Jan. 5, 2003 Sunday
Happy New Year, calendar-dependents.
This was a cold and damp weekend, and I usually spend those in a corner of the couch. But yesterday the Husband was outside, up and down a ladder, removing various decorations he had put up less than a month ago. I guess he changed his mind.
So c.c. and I joined him to supervise the process. I watched quietly from the front steps, but c.c. seemed to think there was something to be gained by hanging around the bottom of the ladder and meowing upwards. She soon realized there wasn't, as the Husband was preoccupied with handfuls of electric lighting. But when the Husband moved the ladder close to the tall evergreen near the corner of the house, c.c. wasted no time. She scampered inside the tree and made her way to the top, to emerge arm's length from the Husband at the top of the ladder.
The Husband got a good laugh from that and told her to wait there while he got the camera.
Sure.
He was down the ladder and into the house and back out again in a flash, only to find c.c. waiting by the front door. So he put the camera back in the house and returned to the job at hand. Of course, c.c. also found her way back up the tree and poked her head out the top once more. So the Husband tried once more to get the camera (with slightly less urgency this time), and of course c.c. was once again waiting by the front door. But apparently the Husband expected her to climb up through the tree again once he ascended the ladder. So the Husband was on the ladder, camera poised. Of course c.c. was sitting at the foot of the ladder, not moving.
A word of advice: repeatedly coaxing a cat to do anything results in nothing. So the Husband had to climb back down, return the camera to the house, and return to the upper rungs of the ladder to resume undecorating.
It's at this point that you might suspect that c.c. decided to climb the tree again. But she didn't. In fact, she had gotten tired of the ladder/tree ritual and had headed down to the creek bed in search of something more entertaining.
I, on the other hand, found the whole thing quite entertaining.
Jan. 11, 2003 Saturday
So how's your new year going so far?
To us cats, a new year has no meaning. New, old; it's all the same. The sun still comes up every day, signaling the presence of large flocks of birds feeding in the back yard that require being chased away. I still get fed at the usual times. The Husband and Wife still disappear periodically, but they always return to lavish attention on their faithful felines.
So what’s new about the new year? Numbers on the calendar. That’s all. Calendars are a human contrivance, so they know when to celebrate things (another human contrivance - celebrations). Cats celebrate life every day. What else is there?
All my woodland pals have their own built-in calendars; the squirrels know when to store away food, the mice burrow in, the birds head south. The migratory birds even know the time of day, so they know where the sun is supposed to be to keep them on course.
Humans have this ability also, but they choose to ignore it. The refer instead to their calendars and watches. They’d be surprised how well they could cope if they would just throw them away.
I know exactly when it’s time to be fed, when the best nap times are, when to come in outa the rain, and when laps are available.
My calendar is full.
Jan. 17, 2003 Friday
Snow again?
It started last night and it's still coming down. It's not too bad though; it's not one of those deep snows that comes up to our tummies (I wonder how much humans would appreciate snow it they had to drag their bellies through it?), and it's reasonably dry, so it's not too hard to negotiate. But it's still unusually cold here, and my aging footpads do not appreciate that much cold. I did venture out briefly to inspect the toilet facilities, but not much else. I will most likely be observing this rest of this snow from the front window sill (which the sun heats up nicely, even in the winter).
The Wife will be going to her job today, because she has something called 4-wheel drive. The Husband will be staying home, because he can. But he will also most likely be participating in snow shoveling, a routine that c.c. seems to enjoy. She chases bits of snow that the Husband tosses around. Not to be left out, I will be observing the proceedings from a sheltered spot in the garage.
I don't think the Husband enjoys the snow like he used to; he tosses those shovelsful of snow with a bit less vigor each year. I used to participate in this silliness when I was much younger. I was an only cat then, and the Husband and I used to chase each other through piles of snow. But we're both a little slower now, and we pretty much stay in our selected spots while c.c. chases the snowballs (which is fine with her).
I think this is the fourth snow in five weeks (I don't really keep track of those things), and even c.c is beginning to tire of them. I was tired of 'em after the first one :)
Jan. 23, 2003 Thursday
A couple nights ago the Husband came up the stairs with the dreaded Pet Carrier. They only use those things to drag us off to some place where strangers stick needles in us. We trust the Husband and Wife implicitly, so there must be some good reason for doing this. But that doesn't mean I hafta like it. So I hid in the spare bedroom. But c.c. wasn't so lucky; she was put into the Carrier, and she and the Husband both went out for a brief time. I eventually came out and checked carefully for any presence of that Carrier. There was none, so I relaxed.
But before long, they returned. The Husband came in, Carrier under one arm, and a disgruntled c.c. complaining loudly. That was enough for me - I headed back to the spare bedroom with all deliberate speed. When I finally returned, the Carrier was nowhere in sight, and c.c. was lying quietly in her spot by the stairs, none the worse for wear, but obviously not a happy kitten. Beyond that, everything seemed normal, so I cautiously took my usual napping spot in the chair. Both c.c. and I kept a watchful eye on the Husband, wary of any suspicious movements.
That was a coupla days ago, and everything seems okay now. Even c.c. is her usual happy self again, attacking me whenever the mood strikes her (which is just a trifle too often). But these are the cabin-fever days, when the chilly temperatures make indoor playtime a necessity.
It has been even colder lately, so our outdoor time is limited. I go out just often enough to avoid having to use the litter box (those things just aren't natural - what other species uses a litter box, besides humans?)
I'm pretty good at sensing when the warm weather will return, and I sense that it's not gonna be anytime soon, so for the time being I guess I should get used to the frigid spot under the bathroom bush and c.c.'s sneak attacks.
Do keep warm.
