Floofy Friday

Sigh, I really miss sleeping in my little bed, but it's just too hot. I get in and after just a short time I have to hop out and expose the floof to the cool air. My parents thought this little paw action was extra cute, but really I was spent and I just flopped.

Gosh I am ready for summer to end, but it's gonna be awhile.

Have a pawsome weekend friends and stay cool, but not too cool.

Sack It To Me

I love a nice sack. This one has been a real joy to me the last couple of days. My parents brought it home and they left it open on the floor for me. I made a quick inspection on the inside and then I focused all my attention on the perfect tamp down.


The edge makes a great pillow, and it's an excellent bath mat as you can see.

You can imagine my distress when they mentioned they might throw it out! What? No! It's in the H.C. colorway for Bast's sake.

Um? Kittens?

Mom finally found the cord for the camera, and I was snoopervising the uploading of the pics when I suddenly saw this!

And This!

Can you believe it!

"Mom! Who are these kittens?"

"Um, they were at Petsmart and your Dad was waving a swing toy, isn't that cute?"

"Yeah they are cute... You didn't play with them too did you? Cause there was that one night when you and Dad smelled like cat..."

"Yes." Mom gushed guiltily. "They were so cute! Your Dad was quite smitten with the little calico. She had a little black mask around her eyes. Oh and it was so cute, the little tuxie on the left actually jumped into my purse with all four paws in an effort to stow-away."

"Fin, isn't that cute? Fin?"


"Talk to the tail!"

Awards on Monday

My two new friends at Kitty's Cat Chat and The Kitty Krew gave me this sweet little award. The translation means "Your Blog Doesn't Stink" and the only rule is to link to the blogger that gave it to you and pass it on to 5 others!

Well thanks girls I think your blog doesn't stink either. Now the problem is that I like all my friends blogs, I can't pick just five. Plus I know many over you have already been told you don't stink. So please consider yourself tagged.




I also received this little charmer from Tristan and Crikey. Seu blog e um sonho, means "Your Blog is a Dream." I'm to give seven tips on beauty, and pass it on.

1. Every so often let the Pawparrazzi get a killer shot, so you look your best on your blog. Not too often, make them work for it.

2. When you get a knot you can't get out of your floof, just let your Mom find it. She'll get it out.

3. Nothing says lovely like a fully exposed tummy.

4. Groom, groom, groom - you just can't do it enough.

5. Nap, nap, nap - you definitely can not do this enough.

6. A generous curve is great but make sure you can still fit in your cat bed. Spillover is not overly attractive. Oh heck just have your family buy you a bigger bed.

7. Wear your grannycat grays with pride.

Floofy Friday

Hm, something has been missing all week here at the H.C.

What could it be? Mom?

That's better! I know you've been really tired and couldn't find the cord for the camera but really, no kitty pics all week?

Hey, is this photo from earlier this month or have you just not picked up the Fourth of July paper trash yet?

Anyone wanna take bets?

Have a great weekend friends!!

Cat Burglar

The other night while Mom was fast asleep, and Dad and I were up late working in his office, when it started to thunder and rain. I'll admit I was a bit scared so I scooted under the desk and snuggled right down on Dad's feet.

Maybe he was scared too because he let me fall asleep on his feet. We were enjoying our snuggle time when suddenly we heard the front door open. It stopped both of our hearts. Dad reached down and scooped me into his arms both of us were scared now. Dad got up and rounded the corner to face the intruder.

It turns out that Mom, in her stealth mode, had made her way to the front door to look at the storm. Dad still had me clutched to his chest when he called out to her accusingly.

"You scared the sh!# out of us."

"I'm sorry!" at which time she started to giggle "What were you gonna do with Finny? Yell out to the burglar "I have a cat and I'm not afraid to use it!""

She should know I can hold my own in a fight! I'm small but scrappy!

