Back-to-Normal Cats

First, let me tell you that I still enjoy my snuggles with Her, but I was not clinging to Her all day like I did yesterday. Something in the air made me feel kind of scared or nervous. Maybe I need another dose of flea medicine. Today I was interested in more things than just helping Her with Her computering. This is not one of the Special Days They have, it is just the last day of this particular month. I know about these things, because on the first day is when the retirement people send Her money to last for another month. One odd thing about this day is that it is the day She meets with Her beloved Crones in the evening. One of Her Crones is Smudge'sMom, and this is special because that lady is going to be gone for a long time, visiting other places, so she will be gone on her birthday. We have to celebrate that very special day, so She will bring Her presents for S'sM to the meeting. Since She loves giving presents to people, it is as much a present for Her as S'sM. She will get to see Cleo'sMom as well, just to make the meeting even more special. The place where the Crones meet has most excellent coffee-the-drink, and some nice cinnamon rolls. It is a winning combination of things for Her. Her beloved cat is feeling better, She will see Her best friends, and She will get good stuff to eat. Can't ask for more. You know that means I won't get any plates to lick tonight, but it is OK since it doesn't happen very often. TTYL

Clinging Cats

This is peculiar. for some reason today, I didn't want to leave Her side for even a minute. It started last night,. when I needed to go to sleep on Her tummy most of the night. She doesn't care if I do that, but I usually stay for just a bit, and go to sleep near Her. Then, When She was ready to get up, I was right there, and followed Her around until we had our butter. When She went to Her computer, I decided to help Her, and lay down on the keyboard. S he had to work a little to get me arranged where I wasn't writing on Her messages. To make a long story short, I was pretty much attached to Her all day. Luckily, I could write my story while She fixes our dinner, but I will probably go back and snuggle next to Her while She eats Her food, and then get comfy while She watches Her programs. I don't mean to worry Her, but She wonders if I don't feel very good. Whenever one of us acts unusual, He and She wonder if we need to go see the animal doc. I wish I could tell Her that I don't feel sick, but I feel kind of lonesome, for some reason. Everyone is doing what They always do. Kasey is always a few steps away from me. I guess it is just something in the air. Or maybe I am having one of those things that are magical feelings that something strange is going to happen. Well, you can follow my stories and see what happens next. There is always something going on in the mind of a clever cat. Chow.

Half-Price Cats

You remember, I'm sure, that Kasey and I came from the esspeeceeay, but I bet you didn't know we were half-price. The day that He and She came to adopt a new cat, They saw both of us. When they couldn't decide which one They liked best, The people at esspeeceeay said They could have us both, and They only had to pay one adoption fee. Nobody has to tell Her twice when there is a bargain, so He and She took us both. It turned out to be a good thing, because I am a snuggle-bug purr-factory, and Kasey is - well - aloof. It only took a little while before it was clear that Kasey liked Him best and I liked Her best, and we have been happy ever since. I have learned that if something says half-price, She is interested. There is a place where She buys meat that is always sending a paper saying you can get stuff half-price. I notice that the number they give for the whole price is extremely high, so half-price might not be the bargain She thinks it is. I tried to point that out to Her, but She wouldn't listen. So a shirt that cost $5.00 is now half-price off of $10.00. She is usually kind of smart, but I can't tell you how easy it is to pull Her into a deal like that. I think She has bargains in Her blood. Maybe it is because She was born when nobody had any money, but I think it is just the way She is. Do you think She would have brought both Kasey and me home if we had not been half-price? I asked Him that one time, and He said, yes She would, but don't ask Her about it. Whatever caused Her to say yes to the esspeeceeay, being half-price didn't hurt. Later, Gator.

Image Cats

There are lots of people who have an image of cats in their heads, and they would be very surprised to know that all cats do not fit their image. If you have an image that cats are friendly and greet you at the door like your dogs, you would be surprised to know that a lot of cats don't do that. One cat that always came to the door when She was coming in was our old friend, Kate. But you would grow old and die before Kasey would greet you at the door.I might be there if I happened to be passing that way, but you can't depend on cats to do that. Some people think cats are always ready for a pet on the back or head. I would be afraid of that and Kasey would not stand for it. You can always get a dog interested in a treat, but with cats, it depends on a whole bunch of things. My advice to you is, don't get an image of a cat in your mind until you know the cat. It is sometimes the same way with people. If you know Her, you may have an image of a nice old Grandma-type woman. You can talk to her on the computer, or if She is sitting in Her chair, or eating lunch and have an image that She is just fine. When you see Her stand up, you see that She is not fine at all. It hurts Her to stand up, and once She is up, She is so afraid She will fall that She doesn't want to walk very much. Instead of a sweet old Grandma, you see an unsteady, slow person. This is why She is so glad to have the friends that She has. Her friends understand, and help Her get where She is going, so She can go back to the nice lady image instead of the stumbling old person image. He helps Her without making a big deal of it. For some reason, She likes to look as if She is OK, so He doesn't fuss about Her, but He is there to hold on to. I will bet that everybody has more to them than the image people think. I know Kasey and I do. One of His favorite things to eat is that very fine meat that He calls ground steak. Don't worry. He knows it is hamburger. Ground Steak sounds more important. (snerk). Toodle-oo.

