These are Gilbert and Sullivan, the juvenile delinquents I live with. They were born in mid-April 1996, possibly April 13 -- a Friday, which probably explains a lot. They're members of the McGillicuddle Gang, and a more exasperating (but cute) pair would be hard to find. I can't take them with me into the monastery -- unfortunate but understandable. The last four women entering, including me, had between us four cats. Imagine the zoo it'd be if all 230 of us could have brought our pets! But the good news is that I've found a home for my sweeties.

Gilbert's full name is Silbert Gilbert Purrful Pwaska McGillicuddle, Beanbag for short. He's the ringleader. Pwaska is Polish for crybaby because he sure is a whiner! He's obsessed with food and steals whatever looks like it might be edible. As you can see, before he was born, when God was passing out the Cute, Gilly thought it was food and stole most of it. When Sully washes Gilbert's face, Gilbert's eyes roll back in his head and he just goes limp in ecstacy. "Ooh, Sully, do it again!" Gilbert's favorite foods all begin with "C": chicken, cheddar cheese, cucumber peels, cantaloupe rind, Carrie's breakfast, Carrie's lunch, Carrie's dinner ... oddly enough, he doesn't like tunafish unless I'm eating it.

Sully's full name is Sugar Plum Sullivan Panther McGillicuddle, aka Honey Bear. He has all those silly smoochy mushy names because the girls (human species) really go for him. He goes for them, too: once my cleaning lady brought her 4-year-old daughter with her, and she and Sully spent the entire 4 hours under the sofa waving their paws at each other. Sully lives for toys and will even play with his cat treat (Pounce, Topini, etc) until Gilbert tries to steal it. Then it's, "Oh, yeah, duh, guess I better eat this thing." His fur is so thick that sometimes he gets his jaw tangled in it and then he needs his mummy to cut him loose. Recently he's shown a sign of extreme intelligence: he's started to investigate the phenomenon of water coming out of the faucets. I'm very proud of him.