Kitchen Note: Udon Noodles. Cat Blogging.

Madly craving fiery udon noodles today. I can’t really say “for lunch” because I eat at odd hours: breakfasting before 6am means by 9:30 I am ravenous for what most people would call lunch. Around 1pm I might snack. Or not. We eat dinner around 6:30. It works.

Anyway, I dumped a plastic packet of udon noodles into some homemade duck broth. The wok saw last night’s leftover chicken, some peas needing eating, a few thinly sliced radishes, a scallion, and a garlic clove. Fish sauce was drizzled over all. Finally, I crumbled a dried hot red pepper into the dish. Heaven forfend it tasted bland.

At noon John, who telecommutes on Fridays, requested a milder, drier version of what I’d eaten. Having unwittingly snarfed most of the chicken, I snuck a little bacon in here. I don’t think he was the wiser. Unless he’s reading this.

Then it was off to change the sheets. I should explain about our bed. We sleep in a split-queen adjustable: two not-quite twin-sized mattresses pushed together. The heads and feet of said mattri (an invented yet obvious term) are independently adjustable. This isn’t the luxury it sounds: John needs this feature not only for help getting into and out of bed, but for ease of breathing while sleeping.

John is eligible for a medical bed from our insurer. Unfortunately, medical beds are  enormous while sleeping only one person. Squeezing one into our bedroom would force me right out the door. A split queen adjustable bed is by far the better option.

Bedding presents a challenge, as fitted sheets are available from a single online outlet. Then there’s actually getting the sheets on the bed, particularly on John’s side, where a side rail sends straps beneath the mattress. Let me tell you about finding a side rail that worked with an adjustable bed. That was a good time.

Anyway, having leapt the hurdles of purchasing fitted sheets and locating a workable rail, I now thoroughly enjoy changing the sheets once weekly. Doesn’t everyone? Isn’t laundry right up there with, I dunno, ironing the dishtowels (something I never, ever do)? My favorite part is reaching into the corners where two mattresses meet. That I’m slightly shredded myself only adds to the fun.

But today I had help.

Do cats have some inner radar that sends them running for unmade beds? The moment you wrest an armload of sheets from the dryer, boom! They’re off!

What you can’t see from the photo above is how Lucy’s arranged herself:

That metal piece ensures the mattress won’t slide right off the bed while you’re going up and down or pretzeling yourself (actually, the mattress doesn’t allow this). It’s also useful while grappling with a fitted sheet. Or, I guess, if you’re a cat helping your human.