Well-Mannered Cats

Kasey and I have good manners - most of the time. Kasey has a tendency to be rude, but not nasty. The name She gives it is aloof. So Kasey is aloof, but I am very polite. I try to make eye-contact, and I try not to interrupt. I always tell Her the truth, as I see it, and I rarely bite Her. If I do, it is just a little nip, and I don't draw blood. She would not want us around if we were not well-mannered, because She has very definite ideas about that. Her friends all have nice manners and so do their children, if they have them. It bothers Her when She sees ads on the TV where people tell lies, and especially when the children in the ads are rude and whiney. If you are going to go places in this world, She says, you have to have good manners. You can't talk to your family in rude tones. She says She wasn't allowed to, she didn't allow Her students to, and She doesn't want me to use a rude tone.It is interesting that when She expresses Her displeasure about people in ads being rude, He says it is just because it is an ad, and they want you to get bothered, so you will remember the ad. That is kind of clever, I think, if it is true. He also thinks that there are people who act polite only when they are around people who can do them favors. I hope we don't know people like that. All our friends are very nice and polite because that is the way their Moms and Dads taught them to be. She says Her Grandma would say that Good manners are the mark of nobility. I am not sure, but I think that means class. Good manners show Kasey and I have class, even if Kasey is aloof sometimes. I will use my best manners tonight when She fixes that chicken for our dinner. I will wait until She is through before I lick the sauce off Her plate, and I won't complain that it isn't fish. Oh-re-vwar, mes amis.

Acrobat Cats

Kasey and I are very agile. That means we can move around easily and get into strange positions. He and She laugh at us when we get all curled up or all stretched out. When we are giving ourselves a bath, They sometimes actually laugh at the positions we get into. I am pretty good at it, but Kasey is the better acrobat. I think I told you, Kasey has been sleeping in His chair for awhile now. It seems to be her desire not to touch the floor. None of us knows why. So Kasey will jump from His chair to the stools and up to the pass-through counter, then down onto the kitchen counter before she gets to the floor. Kasey can glide from one chair to another and onto the dining room table. If she wants to go to the litter box, Kasey will walk from His chair, across the table, across Her lap and then onto the floor. I don't know what makes her feel like staying up in the air like that. I like the floor just fine. I can leap from the floor up to the back of Her chair, then walk down Her body, across the little couch and up to the bookshelf. Since He has taken so many books to the place where they give him money for books, I like to get on the empty shelves and have a rest right there. She laughs at me when I do that and says, Coffs, you are an open book. When I think of when Kasey and I used to live in little cages, I am especially glad that we can hop up and down and across things, But please don't tell LW'sMom how much Kasey gets on the counters and tables. It would make her gack. Here is another lucky thing. Pink fish for dinner tonight. I am truly singing and dancing with happiness. G'night.

Pizza Cats

As well you know, I really like pizza, and so do He and She. She had that information in mind when She and Rocky'sMom took one of Her bargain papers to lunch at a very Italian restaurant. This is what the pizza was like there. It had sauce and cheese, as usual, but it had every kind of thing on it that you can think of to put on a pizza. There was so much good stuff that She brought one home to have for our dinner tonight, and I am wondering if I can wait. The box is on the counter, and Kasey and I could work together to knock it down. The box would pop open and two cats could have a great time. I have a feeling, though, that would not be a good idea, since She really would be very sad, and I would feel terrible about that. Kasey wouldn't care, but She can live without pizza. On this pizza is green and red peppers, onions with purple outsides, olives, ham sausage, pepperoni, tomatoes and some green leaves that I don't know what they are. When She and Rocky'sMom go out for lunch, they mostly go to places where She has a paper for a discount, because R'sM insists on paying for everything. She is very lucky to have friends like that, but it really doesn't matter who pays, because it is good for Her to get out. That is the only reason I don't complain about Her leaving me here, wanting pets and snuggles. I know that She is really tired when She gets home, and drinks a big bunch of water. It is very hot outside. That's what it says on the news. I don't go outside, myself. Bwono Notty.

