Catastrophe of a feline kind

Snax has just about taken over the top level of the cat condo.  Big as he is, legs and things stick out over the side.  Yesterday evening, he was stretched out,  down on the living room rug, when Miu traveled from the couch to the top condo level.  She curled up and slept.  

Snax came over to see what was what and J stopped him with an outheld hand.  Snax left angrily with his tail jerking over his back in feline rage.  He sulked for a while and I guess he thought we had forgot about him.  He came in fast and crouched down to leap up on top of Miu.  I got my hand in front of his face and he ran to the hall as if to put himself to bed.  

I gave him the bed command, which is "Time to Go" and he went the rest of the way to bed.  

CAT- tastrophe averted . . .

Today, he acts as though he remembers nothing.  Conveniently.

Alarm, alarm not . . .

I set off the house alarm at the kitties' house.  I do know the things that the alarm company wants to hear on such an occasion, so there was no consequence save for my embarrassment.  However, there really was a "technical issue" with the alarm  I know this because it is the exact term the technician used when he came out to repair it.

The only relatively evil result of the alarm repair was ladder-envy.  They had the cutest little two step, heavy duty ladder.  It would be perfect for reaching ceiling/other lights that are "up" and the top cabinet over the refrigerator.  Only thing was, he didn't forget to take it with him when he went.

I suggested he might want to leave it and he just laughed . . .

They just know . . .

Today, we fed other cats besides our two.  The food routine at the other cats' house has changed a bit since the last time we had the food-duty watch and I am not used to it yet.   But, J has sandbox and water duty which doesn't allow for much variation.

Now the kitties have new, cute, individual little food dishes.  Takes a while to clean them and then dry them before refilling with fresh vittles.  While the aforementioned activity is going on, I have to watch where I step or there might an encounter with a trusting paw or tail that is slow to move out of the way.  Plus there might be some ankle stropping going on at the same time.

There is also the fact that when I got out the minced turkey garnish, things got vocal.  If I am not used to the new routine, 

THEY certainly are . . .

Oldest and best . . .

 
This is my lengthiest birthday on record.  We decided to celebrate last Saturday and I came down with a sore throat.  Tomorrow, we will attempt it, again, in conjunction with the birthday of Zeta20's M.

Deli Lane, here we come.

Maybe . . .

Who swims to the store?

I am probably the only person in the southern part of this state who has a prison pallor all year round.  It is so humid, now, that even decently acceptable temps are accompanied by air so heavy with moisture that swimming motions seem normal when walking.  It is difficult to acquire a tan while hurrying between a vehicle and a building entrance with A/C behind it

Various times, when Snax gets out, J goes out after him while I prop open a door.  Snax has learned that when he does get out and comes right back when called (or shoots into the house at top speed) there will be treats.

Currently, we are out of treats so, humidity notwithstanding, I have to venture out for some.

I should send Snax . . . 

 

New Internet Firm: Grumble and Growl, Inc.

Blogger did a new number and lost me in the dust trail.  It took a while to figure out that my old password was defunct and that a gmail passsword would access the account.

This was unfair and if there were a picket line, I would join it.  Consider this my posterboard sign on a stick.

I need to vacuum this site.  But, before I vacuum I need to pick up detritus.  Before I pick up stuff, I need to dust the flat surfaces and the ceiling fans or vice versa.  

It really is always "sumthin."

Trade off . . .

Got my hair cut a couple of days ago, which means it was professionally blown out.  Yesterday, I received a "shot in the eye" that necessitates my going home and lying on my back for two hours so the avastin can sit in the back of the eye where it will do the most good. 

Two hours like that undoes the good blow-out of the hair.  I ended up looking like a flat mess from behind.  Still do. 

At least I can more clearly see what it looks like, now.  Heh.

There are better ways to check for life signs . . .

Our oldest cat suffers her 14th birthday this month.  She loves the gel cushion in my computer chair where she curls up and covers her eyes with a paw.  She sleeps like the dead - in fact, the other day, I actually lifted her sleeping head to see if she still lived.  After I held it up for a couple of dreadful seconds, she slitted open an eye and waited for me to put her head back down.  