Tagged By A Mom

The Mom of my great friend's at Crew's Views tagged my Mom with a game. Here are the rules:

Either (1) post 7 facts about yourself AND photos OR (2) post 10 facts about yourself with no photos, OR (3) post a childhood picture of yourself."

1. I was born in Chicago IL, but I grew up in Studio City CA. We've lived in Vegas 16 years.
   
2. I want to be a novelist when I grow up (hopefully that will be someday soon). I am sending Fin's book to the editor this week (yeah) and I'm working on my human book now.
   
3. My real job is to train nurses and other clinicians on how to use a computer charting application. I like helping people who help people.
   
4. I've been married to my hubby for 18 years and we've been a couple for 22 years. I don't think I'm as old as that makes me sound.
   
5. We've never had human children - only animals.
6. I'm pretty boring, I'm in my very early grannyhood way ahead of schedule. Although I still like to think I'm cool.
   
7. I do follow the rules and I admire that my cat doesn't.
8. I've had hives pretty much everyday for the last 18 years (no I'm not allergic to my hubby, but the timing is suspicious). My immune system thinks I'm the enemy for no good reason.
9. I'm actually pretty shy but I pretend I'm not in most situations.
10. I am freakishly afraid of Grasshoppers and Crickets. They don't even know where they're jumping! LEAP AWAY! Why do you have to jump at me or (the horror) on me?

Not sure how many I'm supposed to tag I think six.

1. MoMo
2. Monkeys
3. Tristan and Crikey
4. Island Cats
5. Cory Cat
6. The Creek Cats

Play if you want to, and because I'm channeling Fin any other Mom's you can play too! I'm a blog rebel!

Meg

Making Lemonade

I'm sure it's no surprise to many of you that I run a pretty tight ship around here. I like routine and I don't like chaos. So last week was a bit rough for me. Mom's schedule was off and Dad's schedule was too.

My strict bedtime schedule for them was not followed, my wake up schedule was thrown off as well, and I don't even want to discuss the confusing mess that became my nap schedule.

The only bonus was that in their confused stupors they had no recollection of who fed me and when. I only had to politely request a snack or meal and they would look confused and bring on the chow.

Yes friends when your world has given you lemons you can still find a way to make lemonade.

Floofy Friday

I highly recommend the sink as a bed when it's this hot out. I almost wouldn't mind if someone turned on the water. Never mind, I would hate that, at least while I was napping - but I do love to sip from the stream!

Can I get a little Friday amen? This week has been pretty rough for Mom at that place she calls work. She was up late and in early. I can't wait for things to return to normal, and back to visiting. I've been extra generous in allowing her to give me extra pets and scritches. I think it soothes her, I don't mind it either of course.

Buried Treasure

Hi Everyone! My new arty friend Seth at The Altered Page had this great idea for all his readers to post their favorite post today. He has a link over at his place so anyone can check out all the Buried Treasure Posts. Mom and I thought it was such a fun idea. So we asked if we could join and he said yes.

I thought I'd post my two favorite pics of yours truly and my favorite post.


The Moon

As I reported yesterday the changing of the sunrise has thrown me off my efforts to wake Mommy. Admittedly, I've been late a few times, and in an effort to over compensate, early a few times too. I've even been caught off guard and been awakened by the hated noisy box.

The other night I was sitting on the bathroom floor, waiting for the sun, when I noticed - the Moon. Sometime in the night, Mommy had kicked off her covers, exposing a section of lily white tush that actually glowed in the moonlight.

I was mesmerized.

Of course I've touched the butt before, but perhaps it was the coolness of the tiles, and my desire for a refill of my water, that lead me to my next thought - what if I touched the celestial body with my paw, my cold paw.

No, better yet, my cold, damp paw.

I gripped the cool porcelain (I think a paw held in front of the AC vent would work well here too), and waited. When I was adequately chilled, I stuck my paw in the water bowl and headed off for - a Moon landing.