Message Cats

There is a place on the computer where She goes to get messages from Her friends. There are people that She has known for a long time, and people She has never met. A lot of them are fans of Her beloved Eddie, and they feel like they know each other from the millions of messages they have shared. Some of them She has met in person. There is Her OperaGirl, Her StefferGirl, Her OzGirl, too many to tell you about. It is interesting how much She feels that She knows these people, and since She almost never goes out, visiting with these friends keeps Her pretty happy. She has Her home people, as well. There are people She used to see all the time, like LW'sMom, who is so busy that they can't sit and drink coffee anymore. She enjoys knowing what is happening in the world, even if She doesn't get out in it so much. Our Aunt Heather says she is an introvert. Maybe She is turning into an introvert, because it is so hard for Her to go out. If it weren't for a few lunches with friends, She would stay in here all the time. There would be two things that would make Her not be lonely, though. They are snuggles with Her best cat (ahem), and Her morning full of messages. Friends, I saw what is thawing for our dinner. It is a package of pretty pink shrimp. She will mix it with vegetables and some kind of sauce, and I will be right there to share. So long.

Gracious Cats

This day did not turn out the way She expected, but grace and charm saved the day for Her. She was supposed to meet a friend at this really nice place, but Her friend didn't get there. Of course She was worried. Had Her friend been in an accident? Was she sick? After a long wait, She finally went to a table and kept waiting. After a long time it became clear to Her that Her friend was not going to make it. The coffee was delicious. So was the bread with herb butter. That is soft butter with little leaves mixed in. She loved that. But She didn't want to eat by Herself, so She ordered food to take home for Him and Her to have for their dinner. She says it has tuna in it, which is a kind of fish, so it works for me. She was very impressed by how nice everyone was to Her. Her waiter was a young fellow who reminded Her of our Uncle John, and he acted as if She were a really important person. It turned a sad disappointment into a nice experience, and She says it was the grace and charm of the workers there that saved Her day. It turns out Her friend forgot, and was very sorry, but at least she was OK and not sick. Since the thoughtful people at the place where She went treated Her so well, it was just fine. I treat Her like that, as well, but Kasey - well, Kasey just doesn't care. Bye.

Reading Cats

One thing She really likes is reading. Kasey and I have noticed that humans read quite differently than cats. Kasey and I read with our whiskers, our noses and our tongues. It is a perfect way to get the information we need. Is it good to eat? Is it too hot? Is it too cold? Is it catnip? And other questions like that. Our skill at reading has served us and all the other cats for ever, since cats were first thought about. When She was a teacher, She helped children learn to read, and it was more complex than scent and touch. They use their eyes and have to take a code and figure it out. She learned to read before She ever went to school, so She doesn't know how She did it. She knows how Her students learned, though. She gave them some words to get into their memories. Then She taught them all the letters that made regular sounds, Then the ones that were different. She used every way that She could think of, and if they didn't get it, She went to plan B. You see, if you are a human, you have to know how to read to get by. You have to read directions, and letters and books about your world. People who can't read have a much harder life than the ones that can. Aren't you glad you know how to read? Kasey and I are glad, too. We don't have books, but we have a gazillion things we have to learn about our world, here in this house. I am not sure our old sister, Kate, knew how to read, because she was often confused and scrappy. We read danger when we read Kate. Finally, Kate couldn't stand it and moved out, to hang around with other cats that read like she did. Meat and vegetables are on tonight's menu, and I bet there is some good juice on that meat. I think I deserve it. TaTaForNow.

Different Day Cats

What a difference a day makes. She says that is the name of a song, and if I could, I would sing it. After all the rain and thunder, today was just nice and pleasant. Since She was up quite late last night, I had my work cut out for me to wake Her up. She fixed our toast and butter while She was still yawning, but it all turned out OK, and I had five fingers of butter while She ate Her breakfast and read the paper. I stepped on the paper before She could start to read about politics and get all sad and anxious. Right now, She is happy that the President made a speech about what it was like to be a black person. He and She are so proud of how he Presidents, and they don't care what color he is. It is strange for me to think about preferring one color, because cats are lots of different colors. I am brown, like coffee with cream. Kasey is gray, with orange spots here and there, and our old sister, Kate was blue. Cats don't care about color as long as they get kibbles and pets and water. He and She don't care about color, either. They both like people who are nice and polite and helpful. She had students of all colors, and She got along just fine. Here is a story She told us. Once, when She was teaching children of white and black, some important guy asked her how many were black. She said She would have to go look in Her grade book, because she didn't know off the top of Her head. The guy didn't know what to make of it, but I get it. Their color didn't matter to Her. The guy decided it was not a good thing that She didn't know, but Her boss stuck up for Her and gave Her an award. We are having snacks for our dinner tonight, so I don't have high hopes for a nice plate to lick. I really can't complain, though, because it was a nice day. Toodles.

