Cats and Soccer...because these subjects are...related...no, really!

In an attempt to make up for the negative energy exerted in my previous post, I've been thinking today about two subjects that I love...my cats and SOCCER---excuse, me I mean FUTBOL! The REAL, ORIGINAL football, that is! :)

First, I am a cat person, and always have been. I spent many hours of my childhood playing with our "community cats," as we referred to them--no, they weren't necessarily yours, but you fed and loved them just the same. According to my grandmother and dad, I also liked to toss the cats off the porch by their tails...don't worry, no cats were harmed in the making of this blog. Besides, cats always land on their feet anyway, right?? ;)

Jon and I currently have two cats. Lilo and Stitch. Lilo thinks she's a dog (always "barking" and trying to get our attention, and she loves to flop over and have you rub her tummy) and Stich, well Stitch is calm most of the time, but she has a nervous twitch and she tends to go spastic whenever startled. As I encounter more students in a day's time who hate cats rather than like them, it's made me think for the last little bit about why people may not like cats. And I have a theory. I think many people dislike cats because feline behavior, at most times, mimics the behavior of human beings, typically that of stubborn, hard headed individuals who like things their way, and no other. Think: you spend what seems like ages singing, "Here kitty, kitty! Come on kitty..." And what does the cat do? Usually, they just sit there and look at you, like, "You're talkin' to me?" (I like to imagine them saying this like one of the Italian mafia family members in The Godfather. Try it! It makes it sound funnier!) And, cats are very territorial, very OCD (about being clean--like me!), and they are really into sleep. I am envious of the fact that my cats get to stay home all day and sleep. I'd like to trade places with them, just for one day, darn it...

So I have this joke I'd like to share; it's from Reader's Digest about three years ago, and it pretty much sums up a cat's mentality. And I do love dogs, too, but it's the cat here that gets me:

How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

BORDER COLLIE: "I'll change that light bulb and fix any wiring that's not up to code while I'm at it."
SHEEP DOG: "What light bulb?"
LABRADOR RETRIEVER: "Oooh! Pick me! Pick me! I want to change the light bulb!"
ROTTWEILER: "Make me."

CAT: "Dogs don't change light bulbs. People change light bulbs. So the question is, when can I expect some light around here?"

That cracks me up! Yes, I have a corny, juvenile sense of humor most times, but I also have a dry, highbrow British humour side of me that surfaces at times as well (anyone else enjoy reruns of "Keeping Up Appearances" and "Are You Being Served?" Smashing!).

On to soccer. I was solely inspired by my husband on this one. Before we were married, I knew absolutely ZILCH about the sport. I have since then been inundated with the lingo, rules, teams, leagues, players, and facts on most of the major soccer leagues in the world. Our fave is the English Premier League, watching Man U, Arsenal, and Chelsea, for instance. We also had to add a package to our monthly Dish Network bill so we can get FSC (Fox Soccer Channel) and all the Mexican soccer league channels. I dont understand a word they say---except "GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL! GOAL! GOAL! GOAL! GOALLLLLLLL!" That I know. :)

My life is fun. My students are always laughing at me, telling me I'm so funny and random. That's great! I never want to lose the love of life and laughing and transform into an expressionless, sour, indifferent individual. That's when I'll definitely know it's time to hang up my teaching hat, so to speak. Who cares if you look silly in front of a bunch of 14 and 15 year-olds? If they could only see themselves from where I stand.... :)