I made a stealthily approach, hoping she wouldn't turn or change the cover arrangement. I sat down, lifted my paw, and suddenly, I felt a bit guilty. I gave a warning meow, to give her an opportunity to awaken at my first request (okay, I whispered it, but I did do it). No response. I laid my cold damp paw upon the Moon.

One small step for Fin, one giant leap for catkind.

Now kitties, here is where the danger comes - you need to leap back, you're going need to be at a safe distance. Prepare your most innocent face, you're going to need to deny any intentional wrong doing. You might want to cover your ears too, with the dry paw of course.

Hope you had fun, and feel free to lurk around and stay awhile. I welcome humans too!

Word Wednesday

Scorching - as in hot!

Is that big ball of flames still up in the sky? Yep, still there. I miss going outside but it's way too hot for my parents to hang out and snoopervise my outdoor grannycat activities. Summer can not be over fast enough.

Toes on Tuesday

This was taken right before I was whisked off My desk. Many of you are right, it's my house too, so isn't My Desk? Deep Sigh.

Mom claims she has some big work doings the next couple of days so we may not be able to visit too much. It's also going to be literally 115 here which makes all of us like slugs. Deeper Sigh.

Naughty Tip

Here's a little tip for you friends. When you're doing something naughty, in full view of your parents, make sure you look extra cute doing it.

I'm not allowed on the office desk. Something about floof in the printer, blah, blah, blah, whatever. As you can see here, I tend to break this rule when no one is looking. When I realized I was being watched, I was extra cute and I was allowed to hang out... until the pawparrazzi had their fill at least.

Hey, do you think one of you could clear off this business stuff? I'd like a little extra sprawl room.

PS I was a Catster Diary Pick of the Day this weekend!

Floofy Friday

Earlier this week I showed you my tucked in loaf position...


Well this is one of my sprawl positions that we call "Otter Cat"


To be a true Otter Cat the front paws must be tucked against the tummy, it can be partially sideways (as it is here) or fully on the back with the back paws also pulled in. Hey do you think I could get this in the Doing The Q contest as Best Interpretation of a Theme?

::Whispers:: "Mom, you don't think I look... plump, in this photo do you?"

"No Sweetie, it's all in the camera angle."

Have a great weekend friends, stay chilled (or heated depending on where you're at).

Random Thought Thursday

• I have still avoided being trimmed or groomed with the Faux-minator. My floof is very soft (like mink I'm told) and it seems like it just pulls my fur. I figure if I can fight them off till September they will just let me stay floofy. Here's hoping!

• Gnats got in the house about a month ago and my parents are constantly trying to swat them as they pass by or land on them, to no avail. They tell me to "Get Em" but I've explained that gnats are beneath my honed skill level - besides watching my parents swat at themselves as they try to kill them is priceless!

• I think it was about 102 today which by Vegas standards is practically a cold snap. It will be 110 by Saturday and Sunday. Maybe I should allow a trim?
  

Wordless Wednesday

Cat Loaf

Floofy-Cat Style

Many of my friends refer to this tucked position as a cat loaf, or a suitcase. Mom says I look like a purse cat. I don't hang out this way too often as I'm a sprawler more than a tucker.

Visitor

Whew, it's over for another year. Thanks Zoolatry for the pic.

We had a nice holiday weekend, and I hope you all had a nice weekend too!

My parents were pretty impressed that I hardly seemed scared about all the booms. It's true I wasn't overly concerned about the booms... I was concerned at Mittens repeatedly siting at my backyard door and looking in.

We hadn't seen Mittens in awhile but she is the little black kitty my parents feed in the front yard. Well apparently with my lack of presence on the back porch she has made herself very comfy in MY backyard. I kept a careful vigil but I didn't hiss or fuss (course the door was shut). I'm not sure how I feel about this, I guess it's okay.

Red, White and True

As promised here is the Mom post, hope you enjoy it. Happy Independence Day!

I don’t remember the first time that I participated in my Mom’s Fourth of July Parade. There is a picture though… I'm young, perhaps two or three years old, and I'm perched on top of a pony with my mother by my side. A small crowd is gathered around us and we all smile and wave for the camera, taken on a rural road outside my grandparent’s home.