I did.  Next time, I'll just check for her sides breathing before I lift anything.

Cat scans . . .

J, looking sharp in his uniform, left the premises to participate in an Eagle Ceremony.  Snax can not watch football from the top of the cat condo without his buddy sitting nearby on the loveseat.  I heard his cries clear in the back of the dining room where the computer is.  I went in and gave him a hug which was not what he wanted at all.  He wants his J to come back!

He knows what "hush" means because if he starts pacing and wailing, he will work himself into a frenzy - something like allowing a dog to bark without correction until it is nutsy.  He didn't need a hush this time.  He wasn't wailing, he was calling for J.  I could tell the difference, hence the hug (which shut him up).

Miu never woke up from her nap under the scanner table.  The big scanner is seldom used since we got a printer which also scans.  It has now become the cat's scanner.  

Heh . . .

Extra Duty . . .

We have extra kitty duty starting on Monday.  They may be sKITtish at first.  That depends on their frames of mind.  We love kitties.  Perhaps they can tell.

Miu often reads our minds and understands a lot of English.  We have to spell even her gender.  If we say something like "she wants some water" she pays attention.  Snax is the "he" and she ignores that.

I'm not sure she won't read this, either.

Breakfast, anyone?

We are supposed to have breakfast at Deli Lane tomorrow morning with Anne & Mark.  Kimmie will be there but not BigEd.  He has to work inventory overnight and will be free in the late morning, probably.

DL has the best cheese grits.  I asked what kind of cheese and was told "Cheddar" but not the proportion of cheese to raw grits and water. 

Every time we go, I consider the whole menu and then order scrambled with toast, grits, and coffee.  I will ask if the carrot/zucchini muffins are fresh-made that morning and if they are, will substitute one for toast.  They are sublime if fresh-made.  I don't know what happens to them if they sit for a while, but something does.

 Monday is BigEd's birthday.  He and Veronica share the  same day.  He will be working then so we will delay the celebration until the 18th when he should be available.  

Be good to be available for your own birthday celebration.  Been reading a Spenser novel.  Can you tell?

O1 Doc recommended "Spider Woman's Daughter" by Anne Hillerman.  Hillerman?  Tony's daughter? yes!  I hope she doesn't consider this book a stand-alone.  I don't see how she can considering that Lt. Joe Leaphorn has yet to recover from being shot.

Another recommendation is"Things Left Unspoken" by Eva Marie Everson.  I have it on reserve and, even with the monetary cuts, it should be available at my library soon.  I am No. 1 on the list.

Isn't it nice to have things to look forward to?

A little turning may be a good thing . . .

I decided to only watch the feline interaction this morning.  I determined to bite my tongue and fold my lips together.  Hard.  No yelling "time out" to break things up.

Miu was the instigator.  She stared, rolled on the floor, said "ahgmmm?" with her own mouth closed.  She reached for Snax as he strode by.  (he has really long legs so he doesn't trudge)  She tried his patience.  

This morning, this very morning, when she did all of the above, he crouched, wiggled his haunches to dig for traction, and jumped on her shoulder with stiff front legs.  No claws out and especially no biting. It was like a preemptive strike with blanks.

She was so indignant that it was funny.  He ran away as though he was afraid but came striding right back.  They ignored each other.

If you tease it enough, even the Snax will turn.  We don't leave the house with both of them at large.  They're still in the process of working it out.

The new orbit . . .

Happy New Year.  This is the fresh start part of the time-frame.  Back, pretty much, where we started in our orbit of the sun.  Three hundred sixty-something tries for doing what we think should be done.  Same number of tries to wake up in a cheerful, can-do mood - or not. 

Resolutions?  Not so much, for me.  Why ruin the hopeful expectations of a better year?  I look forward in hope. 

And I know what- EVER happens. The Lord has the plan.