You'll recall that, where Peanut was concerned, Bruce's hand was the favorite when it came time for Warm Toasties. We called it The Big, Sweaty Hand. Peanut fit into it better, it was sweatier, all the good stuff. It turns out that Bruce's knee is also much more comfortable than mine, so when it's time to watch TV in the evening (if you'll recall, the reason we first started the conversation with Harley's previous owners is because he liked to watch TV in the evening), Harley sits on Bruce's knee.

And that's fine, because when Bruce is out of town, Harley sits on the back of the couch, and I get to give him the Most Scritches Ever.

I will probably never get a good photograph of this — this is a screen shot Bruce captured on his laptop while we were video-conferencing, in the evening when the lights were dim.

Harley starts out by resting his beak on the couch so I can really dig in without knocking him over. But as the evening wears on, he'll rest the top of his head against one of my thumbs, while I give him scritches with the other hand. Several times an evening, depending on his mood, he gets Six Finger Skull Massages. Really.

Now, if you do the math, you might realize that if Harley is on the back of the couch, and I'm using both hands to give him scritches, that my back is to the TV. If you'll recall, the reason we first started the conversation with Harley's previous owners was because he liked to watch TV in the evening. You know, with us. That is, everyone watching TV. Not that hearing the TV is such a bad thing, and certainly the TV itself is much safer when I can't actually see certain political figures on its screen, since I'm so often tempted to throw things at their tiny, annoying faces. But still. It would be nice if I could watch the TV while I give Harley the Most Scritches Ever.

I've tried giving him scritches while he sits on his table, but that's only worked once. I'll have to keep trying. Or just look forward to evenings when the Big, Sweaty Knee is home.

Giving Harley fewer scritches is not an option. Partly because Harley is benefiting from Finster Guilt — I'm giving Harley all the scritches that I can't give Peanut. And that's still part of how we both interact with Harley. We have to catch ourselves sometimes, call him "Grey Goose" instead of "Green Gus," and things like that (no reference to expensive vodka intended). But that's getting easier as time goes on; Harley is a very different bird.

Partly, though, Harley simply deserves all the scritches we can give him. And why not? There are worse ways to spend an evening.