Stormy Cats

Even though He and She are saying they are glad of the rain, I am sorry to say that the thunder and lightning are not my friends. It seems to rain almost every day, which is fine for me, since I don't go outside. Lately the rain comes with thunder and lightning that makes a terrible noise and makes the electricity go out. It doesn't bother Her too much, and it doesn't bother Him at all. Even Kasey doesn't seem to mind it, now that She sleeps almost all day on His chair.That is part of Kasey's new personality. She hardly goes into the bedroom at all, even at night. It kind of hurts His feelings, When He sits in His chair, She gets on His lap right away, though, and He and She both think that's cute. Imagine that. A cat gets on someone's lap. I have been doing that for years now, and He hardly notices me on Her tummy, which is cozier than Her lap. Do you know what Kasey does that He thinks is cute? She goes to sleep on a towel in the kitchen at night. She thinks Kasey is being weird, and She is glad He washes the towels every day and puts a clean one down for Kasey. Honestly, that cat has Him twisted around her little paw. No wonder the thunder doesn't bother Kasey. She probably thinks she could make it go away if she felt like it. What a little drama queen. It is clouding up now, and I can hear thunder off in the distance, so if you will excuse me, I am going to relax in the closet. Have a nice night. Ah-dyoo.

Hopeful Cats

Today She and Rocky'sMom went to a place nearby, and the name of it is The Fish Place. I had high hopes for some leftover fish or shrimp, because what else would you get at a fish place? Here is the answer to that: She brought home chicken! Of course, I like chicken, but who goes to a fish place to get chicken? I don't know what is the matter with Her. I wonder if it is the weather, which is quite normal for our house. Or maybe it is Her reaction to the fleas. I am at a loss - but will share Her chicken and not make Her feel like She has done something wrong. That is a terrible feeling. She had one of those tickets for that place. Rocky'sMom said they should go to a place they have already been next time they go for lunch. I think She is tired of having to go where they have those tickets. Maybe She will have another idea next week, and bring Her poor cat some fish. Dinner tonight will be leftovers, but He always likes that. TTYL

Giving Cats

Kasey and I don't have much to give away. We have our nice food bowls, and our water machines and our litter boxes, but we need all those things. We can't give them away to poor cats. Now our toys actually could go, because the ones that make noise scare me, and the ones on strings get chewed off. We are satisfied with a couple of mice and the catnip ball. If we fixed up a bag for the poor cats, it would not be very big. He and She have lots of extra stuff, so every few weeks, they fix up a big plastic bag with stuff that is still in good shape, but They no longer use. Today She went through some stuff and found things She didn't even remember that She had. If you have things that you have completely forgotten, those things would be better off with someone who could make good use of them. She stopped to remember back when She wore some of those things, and realized that She would probably never wear them again. He and She laughed at the underwear they used when they went to Europe in the winter, because She didn't have a winter coat. Here is the important thing. Some people don't have enough money to buy things like that, and at the place where the big bag goes, there are people who really need a bargain. She says it makes Her happy to know that someone will love them as much as She did when She had to get dressed to go to work, and to travel far away. Forgive my happy dancing while I write my story. There is pink fish defrosting on the counter, so I will finally get my fish! Cheers.

Good News, Bad News Cats

The good news is that it has finally rained here after many weeks. It is very good for the grass and the trees. He and She were very chuffed that it rained, so that was the good part. The bad news is that the rain brought lots of thunder and lightning, so I had to go and hide. No one was surprised at that. I am the one that got the surprise, because when I thought it was safe to come out and write my story, Her computer didn't work. She said it was because of the thunder and lightning. It didn't surprise me about that, because thunder and lightening are not good for anything but scaring sensitive cats and breaking electrical things. I just wanted to explain that to you, because I didn't want you to think I was so scared of the thunder and lightning that I couldn't write my story. Well, anyway, He and She had a nice time at Rocky'sDad's birthday. Everyone had fish but Her, so I was out of luck there. R'sD liked his picture, and He enjoyed His shrimp wrapped up in bacon. You would think He would have brought on of them home for His cats to share, but no. He ate every one himself. Not much else is new around here today, so I will say Sy-o-nara for now.

