Her First Week

She's been ours for a whole week. Actually, we've cared for her for two years now. But a couple of months ago, I happened to toss a toy mouse on the porch to see if she was interested, not expecting even a raised eyebrow. Instead the skinny black cat played with that mouse. I'd never seen that side of her.

Watching her play, realizing she remembered toys and therefore had a life indoors, and wondering when the last time she actually played... all that broke my heart.  I said "David..." and he said "I know, we've got to bring her in."

Last Thursday Wheels had an appointment with the vet, and was tested for everything under the sun, and is completely healthy. Quite a feat for an outdoor kitty. (This month we've had to get a routine thyroid check for Rigby, put down David's mother's cat, and now Wheels. I think our vet is going to have a very nice summer vacation with the recent influx of cash.)

We are using a slow and steady method with the introduction. Wheels has a base camp in my office and the other cats are slowly introduced. So far it is going very very well. 

I am slightly jealous of dog owners. If you get a new dog, the introduction is a day long process and then they work out the hierarchy of things. There is no hierarchy in cat society. As solitary animals they are sensitive to their territory. Not to say they don't develop friendships and in no way does this make them "mean" or "withholding of their affection." This is just their instinctive animal nature, much like a dog's instinct to chase cars, or dig up your garden. 

Cats are highly adaptive animals, and unlike a dog's desire to please their human, cats adapt on their own terms.

Rigby advanced through all the steps in a day. His first nose to nose, he sniffed and rolled over to show his belly. I think he would like to cuddle with Wheels but she isn't quite ready. So I've been giving him extra snuggles to substitute. Recently, the three of us spend 30 min(ish) daily in a room together.

Abbey is moving slower, but I'm very proud of her. When I got married, Abbey had been with me only 6 months. She was still very untrusting of people other than me. With all the guests in the house, she stayed under the couch the whole weekend and didn't even come out to say goodbye. Seeing where she has come from really makes me amazed at how well she is doing. Essentially she is acting normal other than curiosity around Wheel's base camp.

Wheels is a little champion. I make sure she gets lots of uninterrupted, loooooong naps and as much food as her skinny little belly can hold. We use play therapy to build trust, and I wait for her to fall asleep till I leave. We also try some room swapping, letting our kitties inspect her room while Wheels gets to inspect the rest of the house.

She wouldn't let us pet her face last Thursday, by Saturday she was getting chin scratches!

We aren't quite ready for free access yet. Which is to be expected. I was so so so worried about adding a third. But my kitties still sleep with me and still snuggle and that's all I ever wanted. 

Wheels to be safe and my kitties to love me. All three of them.

she takes my breath away

I lay in a sliver of sunlight with Abbey this morning. Our street is so quiet this time of day, around 10 o'clock. Even the birds have taken a twittering break, except for a dove calling, probably in the backyard.

After a sigh, or grumble, or whatever that noise means to her, she settled on the ottoman, resting her head on the bed.
And I laid my head down too and stared at her.
She opened slits of her eyes to look at me.

We looked at each other.

Her green glass eyes blinking. We don't need words for our language.
She says she is happy like this and could I stay a little longer.
I blink yes, and rest my head on my hands.

When I first found Abbey I wanted her. But would tell myself I didn't. I even said I would never love her like I loved Juni.
How I was wrong.

How much love I have to give when I let myself
in a quiet sun sliver of a moment.

Officemates

I work from home but occasionally get visitors.

To DP- I have a new catsistant.
Dp to Me- Is she clawlified?

presents

On Sunday we received our very first present from Wheels.

Sadly, it was a mutilated lizard. But the thought was very sweet. So I picked her up and gave her a squeeze and made a big fuss. We are one step closer to calling Wheels one of the family. Right now I'd say we are very good neighbors, that like to exchange dead things.


Not to be outdone, Abbey brought us two presents last night: Green Pishy and Fat Bunny. And Rigby found a spider.

