Meet Casa Quixote

If you’re following my site or videos, it’s probably best if I introduce the rest of Casa Quixote to you so you both know what to expect and what other characters you might be expected to deal with on a semi-regular basis. And I do mean characters. To quote my favorite smile-without-a-cat, “we’re all mad here.”

First up is my husband, personal historian, and altogether closest friend: Andrew. Obsessed with both SF and history since he was wee, he reenacted famous battles (both fictional and historical) with his action figures and insisted family vacations center on battlefields. As an adult, he plays an impressive number of games – from Warhammer 40K to Fallout to Angry Birds (when I shove it into his hands, anyway). He dedicates time as living history, and is passionate about education. His geek wishlist includes a proper cinematic treatment of Dune, the long-awaited Star Wars TV show, and a proper remake of Binary Systems’ Starflight. You will see him in various videos native to GeekDame.com and can also hear him performing in SRN: The Signal.

Tiger Jack, the Explorer! is 30 tons of mischief in a 15-pound, fluffy-pantalooned, orange tabby bag. Rescued from the Montgomery Humane Shelter in August 2007, he apparently spent part of his early life living in the parking lot of a trucker motel, where – evidence suggests – he hunted birds with joyful keenness. Even now, feathery toys tremble at his trilling warcry and thunderous approach. He also apparently spent a goodly time hanging out in bathrooms as a kitten as that continues to be one of his dearest joys – following humans into them and observing the shower. He abhors a closed door (especially bathroom doors), has a predilection for men (but loves everyone), and likes going on walks where he can tump on concrete. He’s also essentially a dog, has asthma, and generally deflects our displeasure at his more egregious behavior with an uncanny degree of adorableness.

Kaylee, of the Maneki Neko Smile is a tiny grey lady who, bless her heart, was brought home on a trip in which Andy and I stopped to get Tiger Jack a toy. This has informed their relationship quite neatly, to Kaylee’s chagrin. It’s not that she doesn’t want to play – it’s just she’s all “chase me chase me” and Tiger Jack is all “RARGH WRESTLE NAO!” And, well, there’s a massive size difference: where he’s a Garfield-sized tabby, she’s a miniature thing who likely has some Japanese Munchkin in her genetic makeup. We found her at a PetSmart, where she demanded to be noticed with her smoker’s meow, then attached herself to my front and started purring. It was a done deal at that point. I continue to be her idea of the BEST FURNITURE EVAR, and she also regularly colonizes my pillow. While I’m using it. She interprets attempts to shove her off as overtures to cuddling and immediately commences purring. She’s the quintessential cat, crazy for the laser pointer, and her defense against any incurred displeasure is that she frankly just doesn’t give a damn.