Justice Cats

He and She are kind of bummed today, because of some kind of justice problem. Kasey and I believe in justice. That means if you step on my tail, I will yow,, and maybe even bite you one the ankle. If we do something really good, and you don't give us our treat. That is not justice, and we will yow and maybe even bite your hand. What has them in a snit is that there was a guy who killed a younger guy, and he didn't get in trouble for it. She was about to scream, She was so upset. Here was a young man walking to the house where he was staying. He had just been to the store and got candy and something to drink, when this other guy saw him and thought he looked like a troublemaker. The guy reported it to the police, who said not to follow him. Just leave him alone and they would come and check. The guy did follow the kid, got into a fight and shot the kid. She doesn't see any excuse for that, but a bunch of people told different stories and the guy got off scot free. I will probably have to listen to Her go on about this for ages. She is on the side of the kid, who didn't do anything wrong. The kid would not have fought with the guy if he had stayed in his car, like he was told. This is not justice, in Her opinion or in mine. Kasey is not all that interested. I heard Him say He wanted pizza for our dinner, and there is still half left from last week, so I will be glad of that, and hope it makes Her feel a little better. Oddy-ose.

Birthday Party Cats

Since Rocky'sDad has a birthday tomorrow, and he has other work to do, He and She are celebrating the birthday tonight. Rocky'sDad is kind of an introvert, and did not feel that he needed a party. Rocky'sMom and She decided a nice dinner at a fish place would suit everyone just fine. R'sD is quite a fisherman, like Cleo'sDad, and so it is a good idea to go to a fish place. He and She got him a picture frame that says My big fish, and He put in a cute picture of a fish. She thinks Rocky'sMom will change it for a picture of him with a fish he caught. At first I was disappointed that She would not be fixing fish for dinner, but then I remembered something. Almost every time She goes somewhere to eat, She brings home some extra food that She didn't finish. Tonight it will be fish, and I will bet six kibbles that She will share it with me. This birthday party is so much fun for Her. She just loves birthdays, and would celebrate birthdays of everyone She knows. She has never understood why people don't want to celebrate. When it is time for Her birthday, She reminds everyone right after Christmas for Her February birthday. Some people don't want to think about getting older. She likes that getting older means you are still alive. There are a bunch of special birthdays coming up. I will probably have more reports for you about this. Kasey and I have birthdays when it is close to turkey-eating time. She always makes a fuss over us. I think it is nice of Her. Kasey doesn't really care. Well, have a nice evening, and tell the rain to come to our house before the grass turns brown. Nighty Night.

Science Cats

Kasey and I are all about Science. We are interested in facts. We want proof. We don't believe in magical things. He and She are all about Science, too. Only She tends to think some of the things that Science has discovered are magic, indeed. Kasey and I have to learn about this from watching TV and the computer, because if we listen to Her, She talks about magical things. She can hardly believe that there are phones that people have today that can take pictures, even movies. They can send printed messages that She calls Text. They can tell you haw to find a house or a street or a city, and oh, by the way, you can talk on them, too. She considers that invention a miracle. She doesn't have such a phone, and She really doesn't need one, but if She were still being a teacher, She would probably have to have one. She has had a regular phone and a pager before, but those things are as old-fashioned as ice-boxes. This has gotten us all to be thinking about discoveries and new ideas. One thing I would like to have is a machine that will keep Her here at home with me. It would be nice if there were an invention that would catch fleas when they sneak in, and vaporize them. Those fleas have caused so much trouble for all of us, but Auntie Heather told us what to use, and things are much better. It isn't magic, but it is new stuff that just got invented lately, so She doesn't have to find the fleas on us and squish them. He and She are very happy to be going to Rocky'sDad's birthday party, and it will be at a place where there is fish to eat, so She isn't fixing fish tonight. Well, I guess I can be a nice cat and not complain about it. Last night, She fixed sausage that tasted so good that I stole a little piece. That will have to hold me for awhile. Toodles.

Worldly-Wise Cats

Kasey and I like to know what is going on in the World. To us, the World is this house. Since we are both well educated cats, when it comes to our place, we can tell you about every nook and cranny in our World. We know which places are very cozy and soft. Some places are comfortable without being soft, like, say, a bookshelf. We know not to go past the doors, because there are too many dangers out there. One time Kasey got out there. We still don't know how, and she won't tell. Our Auntie Heather and Uncle John found Kasey and brought her back inside. She hasn't tried to go out since then. Kasey is rarely frightened, but she is sure scared of that outside. There are dangers inside, too, but we know how to stay away from them. The worst are the things that make loud noises. When I hear loud noises, I go and hide. My favorite part of the World is inside Their closet. He and She know things about the bigger World outside. I think it is because He and She have education and experience. They have lived a very long time and have seen a lot of things happen. Sometimes They are searching for answers, and sometimes They are angry about the answers They get. He and She both like to be here in the World where we are. It makes them feel cozy and lovey. I like it when They are here, too. I can't help but worry if He and She go outside. People shoot guns and bump into each others' cars. I always give a big sigh when they get back here, where it is safe. She knows the World is dangerous, but She says that the more you know about it, the easier it is to enjoy it out there. I feel the same about my World - in here. Stay safe, my dear readers, and come back tomorrow. Chow.