Reclining

Cats have beautiful posture, like slinky models or floating dancers.
And then there is Ribgy...
He sits three ways and all very schlumpy.
Spin Me Right Round
Like many dogs, Rigby walks in a circle looking for the perfect spot, when located he sits and drags himself another 360 degrees till he is coiled in a tight ball.
Timber
His favorite. He walks up to the desired spot, stiffens his joints and tips over. No bending of legs just TIMBER! Flop. This usually means "I'm ready for belly rubs."
Army Crawl
I don't know, I just don't know.
His is walking and stops using his hind legs and keeps crawling till he is fully stretched and calls it a day. He looks like a flattened out kitten rug.
Contrast with Abbey's purposeful, dainty descent with a dramatic sweeping in of her tail like Zorro's cape.

scrumptious

fresh palmiers
very grape drippy popcicles
sweettarts and pixie sticks
spinkles and jimmies
mounds of pink frosting on a strawberry cupcake

None are as sweet as my Abbey Darling
My sugar bear honey pants

Her kisses are sweet to the max.

anatomy of a cat nap

Cat Nap

What it is not-
a short snooze; light refreshing rest in the warm afternoon sun

What it is-
a deep and incapacitating hibernation brought on by a nearby sleeping cat; an infection of slumber; when you wake, 4 hours later, you will be disoriented, sweaty and sit grumpily on the couch waiting for your mental capacities to return.

Used in a sentence:
Saturday we had great plans but instead we cat napped.

sailboat

MAY 4 2012


Buttons is nuts.

Slumpy and

Nappy.

Loves his water and his snuggles.

But poor thing is crazy.

Abbey Darling is sweet, and polite.

Manipulative but I respect her genius.

Rigby loves his mommy but

his greatest love is treats.

He knows the words, he can read our minds, he thinks any krinkly plastic is a treat bag.

On nail trimming day

we are stealthy, so we think,

sneak into the bedroom, quietly open the drawer and extract the clippers, turn around to tip toe out of the bedroom

HE IS IN THE DOORWAY

mmmmeeeeeeeooooooooow?!

How does he know?

He can't sit still during his trimmy because he wants a

treat

so bad

it hurts him to wait.

You can not say the word "treat"

without his chorus.

So in our house

Treat is Sailboat

ps- yes Button's feet are as squishable as they look and Abbey doesn't care at all about treats but she does love her warm bathwater

fur therapy

today is a kittie snuggles kind of day. its been like that lately. high stress/low joy. I daydream of vacations and napping outside.

most of the time the only thing that really makes me feel better is kitten hugs and kitten kissies. (much healthier than lots of aussie cheese fries, bread pudding, chocolate truffles, and drippy burgers) (much more responsible than retail therapy)

I like it when they nap together

I like it when they nap with me

I love em.

 

I was tickled, TICKLED, this weekend when I finally captured Rigby's singed whisker in a picture. This little funny whisker appeared shriveled a few months ago and is so cute I just can't stand it. (no clue how he managed to burn his whisker, stuck it an electrical socket? stuck it in the oven? welding accident?)
I really need a macro lens to capture the full ridiculousness, so you are just going to have to click on the picture to see Toasty up close.

Doesn't he remind you of Chef Louis? Le poissons.

favorite things- gift review!

I was supposed to have my thank you notes written by Feburary and noticed yesterday I did not achieve that goal. I'm seriously going to be writing all my correspondence this weekend. On my honor.

Favorite things this Friday are inspired by thank you notes!

Kitty Water Fountain

Yes I am a crazy nut and asked Santa for a water fountain for my kitties. And they like it. I guess I thought they'd love it and invite all their kitty friends to a fountain party then I'd come home to cats in bikinis passed out with one paw in the fountain.
They don't love it that much, but they get fresh running, filtered water which can't be THAT bad, right?

Kitty Window Seat

I used some Christmas money to buy my kitties a window seat. I have mentioned how Michmansion doesn't have window sills, it is weird, but we don't. We had been using an old dish barrel box from a move. But it really only had space for 1 kitty and they had some trouble sharing. Until I found the TROFAST at Ikea and some carpet remnant in my mom's garage.
Kitties are in LOVE. Abbey particularly loves taunting the scary pitbulls next door. ;)

Urban Decay Eye Pencil Set

I have never worn eyeliner. It is scary and scratchy and smudgy. I am intimidated.
But, I figured I am almost 30 years old and I should be able apply a little liner. I research and purchased this Urban Decay set and have been "wearing" eyeliner everyday since (ha!), but not very well. I think I still need lessons, but the colors are cool.

