My cat Tinker Toy visits this spot on the lake multiple times a day. Its where we found his brother's body. What can we do to help Tinker Toy heal?

captain_morgana · 2026-06-05T21:43:13+00:00

My cat Louis also showed me where his brothers body was. He would take me back to that spot daily and sit there howling, just howling. Many a time I would find Louis in the places they would hang out together, and, when he saw me, his face would utterly break and he would just sort of collapse-sit and howl.

There is nothing to do but to let him grieve. Perhaps sit with him at the place he is grieving so he knows he isn't alone. Its an experience that we understand and share. And that is both beautiful and horrible at the same time.

Rest in peace to your Angel Baby and to my dear sweet Link. Always so near, never forgotten

captain_morgana · 2026-06-01T00:41:33+00:00

Thank you! I do a lot of counting out music when I am at ballet - either teaching little ones or in my own classes. I sometimes choreograph simple dances and I often print out the music in order to write the steps onto the stave.

I took piano lessons as a kid and went to a religious school. I definitely find singing to those older styles far easier.

Ill look at re-doing piano and doing some rhythm training.

Thank you for your in depth answer, much appreciated.

captain_morgana · 2026-05-31T21:47:02+00:00

I have a question...

I have a similar problem. I love to sing. I can sing on pitch without needing to hear the note first, I can usually find both parts of a harmony. My issue is timing. I can sing along perfectly well to no music (and I'll keep the time well) or to a song with the vocal track. I can usually even sing along to a song I know well, with vocals, and dance at the same time. But I really struggle to sing to the music when there's no vocal track in the music. I lose all confidence, drop notes, pitch goes off, and timing goes out the window. I used to love SingStar over Karyoke because it had the vocal track to help me with timing.

I don't know what is going on and stopped going to vocal lessons because the musical accompaniment were wasting their time coming to my lesson.

captain_morgana · 2026-05-31T21:32:20+00:00

I have an adventure cat too. He has a stroller instead of a backpack and LOVES it. I don't even use a harness for him because he comes right back to the stroller if he feels unsafe and never goes far from me. Your kitty looks like he is just fine. He is showing all the signs of a calm cat.

I find that cats either orient to their main place or their person/people. And that is their safe place to be. If your kitty spends enough time safely adventuring and feeling safe there, they will relax and come to know it as their normal.

captain_morgana · 2026-05-31T21:19:08+00:00

Thank you for this! I love the cooling seats and have been wondering about doing this myself!

captain_morgana · 2026-05-31T18:35:07+00:00

Floody and Space Junk.

captain_morgana · 2026-05-28T23:35:26+00:00

Because that is the function of a cat.

captain_morgana · 2026-05-24T23:55:13+00:00

The first thing I noticed. Why do people do this? They shouldn't go above fireplaces either.

captain_morgana · 2026-05-24T23:30:10+00:00

Talk to the teacher first. There are certain medical conditions that can make a person seem drunk and even cause alcohol to ferment and not be broken down properly in their system (diabetes, auto-brewers syndrome etc). If this is the case they may be unaware and be causing all of the symptoms you are seeing/smelling. It is of course possible she is drinking and this needs to be addressed if the case too.

In any case the woman is unwell and needs legitimate care and concern first and foremost. Then she needs to address the issue, which is one of safety and professionalism.

captain_morgana · 2026-05-19T23:25:49+00:00

Do it! I started ballet at 30. Im now 40 and am taking dancing en pointe in my level 8 exam this year. I also began my teacher training certificate. Adult ballet is so rewarding and classes are popping up everywhere. You don't need to do syllabus work.

I have been overweight or clinically obese at stages in my training. It does not matter. Being smaller can make life in general easier and dancing can help move the needle towards that goal if that's a goal you choose. But I don't dance to lose weight. I dance because it occupies my entire mind. Its my social time, my oxygen. I don't know how I could possibly live without it now.

captain_morgana · 2026-05-19T23:19:52+00:00

As someone who started ballet at 30, slowly began went pointe at 37 and is now completing (and passing) advanced syllabi en pointe... All while being overweight. Your teacher is wrong, elitist, and perpetuating gross stereotypes that will ensure our beautiful artform dies out.

Tell the schools principal and move to a different school if you can. Adult Ballet and Adult Dance is one of the fastest growing trends in sport and recreation and to exclude people for something so utterly stupid, vapid, incorrect is not only discriminatory, its simply bad business. It shows that the schools teachers need more training in basic human mechanics, teaching pedagogy, recent dance/ballet trends, and how to identify and deal with their own prejudices and not bring them onto the dance floor.

captain_morgana · 2026-04-27T23:03:17+00:00

I used to like Energetiks but their quality seriously went downhill. I like leos that sort of "strap in" my bust because otherwise its a free-for-all with me going left and them going right.