Introvert Cats

She was reading and article about how people who are introverted do lots of good things. I had to go look that one up, because I don't know what introverted means. It turns out that if you are introverted, you are a lot like me. I am shy and don't like to play with new people. I have a very small comfort zone, which means I am the opposite of an adventurer. I tend to hide when I am not sure what is going on, and I meow very quietly - most of the time. Kasey is not shy, and she goes to new places all the time. Kasey loves to climb and leap and she meows very loudly. What about Him and Her? No doubt about it, He and She are the opposite of introverts. She loves to visit with new people. She can strike up a conversation with strangers. If you need someone to give a talk, She is right there for it. He isn't shy at all. He talks to anybody around, and can talk about anything at the drop of a hat. Since She was a teacher, it is a good thing She isn't shy. She had to talk to rooms full of kids, and other teachers, and parents. It used to be that people thought introverts were cats and people to feel sorry for, but I read that some of the smartest people are introverts and I don't mind telling you that it is only the very best cats (ahem) who are introverts. So I learned something today. How about you? I don't hold out high hopes for our dinner, because She had lunch with Her beloved Crones today, and She says She ate everything that was in her sight. We will be lucky if we have dinner at all. She is that full of lunch. I will keep my hopes up, though. Cheerio.

Pondering Cats

I learned that pondering does not have anything to do with a pond. It means thinking about stuff. Sort of like wondering, but with more information. He and She pondered about my behavior, and Kasey's. If you read my stories, you know that Kasey and I have been acting a little strangely, for us. Kasey is the most different, with her lap-sitting and her towel-sleeping. I believe that He and She have been pondering most of the time about our new habits. At least, She spend a lot of time pondering. Of course, She could be pondering about what He and She will do when every scrap of money is all gone. I know She feels kind of sad that She won't give Him any more money. She has money She saves for payments for things, and there is no way She will take a chance on that. But money is not an interesting topic. It tends to get Her tense, and it is a faithful cat that has to soothe Her and make Her feel chipper again. She ponders about when He will sell some of His flag displays, and He keeps working on selling some of His model airplane packages. Did you know He has a thousand of them? At least, She says. At the end of the day, She just says Oh, well, and we all start pondering again tomorrow. Since She is keeping Her money set aside, She will still enjoy Her lunches with Her beloveds, and appreciate Her strange-behaving cats. She does not have to ponder Her one solid rule: Always buy stuff that is on sale. Her friends don't mind that their birthday presents were bargains, and She is proud of Her choices. I am pondering the chicken that She got out of the freezer. It looks as if it has vegetables tucked inside of it. That looks fancy - but don't worry. She got it on sale. Toodles

Wide Awake Cats

This does not mean that we are not taking our mandatory naps, but that when we are awake, we are wide-awake. This started with Her. You know it is my job to wake Her up each day, and sometimes it requires several massages to get the job done. Today was different. She woke up by Herself and it was so early that He hadn't even started the coffee-the-drink brewing. It wasn't just me. He was astonished to see Her up so early. That meant that I had to get on with the morning routine when I would be having my last hours of sleep, and I was a little groggy, to tell you the truth. I had to shake my head to get both of my eyes open at once. The day went along just like any other - except earlier, so when He needed Her computer, She went and sat in Her chair. You will never believe what happened then. I don't believe it myself. I got into snuggling position, and Kasey came and got on Her lap. Kasey has never, ever, never, ever gotten on Her lap before. In fact, she just started getting on His lap the other day. She wonders if some spaceman came and stole Kasey and left a sweet kitty in her place. Kasey leaned over and touched my nose with hers, then settled down and the two of us just had a nice, soft napping zone. I know you think I was dreaming, but no. I was wide awake. He saw it, too. I am not at all sure about how I feel about sharing Her tummy with Kasey. I was nice and polite today, but Kasey had better not make a habit of wanting that lap. She got something out of the freezer for our dinner, and I didn't recognize what it was. It didn't look like fish, and it was too red to be chicken, so I broke down and asked Her. She said it was short ribs. That didn't tell me much, so I guess I'll find out when they are cooked and served up. I bet She will fall asleep right after dinner tonight, since She was awake so early. Oddy-ose, amigos.

