>>One thing that amazes me with Americans is this letting the cats and dogs into bed and/or to the dining table.
>>
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>OK, as a Russian :) I let our cat to sleep on a bed, but not on a dining table. However, he sleeps on my desk beside the computer. :)
>Does it clear anything? :)

Hey, it's your bed :). Still scratching my head, though.

Occasionally, I get to hold the guinea pig in my lap (in the immediate neighborhood of my keyboard) while her pen is being cleaned. Sometimes she sits on my shoulder... but not in the spring or fall when she's shedding :).

BTW, Rox had a cat who slept on her desk. But he had his own folder box for it :).