Tao is developing into an interesting pet, despite his perpetual bad
habits, like scavenging.  I was watching him the other day walk across
the backyard.  He'd go forward 10' and stop and scan the ground ahead of
him, of course, haing lost Willie last year to a predator I can't help
but approve.  Later I went for a tour of the yard to see what plants
made it this far into spring;  Loos followed me first (not somthing she
does), then Tao and Quinn and Harry (Harryu's definitely shy abut
wandering far fom the deck).  When I reversed course and went out to the
sideroad that was a bit much for Loos who retreated.  Tao would've
followed but I came back so he retreated too.  Quinn was busy making a
deposit and when done shot, tail up, out of the trees and uponto the
deck;  Harry make an effort to chase but ineffectually.

Back to Tao, he likes to snuggle shoulder-high next to me and makes more
room by kicking back on me, I may end up compressed into a couple sqft
of bed, while Tao reclines majestically, or I may roll over on him, he
doesn't mind, doesn't even wake up usually.

Tao likes his explorations, like Willie.  Shortly after he came onboard
I saw a back-and-white cat cross the road into my neighbors drive, about
500' from home.  I stopped the car and called but didn't see him, when I
got home he was on the front deck, like, What took you so long?  And my
neighbor on the other side, also 500' feet off, told me in the
convenience store that Tao had been visiting, as had Willie before him
(which I didn't know).  It's clear that Tao regards the whole area as
his property to patrol and maintain, tho he hasn't shown himself to be
the rodent predator yet.

Tao also loves car rides, like Beastie before him, he will seek out a
way into the car if he sees I'm leaving, and, once in, he'll peer over
the dash or doorsill or ride on the rear package shelf.  I took him on
an errand run lastweek which he eventually decided it'd probably be more
fun exploring the outside when I got to a store, otherwise he was an
ideal car companion.  I had enough trust in Beast that I'd let him out
when I went to the rural postoffice and evene if I got distracted in
conversation Beast wouln't be far off, just enjoying the new smeels and
scenery.

What else about Tao?  He's not always demonstrative with affection but
when he chooses he'll climb aboard and look for his neck rubs, in
extreme ecstasy he'll groom my eyebrow or forearm, in fact it was
grooming my forearm that got him noticed at the pound and ending up
here.  The same guy who opened my plastic box of scones the other day
and had all fou down on the floor with pieces bitten off.  The same guy
who once hooked a whole pork roast off my plate and made off down the
hallway, me in pursuit, then prying it out of his mouth despite the
growls.  I was damned if I'd let him think he could get away with my
dinner, he'll still try tho now he only manages to snag a bit of fat.
ALl the others have learned this trick, I can only tell who the
miscreant is by the color of the paw that just made a swipe.  
Norm, the persecuted

--
"In 2005, the refining margin...has exceeded $20 per barrel, far above
the long-term average of $6.  That has meant record profits for oil
companies and refiners"  NYT 2005/09/11