Organized Cats

There is a big difference between Him and Her. The thing is, He is organized and She is not. At least that is what it looks like to Him. He doesn't grump at Her about it, but He carefully organizes His things and doesn't try to figure Her stuff out. If you were to ask Her, She would admit She is not as neat and tidy as He is, but She has Her own system of organizing. She knows what each pile of stuff contains, and knows on which shelf to look, and knows what hangers go where in the closet. I bet you can guess that is why He has His own refrigerator. If you open the door to his refrigerator, everything is in order, and He knows right where to go to select a bottle or container. I won't bother to explain Her refrigerator, because you know it doesn't look organized at all, but She knows just where to reach for what She wants. This goes to show you how people can be so very different and still be best friends. All it takes is for Them to accept that this is the way the pother person is, and not to take it personally. If He and She weren't good at that, their differences about money would have the house split in two and they would never even talk to each other. He and She just express their opinions clearly and without blaming, and there it is. Lately, Kasey and I have been trying to be less organized than usual, but I don't know how long we can keep it up. Kasey keeps going to His lap and I keep going to Hers, and that is all the organizing we seem to need. He went to the store and got the flea stuff that Aunt Heather told us about, so that may organize us even more. She is fixing that good pasta that She froze when they had half of it last time. That was good stuff. We will do fine. Talk to you later.

Surprising Cats

Kasey and I are both bundles of surprises. After all these years, He and She never know where they are going to find us. I am as likely to be on the windowsill as I am to be in the wash-basket. I have even been sleeping on Kasey's beloved blue blanket. I spend hours in Her inbox, and hours on Her tummy, but sometimes I go to sleep on the table next to Her chair. They always used to know where I was but now They have to look for me. At the same time, Kasey has selected new regular nap areas. It is startling to go out to the kitchen and see her sleeping on a folded up towel. She likes that pillow I told you about before, as well as His or Her chairs when They aren't in them. When He is in His chair, Kasey likes to get on His lap, which has become a regular thing. I know neither He nor She ever expected to see that happen. Most mysterious, though, is that She likes to curl up on the base of the lamp by the TV. Can it be that it feels cool to her? I just think it is hard and pokey. They are baffled, and wonder if it is the fleas. If I knew how to explain it, I would. It is just a part of our take-over of the whole house. Only one sad thing. He misses having Kasey sleep by His head at night. We were very happy to see our Aunt Heather and Uncle John. They had been on two trips on airplanes, and they had a really good time. They told Her about the new House that Mazie will be moving to. They said it is an enormous house. It is strange to think of retiring and moving to a bigger house, but that is what Mazie'sDad is going to do. Mazie is farther away, and She is sad that She will probably never see her again. She will always have Mazie in Her heart, and remember all their fun together. Since we had fish for dinner last night, I was pleased to find out that pizza is on the menu tonight. That is another one of my favorites. Have a nice night, sleep tight.

Bothered Cats

It looks as if the big noise of fireworks is over for awhile. She says don't count on it. There will be fireworks after it gets dark, believe me, She says. If there is one leftover firework, they will shoot it off tonight. The fireworks did keep our minds off the fleas, though. The flea collars He brought home do a lot of good. The medicine didn't work for us, but it does work for Her. Her ankles don't itch when She takes the medicine. That leaves us with two bothers. One is that the medicine makes Her sleepy and out of breath. The other is that getting rid of fleas is a terrible, horrible, awful, very bad job. First, you need to get the fleas off us. Since we refuse to take the medicine, the flea collar has to do that work, and it is slow. next, we have to get the fleas out of the house. It means putting out poison for the fleas, and keeping us out of it. Then, we have to put flea stuff outside, so they can't sneak back into the house like the did before. All these jobs have to be done at once, because fleas must be the most clever creatures on earth, and they know how to hide in one place and jump back to a safe place. How did they get so clever, do you suppose? Flea-killing stuff could be harmful to a person's beloved pets (ahem), so they have to be even more careful. I like to be a good sport, in a happy mood, but the fleas make that very hard. Today She was lucky, because She got to go have lunch with Hana'sGran and for a little while there, She forgot all about the flea trouble and the money trouble and the medicine-makes-her-sleepy trouble and just enjoyed Herself. She is lucky to have someone who can do that for Her, and She knows it. She did bring something home from that lunch, but it isn't for dinner. She will eat that for Her lunch tomorrow. That means She will fix pink fish, and I will be a happy cat! Bway-nus no-chess, amigos.