Aerolatte Frother

Like hot chocolate? Coffee? Hate stirring?

But seriously, I didn't really have a problem with the stirring but thought hey, a gadget! It is pretty nice. We always have clean spoons now, mostly because David uses my frother more than I do. He likes a gadget too.

My mom also got me an immersion blender! Woo! I haven't used it yet. In the months leading up to Christmas I would say to my self, oh an ib would be great for this... and now that I have one I can't think of anything to immersion blend. Suggestions?

One more for the road, cause we all wish we could nap in the sun.

christmas spirit

hope you all find your Christmas joy. i found mine

thankful things friday

It is easy to forget to be thankful. Sometimes life is bursting with things that cloud a thankful spirit.

Every year right around the first cool front I watch White Christmas, because we all want snow snow snooooooooooow! Bing sings:

"When I worry and I can't sleep

I count my blessing instead of sheep.

And I fall asleep counting my blessings."

This November every Friday I am going to list what I've been thankful for this week. Because sometimes there is a heavy weight of negative on your shoulders and the only way to fight dark is with light.


1. Kitty snuggles. Abbey takes care of me when I am sick and Rigby takes care of me when I am sad, and what more could a girl need?
2. Steaked potatoes, steaked potatoes, potatoes that are steaked, steaked potatoes!
3. Cooler weather. Whew, its here!
4. Warm bed in the morning.

the naming of

What is in a name? A lot.

Shniggles Snugglesby
He is super snuggly. Every morning after my shower we snuggle while dp shaves and then we give him his pill. If for some reason he is busy with sunning or chasing a mouse or 1/2 an easter egg, I miss him terribly.



Asparagus (Gus) Schnail
Inhabitant of our tank , distant relative to the late Mike Schnail










Prince Caspian
Royalty and thinking about changing his name to *@






Red John
Our serial killer fish. He has been convicted and is facing sentencing for the murder of 9 fish and 1 snail.





Jojo
Yeah Jojo is a girl, so what. She is Jojo and she knows her name and she is a tiny ball of energy and we all love her. Who doesn't love tiny things.





That's not everyone- but just some of the names of my littles. Abbey is just Abbey, she hasn't told me her 3 names yet.











The Naming Of Cats
The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey--
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter--
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum-
Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover--
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.
- T. S. Eliot

this is my post for july

I must write this now or it will never get done. People came back from the holiday with work on their mind and ready to work us hard. So ready for the weekend.

We've had a lot of fun this week.

Wednesday
My mom found something. More on this later.

Thursday
Scentsy party at my house. I'm pretty glad I stopped stressing and decided to buy chicken nuggets. I was happy to have people in my home. Its a little unnerving. What will people think of the way I live? My looney paint choices, and toy mice scattered across the floor? But it was good! Or maybe that was just the sangria talking.

Friday
My mom is a hero, she made so many meals. Feeding the boys and David is a full time job. We grilled fajitas. The boys still call tortillas T-tas. It is still cute.




Saturday
Leah and I had a spa morning. On a whim I decided to wax my lip. Yes. I have noticed some hair where there wasn't hair before. So, instead of stressing over something as silly as a couple of hairs, that maybe no one else can see but they bother me, I waxed them.

That was my break. I worked on a major project till 11pm but I finished and that's what counts. Some weeks really are just terrible. I said I was quitting more than 20 times.

Sunday
We went to the ball game and Minute Maid's AC needs to work a little harder. It was not cool. But it was a good game and it was the boys very first ball game.



It also happened to be my anniversary. I still don't feel like it has been 6 years. It has. For his present, I got him a firepit. And we came home, had icecream and played with fire. I can do that because I'm an adult.



Monday
I took it easy Monday morning. We just laid around with the kitties, who missed me and our special snuggle time. So I had snugglies with the littles.

