Sun 30 Dec 2007
Easy Like Sunday: Frosty Morning
Sun 23 Dec 2007
Easy Like Sunday: Miss Caitie
Following the lead of our Calico Diva, this blogger is going to take it easy for a little while. Be back in a few days…
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
from John + Pat
(and all the Good Cats)
from John + Pat
(and all the Good Cats)
Sat 22 Dec 2007
Pat asked me…
…”Where’s the Christmas music on the radio this year?”
Reasonable question… me, I don’t listen to the area radio stations much, so I didn’t notice. (I have a recording of the Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping”, and that’s all I need.)
A few years ago, at least one station in the area would change its format to all-Christmas music from Black Friday through Christmas Day. Pat says she didn’t hear that this year.
One, and Only One
We’ve been tagged for the 7 Weird or Interesting Things about You Meme by Meerkat, Padre and Panda Bear, collectively known as The Furry Bambinos.
Here are the meme rules:
* link to the cat who tagged you and post the rules on your blog
* share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself
* tag 7 random cats at the end of your post & include links to their blogs
* let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog
Now, all our Good Cats have a lot in common, but they are still unique in their own ways. Here are some of them…
The only Good Cat who:
- Has gone for a walk on a leash: Kelly. He only did it a couple of times when he was young, but at least he tried it.
- Sleeps with Pat: Lizzie. The other cats find other places in the house to sleep at night, but Lizzie is only content when she’s lying next to her human mama.
- Has caught a mouse, a bird, a chipmunk, and a rabbit: Caitie.
- Will tolerate being picked up: Nicky.
- Likes getting a tummy rub: Kelly.
- Doesn’t have a nickname: Lizzie. Kelly is The Big Guy, Caitie is our Calico Diva, and Nicky is El Gatito Perfecto, but Lizzie never acquired an alternate name. Closest thing is “Elizabeth Bennet Cat,” which is her full name.
- Was never alone in the world: Nicky. That is, the other 3 cats had to survive on their own for varying periods of time, but Nicky always had his mother Mao until we adopted him.
Finally, to tag some other kitties so that they can do this meme too. Only thing is, I hesitate to put any more tasks on anyone at this time of year. Instead, I’ll ask: Any volunteers?
Fri 21 Dec 2007
Animals in Stores
A couple of stories:
Many New York City delicatessens have resident cats. It seems like a great situation for everyone: the cats are cared for, and the delis don’t have to hire exterminators to get rid of rats and mice.
Just one problem: it’s against the law.
Also newsworthy: This past summer PetSmart began a pilot program selling dwarf rabbits in 25 of its stores.
Many people didn’t approve, to put it mildly, including the president of the House Rabbit Society.
Regardless of whether the public outcry made a difference, PetSmart is getting out of the retail rabbit business.
Thu 20 Dec 2007
Diana and Nana: Writers in Training
Pat watched Diana regularly for about 3 years, and she treasured being able to watch her granddaughter grow from a tiny baby who slept most of the time into a toddler who loves to learn and be active.
After Pat’s hospitalization in September, Jack and Jennie enrolled Diana in a combination day care and pre-school program. However, due to the bad weather around here lately, pre-school has been either delayed or canceled several times, and Pat has been pressed into service once again to watch her.
And as Pat writes, Diana is still growing and still learning:
While we waited for the computer to boot up, Diana picked up a pen and began to make marks on a small pad of lined paper that was on the computer desk. She proceeded to scribble on the paper while talking to herself (or me?) almost as if she were writing down her words. She finished one sheet, and I went to turn it over, but she told me, “No Nana, I want lines.”
I gave her another lined sheet and she filled it up as well. They were not wild scribblings, either. She mostly stayed between the lines. At 3 1/2 years of age, using regular, spaced, lined paper, she did better than some first graders. I’m thinking that someone’s been working with her, either her preschool or her parents.
A little extra: Nana reassures Diana there are no spiderwebs on the playground slide.
