our drive to TX: an excerpt

I thought I'd give you a little glimpse into the first leg of our drive to Texas, from SF to Phoenix:

meow. meow. meow. meeeow. meooow. meow. meow. meowwwwww. meow. meow. meow. meow. meow. meow. meeeow. meooow. meow. meow. meowwwwww. meow. meow. meow. meow. meow. meow. meeeow. meooow. meow. meow. meowwwwww. meow. meow. meow. meow. meooooooooow. meow. meow. meeeow. meooow. meow. meow. meowwwwww. meow. meow. meow. meow. meow. meow. meow. meow. meow. meooooooooow. meow. meow. meow. meow. meow. meow. meow. meow. meow.

and also, a dialogue:

mercury: meow.
me: be quiet.
mercury: meow.
me: be quiet.
mercury: meow.
me: be quiet.
mercury: meow.
me: be quiet.
mercury: meow.
me: OH MY GOD!!!
mercury: meow.
me: be QUIET.
mercury: meow.
me: be QUIET.
mercury: meow.
me: BE QUIET.
mercury: meow.
me: BE QUIET.
mercury: meow.
me: stop it.
mercury: meow.
me: stop it.
mercury: meow.
me: STOP IT.
mercury: meow.
me: STOP IT.
mercury: meow.
me: NO.
mercury: meow.
me: NO.
mercury: meow.
me: NO.
mercury: meow.
me: NO.
mercury: meow.
me: NO.
mercury: meow.
me: keep it up, merc. i can do this all night motherfu...
jr: for the love of christ! put your headphones on! i can't take it from both of you!
winston: (open eyes. blink.) yawn! (close eyes. fall back asleep.)

Finally, I wrapped Mercury in a soft, furry blanket and smothered cuddled him until he was quiet. Sweet relief.


Addendum (1/2/08):

I forgot to tell you about the look in his eyes as he looked up at me with just his ears, eyes, and mouth sticking out of the blanket. It was just... murderous ... no, murderous is the right word. It's amazing how a simple look can say so much:

"I will never forget this. Be ever vigilant, stifler of my cries. If you so much as nod off tonight I will kill you in your sleep. If I could free a paw I would do it right now. Breathe, Mercury. This too shall pass, and vengeance will be mine."

It was either that, or

"Thanks. Man, was I cold! ... Still murdering you in your sleep, though."