Big thing at my moms, grilling, happy hour, homemade icecream... yumo.

I know nothing can be the same. But I can't imagine my family not being how it was. There has to be a new normal. Yet, my heart longs for the old times.

Newness
A week ago my mom found a tiny kitten on the front porch. We all love her. She is just the smallest thing you have ever seen.

We were calling her JoJo... when we thought she was a he. But the vet confirmed her femaleness. JoJo weighs 15oz and is 6-8wks. She loves to suck on her toe. It's pretty high on the cute scale.

What is it about a 4 day weekend that feels so good?

38

I'm ready to lie down on my therapist's couch and unload...
What is the punishment for failing Lent? I would love to tell you that I haven't been complaining but the last two weeks... ok, I admit it. I complained. A lot. And well I haven't been to church. Thankful there is grace.
4-1-1+1-1 A month or so ago, one of my team members went on maternity leave. A couple of weeks ago another team member was on bereavement leave, but he came back just in time for my other team member to quit. If I spend anymore time at work, I might die. What? I'm feeling melodramatic today.
Wanted: Wanted! One nanny for small baby kitten- age 5 years. Skills required: sitting, snuggling, resting, sunning, petting, brushing, some kissing, singing and napping. Poor baby is lonely and needs a human companion. He misses me and is very clingy.
38 days I can't believe I made it into the 30s. Could be spared April? There is just no time. Honestly, I haven't been reading this week, I'm behind. I don't even know what I should be reading. I'm in the weeds.
Suck it up! Last weekend we noticed some fleas on the wee ones, probably from us tracking them inside. So we knew we had to clean up the awful mess in our house. So we got everything off the floor in the bedroom, vacuumed under the bed, the office is not covered in junk (it is very disorienting). We went through two vacuum bags.
The departed 9 We tried getting neon tetras. We are fish killers. The 8 cuties died, instantly upon entry into our Tank of Death.
I am deeply saddened by the death of Mike Schnail. He was loved and is buried in backyard. Cause of death unknown.



After that, what can I say? A bad bad streak.

littles

Its Thursday.
I don't know if I am happy about it or a little freaked out about how little time I have left in this week. Both.

What do I think about when I am not studying/reading/writing?
- The house is dirty
- Kitties

I'm obsessed with my kitties. Like why Rigby looks the way he does? I came across a kitty, Maru, on Cute Overload. One day it hit me! Rigby looks like Maru!! Maru is a Scottish Fold with unfolded ears. Look! A smashed face and big paws! Twins! (I'm sure everyone cares, pretend it is a comparison between human children)

Lent is coming...
Lent starts next week! That snuck up on me. But what I've decided to do is revisit a failed attempt at not complaining. About six months ago I tried and fizzled. The basic concept is do not complain, be sarcastic, or gossip.

The babies are BOYSThey turned 3 last week. Three. Tres. Trios. They are officially little boys. But I love them at this age. They know me and want to play with me, although I left dp do all the rough stuff cause 2 on 1 isn't fair.

We went to Abilene last weekend for their party. Lots of LEGO fun.
Don't you wish you had a twin to help you bust open a pinata? Don't you wish you had a giant for an uncle?

So that's all. Busy weekend ahead. Will emerge for food and sunshine if available. Now accepting candy and caffeine as fuel.

81 days

A couple of things-

THE. CHRISTMAS TREE. IS. DOWN!!!!
*joyful chorus*
all of the Christmas decor is put up, I think, but aren't there always stragglers?

The chair
poor unfinished chair. Remember? I understand if you don't. It was a month ago that I swore I would finish it. Now that the tree is gone the chair (unfinished) can go to it's spot. I will say that my talented mother, finished the recovering part oh a month ago. It waits for a second coat of paint on the arms and legs. But Rigby has already enjoyed sitting in it.

Warming up
David bought me an electric throw, I guess if you call it a throw and not a blanket it will be 60 bucks cheaper. Well, the truth is my throw has been stolen, by a very warm kitten. Rigby Buttons has spent a total of 5 minutes off that blanket in the last week. He loves it. At night, he lets me share. (Picture- this morning)

Cake
So I had a meltdown this weekend when none of my clothes fit me. Has anyone else been there when every single pair of paints is magically 2 sizes too small. I saw my shadow a couple days ago and didn't recognise my butt- it has it's own shadow.
I consoled myself by eating a cupcake.