The summer when I was six, our family moved to our new home in Studio City, California. By the Fourth of July my sister and I had only had time to make one new friend, Darren, a boy who lived four houses down from us. We had already bored of the summertime activities.

We begged my mom to think of something to entertain us. She suggested we have a Fourth of July Parade, like she the one she started back home. Often she told us the story of how she started the parade, how each year the number of participants grew, and how fun it could be if we started the tradition in our new neighborhood.

naturally we fought the idea initially as there were only three of us (Mom suggested we take the dog too). Eventually we dressed up in red, white and blue outfits, we found flags, we decorated our dog in crepe paper streamers, and we carried pots and wooden spoons to create marching music.

Mom cheered from the front lawn as we marched down the sidewalk from the front of our home down to Darren’s. We waved our flags proudly and tried to bang out “The Star-Spangled Banner” on pots, although it frightened the heck out of the dog (and any other hearing being).

It was not long before we began to gain the attention of the other neighbors (I don’t wonder why) who stoically watched our determined route back and forth. Passing cars honked appreciatively. We grew tired of parading pretty quickly and we were sure the new neighbors thought we were nuts.

The following year in June my mother again suggested the parade. I complained bitterly that I didn’t want to do it because we looked foolish (a parade of three), I didn’t like the cars honking at us, and the pot banging simply had to go. I felt certain, at age seven, this reasoning would get me out of it. Instead she conceded to gathering additional resources to join us, changing the parade route to the quieter side street, and following in a car with the radio blaring marching music.

The parade was on. I was doubtful, but true to her word she invited all the families we knew and lured them with the promise of free lemonade and spaghetti dinner at the end of the parade.

We started about six blocks from our house with about ten to fifteen people. We picked up anyone willing to join us along the way and ended with about twenty people at my house, with the free lemonade and spaghetti promised for participation.

Each year the participants swelled. Mom’s parade discouraged no one from participation. This is no formal affair as you can see… if you want to lead the parade, you just move to the front… if you want to be in the drum line, you bring your pot and spoon…. if you want to ride in a float, you make your own.

As we grew older, my sister and I began to spend the summer away with my dad. My mother continued the tradition without us for a time, but eventually it became too much for her to manage. She decided she could not host the parade. Luckily the new guard of neighborhood mothers took up the cause and the tradition continued (without the free spaghetti).

About five years ago my mom decided to sell her home, and follow her heart to the Napa Valley. Before she moved, we decided to go back and see the parade one last time. We watched with amazement at all the people gathered. Someone in the crowd recognized my mother and pulled her into the gorgeous red convertible that was leading the parade. Her face was flushed with joy as she looked at the “little” parade she started so long ago.

Does the parade still continue? I really hope so, because when I think of the “Spirit of America”, I think of that parade… of kids on their bikes and pulled in red wagons waving the flag, of dogs decorated in crepe paper steamers, but most of all… I think of my Mom, who always encouraged us to take the single step from the curb into the street and not just watch the parade go by, but to risk looking like a fool and make one of our own.

I'm happy to announce the Parade continues.

Floofy Friday

Please keep it down tomorrow America...
I'm looking forward to the cake.


I'm trying to take a little snooze here.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

P.S. Mom asked if she could post a story she wrote about the 4th of July tomorrow and I decided it was okay. so come by if you want to read it.

Duties as Assigned

Each day when my parents leave the house they assign me a duty, like these:

• Be a good kitty
• Keep Mom safe
• Watch over your Dad

Well I'm no slacker, so I'm right on them. I take on each assignment with great diligence, but would it kill them to give me something like these to accomplish?

• Take lots of naps
• Take a lick bath
• Enjoy an extra treat
  

Chillin

It's smokin hot here in the desert, so I'm just staying cool.

Notice how the back claw really digs in there... ting!
You'll notice my floof is still in full glory.