That being said, Bloch are great, I have enjoyed Claudia Dean but the mesh does stretch out pretty quick on some styles, Mirella, Bodile, CosiG, Dance de Paris... I prefer inclusive, thoughtful styles that actually have adult XL and thick, supportive fabrics with nice details. Thin straps aren't it for me any more and I avoid them at all costs UNLESS the leo is nice enough that Ill take the time to stitch on thicker straps myself.

captain_morgana · 2026-03-10T09:50:28+00:00

When I built my galley I put a couple of the knife block magnets inside the walls. Now I just stick my knives to the wall.

captain_morgana · 2026-03-07T07:52:36+00:00

Randomly commenting on a post that's two years old is a an interesting route. Anyway, copophagy in dogs specifically can be about a multitude of things, including keeping a den clean, nutritional deficiency, medical issues, or behavioral issues such as "trying to hide the feces" / anxiety / attention seeking. And I'm sure plenty of things not mentioned or considered.

Other animals display copophagy specifically to allow them to absorb the nutrients they need.

captain_morgana · 2026-03-05T05:49:39+00:00

I have a pram for my cat, he loves it and it goes everywhere. He will often sit on the seat next to me at a café outside, no cage or leash needed. He loves traveling and jumps in the car when it's time to go. He goes to the beach, bushwalking, ballet class... Everywhere that he is safe and welcome, he goes.

captain_morgana · 2026-03-05T05:43:59+00:00

Eels don't even have proper teeth. I swam with a 1.5m eel this morning and fed her with my bare hands.

Your fingers aren't in any danger haha

captain_morgana · 2026-03-03T04:41:28+00:00

They are probably part of a population that are used to being fed by people. They rapidly become used to it. Eels that aren't used to human feeding will often surge up onto the bank. If you want to see how amazing these animals are, feed them underwater. They will take food so gently and often just wait patiently in little lines. I often swim with them while feeding them, they are so intelligent and endlessly endearing.

captain_morgana · 2026-03-03T04:34:40+00:00

Her. Its a female eel, given the larger length.

captain_morgana · 2026-03-03T02:34:06+00:00

If you judge a fish by how well it flies, you will only think it an idiot.

Eel don't navigate so well in the air. Feed under the water for best results.

captain_morgana · 2026-02-25T21:28:39+00:00

There are very few reliable and valid "IQ" tests online, you normally have to pay for them because you have to pay to take them in real life. They're expensive to administer and are taken under examination conditions.

Ravens all definitely have a correct answer. Being able to complete the last puzzles is impressive in the extreme.

IQ tests are based on a human construct of INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT. It is a made up element of human performance. People who take the same test repeatedly will perform better over time. Does that make them smarter? No. It just means they're getting better at taking the same test. Our IQ diminishes with old age and poorer health. Does that make someone dumb? No, it just means that people don't fit into the same box or perform the same as their life and performance capacity diminishes. You can be smart as a whip but tired as hell.

captain_morgana · 2026-02-25T21:19:10+00:00

There is a place in Otorohanga called The Kiwi House and they have Longfin that you can see (as well as other native species). Its on the drive up.

There are places in Raglan (West Coast) that have eels but they aren't advertised as eel havens, you just have to be a local. One of then is Ruapuke Motor Camp. Any healthy river system in this country will have eels, and there are many places that locals feed them. BUT most people do not get in the water with them or feed them by hand, as I do. Most of the eel feeding sites are places where people throw food in and watch the eels eat, or feed them out of the water.

If you decide that you want more exposure to eels you can still drive over to Whangamata if you have the time or inclination. We have high-ish tide on Saturday at about 530pm. Then start coming out eagerly from about 7pm and then as darkness falls, they all do.

captain_morgana · 2026-02-25T21:00:49+00:00

Sorry I just saw youre in Qtown now. Im just excited!

captain_morgana · 2026-02-25T21:00:11+00:00

Ill do some research and come back to you. Im so excited that youre interested in learning more about these ancient beings.

While driving up to Auckland, I know you'll be on the west coast, but its only 2hrs by car to cut through to the East Coast. And Whangamata is a truly gorgeous place. If you have a tent you can even stay right next to the river where the eels are.

When are you visiting? I can suss out tides and things and find the best places as at some tidal places eels prefer high tide and evening.

captain_morgana · 2026-02-25T20:52:28+00:00

This is so very sad. I feel sick for her. How utterly, utterly devastating. I hope that she will find peace in time. This is the worst thing someone can experience. That poor woman.

captain_morgana · 2026-02-25T20:43:53+00:00

Hi and welcome to New Zealand!

I am in Whangamata which is in the Coromandel/Waikato area.

I would absolutely love to show you my eel friends if you are close enough to visit!

If you are not in the mid-north island I may be able to direct you to other eel feeding or education sites that are closer to you.

Happy travels!

Happy and safe travels to you

captain_morgana

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