Breather
I get a small reading break this week. I have TWO weeks to read
Gulliver Travels
Buried Mirror- Fuentes
Street Car- Williams

Did you see that tiny list? It's so small. But what kind of professors would they be if I didn't have papers. I have to work on papers during this leisurely read. Two novels and a play in two weeks? Easy peasy lemon squeezy

In Review--
Our Town- not the play I wanted to read two weeks after my MeeMaw died. There were tears
Century of the Wind- Glad this series is over. History intensive, very interesting. If you have a soft spot in your heart for Communists this is the volume to read. he he
I'm taking my mom's advice and not letting the small stuff get to me. I have one job (well 2) for the next 81 days and that is to read/write. The house may be a giant wreck and filled with unfinished projects, and well I can't fit into my clothes, and I look tired and haggard. Four months.
Living will resume shortly...

teenie weenie vs read-a-saurus

Meet Teenie Weenie the Appeteaser kin to Teenie Sardini.

Teenie Weenie is Abbey's most best friend forever and ever. She would marry Teenie Weenie if she could. She loves to rip his ears and feet off, and steal new Teenie Weenies from her stocking, and hide them in the closet, or in shoes, or nap with him- resting her chin on her weenie pillow.

Early Sunday morning there was an uproarious chorus from the living room, and the hall, and the pink bedroom and lots of click click-clop clop-scratch-sliiiiide (kitty nails tearing up and down the hall). Now this is somewhat common. Some evenings or early mornings, we hear a glottal call from Abbey and then she appears with a "mouse" in the bedroom. This morning, this we knew. It was a call for Teenie Weenie.

ME IS READ-A-SAURUS!! ROAR!!!!

Sigh. Brain. Dead. No. Workie.

In review- Galeno is great. I do wish I was pleasure reading though- when someone is making me do it, I get a little definant. (personality flaw) If you love history or Latin American culture this is fantastic. Triffels was also great- short and sweet and amazing that it was written (gasp published!) in 1916 by a woman! If you care to read it- click here or want to know about Ms. Susan Glaspell. I also forgot to say that we read Octavio Paz's Mexico and the United States- this is an interesting look at the way Mexico has treated their Native Americans vs us.

This week...

Machinal- Sophie Treadwell

Faces and Masks- Galeano

Part 2 of the trillogy

Absalon and Achitophel, Alexander's Feast, Ann Killgrew, A Song for St. Cecelia's Day Ode- Dreyden

Poetry of Ann Finch

Cooper's Hill- Sir John Denham

A Serious Proposal to the Ladies for the Advancement of their True and Greatest Interest, By a Lover of her Sex- Mary Astell

The Essay on Man- Alexander Pope

I keep trying to think of myself as the Cookie Monster's cousin- Literature Monster. Reading! yum yum yum yum yum

Haunted MichMansion

Happy Halloween

They love me. ;)

all things snuggly

Remembering sweet Juni today.

But as I was telling David, I wouldn't have my Abbey and Rigby without Juni leaving when she did. And I can't imagine my life without those two. Next month Abbey will be 6 1/2 yrs and Baby Buttons will be... I can't even say it.... 5 years old.

He loves to shlump against the wall. It's his "I'm too lazy to sit like a normal animal" possition. This morning he goes to flop against our bedroom door when it wasn't fully open, he rolled backwards! Tried again, rolled over! Then decided to scoot over to a fixed wall and shlump. This little kitten is five? Really?

Abbey is my sweetheart. She loves when I take showers and baths. She waits on the bathmat for me everymorning durning my shower and when I am done we sit on the edge of the bathtub and brush our teeth together. It's our snuggle time. When I take baths she tries to drink the hot water. Mommy is nice and gets a little handful for her to taste.

If I am getting frustrated at work I just call David to see what the kitties are doing. They make me happy.