity to sit on me.  She stretches from my shoulder to my lap, but only sits on me for a brief period of time. I hate that she is unhappy about me being on my chair, but sometimes, things are what they are.  I have been thinking about getting a new chair with a better lumbar support built in.  Maybe that will help us, as she can have a chair, and I can have a chair. As it is now, I have a metal folding chair out for her, but she does not like it.  Previously, I had a nylon folding chair out, and she did not like that either.  That chair broke, and went away. 

Haiku likes my chair when I have been sitting in it and it is warmed, but she also likes it when it has not been recently used.  Although it does not have a really good lumbar support, it is a good chair.