Max LOVES people!

The stuff in this post happened a week (and a day) ago. Life sort of sideswiped me. It happens a fair amount.

Anyway, Max had been at my brother's house for a week when our friends descended on his house Saturday night for board gaming, like always. (Well, it's not always at his house; we alternate houses. But we all get together Saturday night.)

No one was quite sure how Max was going to respond to an influx of strangers when he'd only been in this new place for a week. We made sure everyone knew that if Max retreated to the sunroom he wasn't to be followed, and don't push him, and be careful he bites when provoked. And it doesn't take much to provoke him.

Well, Max set us all straight. He's no shy kitty to run and hide. He quite enjoyed having all these different people around. He mingled and never once retreated to the sunroom - the only thing that came close to making him retreat was Circle-Tail the dog, who was hardly a new person.

Max hanging out on the fireplace hearth

Despite it being the first day of March, it was cold, so Chuck had a fire going in the stove. (This is a most disappointing thing, since it is wood and burning but there aren't any flames -- if you're doing it right -- and the only fun thing you get out of the stove is warmth. I think a fireplace should have leaping flames to stare into, not just warmth coming out of the sides.) Max, who doesn't really get cold and didn't stay here long, decided to arrange himself prettily on the hearth. He was watching the floor (see the shiny spot of light? Max likes shiny spots of light) and not making a good photo opportunity, so Dawn called his name from where she stood next to me, which is why Max is looking up expectantly.

Max pretending to be a new game

When we finally divied ourselves up into two groups to play games, Rob came downstairs (where the group I was in had settled) to get some game choices. The minute he opened the game cupboard and removed some games, Max inserted himself quite happily in their place. So we left the door open until Max got tired of that game (ha ha) and jumped down.

The 6th player

We were playing a 5 player game and there were six chairs at the table. The sixth one (empty) happened to be next to me. So, after everybody stopped moving around and being interesting, Max jumped into the empty chair and stayed there for quite some time, just hanging out with us while we played our board game.

No wonder he was acting out at my house. Where no one but me ever comes in the door and it's quiet and boring all the time. He apparently thrives on stimulation and there's none at my place except window-watching!