America's Birthday Cats

Another special day for the humans, and Kasey and I really don't like this one. We are happy that our country has a 237th birthday, but the way the people celebrate it is to shoot off fireworks. Kasey and I don't like the noise the fireworks make, whether it is small pops or big booms. It helps that He and She don't shoot off fireworks. In fact, She doesn't like fireworks at all, unless they are in a big show somewhere, and professional fireworks-shooters set them off. I kind of remember that we could see through the window where some place nearby was shooting fireworks, and we could see them burst open and send out showers of light.She thought they were pretty, but I thought they were scary. She is a little bit scared today, too. When the neighbors go into the street and set them off here, our grass is very dry, and so is our roof, so She has the fire department on speed dial. That means she can get them fast, with one button push. I will cross my paws and hope that no fires start tonight. Her old brother, who has died, was a fireman, and he got Her worried about fireworks fires. She is still worried, He isn't. Well, it will soon be over. If you are wondering about our fleas, the collars seem to be working. She brushed a bunch of dead fleas out of my fur this morning, but She would like it better if we would take the medicine. She will not have any luck with that. Today we needed a special menu to celebrate the USA's birthday, so She is making an all-American beef stew, with lots of vegetables. I will enjoy that gravy, if I'm not too scared. He and She will like it too, but Kasey won't care. I hope you have a nice birthday for the USA, and She says She hopes all my readers will vote for smart, fair people next time so the country doesn't go down the tubes. (Remember that one?) I'll be glad when it's over. Farewell for now.

Medi-Cats 2

HA! I told you they would have their work cut out for them if they tried to give us medicine! There is no way Kasey and I would stand for any kind of liquid, and a pill was simply out of the question. How many times would we have to gack up all over you until you would see it was useless. He went and got us collars that are supposed to kill fleas, and they were surprised that neither of us fought them on putting the collars on us. They look kind of funny, especially Kasey, since you can see how thin her little neck is. Mine looks better, because my hair is long enough to cover it. Here's the good thing. It seems to be working. We are still a bit itchy and we still scratch ourselves, but not as much. This morning, I actually had my butter, and She felt so much better about it. Kasey is spending a lot of time sitting on His lap while He watches TV. It is the first time in all these years that Kasey has done that, and He can't get enough of her. She is used to me getting on Her lap, so She is happy for Him. When She thinks of all the things that were wrong with us, and all the awful things They were going to have to face, a little medicine spilled on the furniture and the carpet are not so hard to bear. The medicine did not go to waste, as She takes it for Her itchy ankles. Drat those fleas. Now She wonders how we will get rid of them besides waiting for it to get cold out. I don't know what we will have for our dinner tonight. She ate Her leftover half a sandwich from yesterday's really nice lunch place, and now She is quite full. She may ask Him to eat some leftovers, while She just has tea and cookies. She sure gets filled up pretty easily now. Maybe it's the fleas. Anyway, keep watching for good news from me. Ah-dyoo.

Medi-Cats

Our Dad, He, went out for some medicine for us to get rid of our itches, and They can't decide on how to get us to take it. It is in a squirt thing, and She thinks that if She holds me, I will let Him put it in my mouth. Good luck with that. I will spit it out as fast as it goes in, and if I accidentally swallow some, I will gack it up as fast as I can. As for Kasey, she will wiggle and wriggle and clamp her mouth shut. I guess She thinks She can pinch our mouths open. My story tomorrow may just be the best one yet. She is already trying to tell us it is to fix our itchy faces, but She doesn't understand that it is in our very bones not to let Them give us medicine. Since our fleas have bitten Her ankles, He got Her some medicine, too, in the form of a pill. At least they know better than to try that pill thing with us. Today She went to an amazing place with Rocky'sMom. There was a paper that said they got half off their lunches, and She can't stop talking about how wonderful it was. I overheard that She was going to fix some shrimp to put in the salad She brought home, and there will be our dinner. He read what was in the salad, and He was anxious to have it. We will see if He is still happy to have dinner after He tries to give us that medicine. I wish we were different, but that's how cats roll. Cheers.

Allergic Cats

Here is what we found out about our peculiar behavior. The vet says what we have is an allergy. Both of us seem to be allergic to flea bites. She was baffled, because we never go outside, but the guy says fleas can sneak in when they are too hot outside. That also explains the big bugs that He has seen in here lately. Here is the weird part. It is not just the fleas biting us that makes us itchy. When fleas bite, they have a liquid around their biters, and that is what we are being so uncomfortable about. What causes our change in behavior is our discomfort, and trying to get away from the itch. If you have ever had something itching you, you know what I mean. It is enough to drive a guy crazy. There is some regular medicine He and She can give us that we can try before the vet has to give us shots, and He will get that for us today. My itch is worse than Kasey's, but Kasey has been doing something really new, and He and She are quite chuffed. Kasey has been getting on His lap while They watch TV, and giving Him snuggles, like I do to Her. He and She couldn't believe their eyes when she first snuggled on His lap, but it has happened three days in a row. After all these years, it took fleas to change Kasey's behavior. I guess we could learn a lesson from that. Sometimes you take every kind of care, and still you get bites, but sometimes there is a smile in there someplace. I know that I am ready to smile about having fish for our dinner. Smile, everyone.