Jan. 30, 2003 Thursday
It snowed again yesterday. That's five snows in as many weeks. Enough, awready! None of 'em have been very serious, but they're all annoying. While cats are fur-insulated against the cold, we lose a lotta heat through our footpads, and pressing them into even the shallowest snowfall is no treat. And if our pads don't stay healthy, we don't stay healthy.
So it's another day observing the outdoors from windowsills until the snow either melts or blows away. Our cat door is under the deck and thereby shielded from snow, so we can actually venture out to the edge of the deck to experience the outdoors. From there we can jump onto the rail fence and make our way along the top rail, snow-free, to the edge of the woods.
Well, one of us can. In my youth I could run the length across the top rail of that fence and never lose a step, but in my maturity it's getting too tricky to keep my 18 pounds in balance for that distance. So I just plod through the not-so-deep white stuff to the shelter of the bathroom pine to do my business (which is the only business I have outdoors in the winter).
c.c. takes the fence route, then jumps into the nearest tree, but doesn't know what to do next. After surveying her territory, and having nowhere else to go, she eventually jumps down to the ground (and the snow), and then follows me back to the house, stepping through the snow in my footprints. Because I'm still her big brother/mentor/surrogate parent.
I love it.
Feb. 3, 2003 Monday
As I have said many times, and will again, because it bears repeating:
The one thing most apparent about humans is their propensity to celebrate. Anything. I have concluded (and previously noted) that humans are so dissatisfied with their everyday lives that they are compelled to celebrate occurrences that have little or no bearing on their day-to-day existence.
Case in point: Groundhogs. Gimme a break.
Once a year, human beings make a big deal of celebrating the emergence of a sleepy, obese rodent from his burrow. TV stations, with exhorbitant, overpriced cost-per-minute airtime, cover this event. This is for a rodent, ladies and gentlemen. There are far more noble animals that deserve recognition (and I'm not just referring to cats) that receive no honorarium at all.
But yesterday we saw, several times, a groundhog in western Pennsylvania dragged from his lair, with ruffles and flourishes, when the rodent himself would have preferred to have been left very much alone. And everybody smiled and was happy. Except the groundhog. And a few discerning felines such as myself.
Next on the celebration list: U.S. Presidents. Washington and Lincoln have apparently had some historic impact on the retailing industry, because they're the ones celebrating this particular occasion the most. At least they're celebrating their own species this time.
Happy celebrating, everyone.
Feb. 11, 2003 Tuesday
c.c. impressions
I found something new this weekend - the attic! I never knew it was there! Opie and I have been cooped up in the house for two weeks because the snow is too deep to get around in, and we've been getting on each other's nerves (and sometimes even on the Husband's and the Wife's nerves). Then, on Sunday, while I was busily napping in the spare bedroom, I noticed the Husband come in and go to the closet. I ignored him completely (although I did have one eye slightly ajar). He climbed up some wooden structure on the wall of the closet and disappeared through a hole in the ceiling!
Honest! I couldn't believe it either. But my kitten curiosity had me at the closet door in a flash. I could see up through the hole, and I could tell that there was space up there. Space for me. However, I couldn't fathom that wooden structure that he had used to get up there, but I had my own methods. I snagged my claws into the heavier bits of clothing in there, and eventually made my way up to the shelf above the clothes. From there it was a short hop up through the hole, and there I was. I was amazed.
The place was huge. And there were boxes piled everywhere, awaiting exploration. What a paradise!
The Husband didn't realize I was there until I started making noise crawling through the boxes. Then it was hide and seek. He kept calling to me, and I kept not responding. I then realized that this place was kinda cramped for humans to navigate easily. I had the advantage for once. So I brazenly showed myself, but stayed out of reach. The Husband tried clumsily to approach me, and I'd let him get just close enough, then I'd bound away across the fluffy insulation where he couldn't follow. Not without banging his head on something.
We had fun for a while, but he eventually gave up and crawled back down to the bedroom. He had turned out the light, but left the hole open, so I returned to the opening and found him staring up at me. After a few seconds, he began climbing toward me. The game was on again, and I took off. He gave up again and left. For quite a while this time. When I realized he wasn't returning, I decided to further my explorations. There was really a lot of room up there; lots of nooks to explore. But eventually I'd had enough. I returned to the opening, and I could have easily jumped down to the shelf below, but instead I meowed plaintively, and the Husband came to my "rescue."
Y'gotta let them know they're important, once in a while.
Feb. 16, 2003 Sunday
I could complain about the snow, but why bother; it's not going to go away until it's ready. Which doesn't look like any time soon.
We awoke yesterday to fresh snow coming down. Again. It was only about an inch, but that's on top of the seven inches already out there. Pretty tough negotiating when your belly is only six inches off the ground.
I did venture out into the latest accumulation yesterday morning. I like the way it smells when it's new. But I spent the minimum time necessary and returned to the warmth of the big living room chair (a great spot for undisturbed napping - it's out of the usual traffic area). I've been spending a lotta time there lately.
Even c.c. has begun losing interest in the snow. Being the curious kitten, she has never failed to check out each snowfall up close. But the novelty apparently has gone. This time she just watched out the window.
The Husband could also be counted on to experience each new snowfall firsthand. With a shovel. But yesterday he ignored it completely. He says he'll wait 'til after the next storm. Which arrives tonight, btw. And it's gonna be a big one, according to those humans in the tv set. Ugh.
So we've all got a dose of cabin fever. But there is an upside; we all curl up together in front of the television to listen to predictions of snow depths and the like, one cat per lap.
Not a bad arrangement.
Feb. 22, 2003 Saturday
Hey, it's not snowing. For the first weekend in forever. It is, however, raining steadilty. Still another hindrance to spending time outdoors. Not that I would have anyway. The snow is still fairly deep out there; too deep to be any fun.
Although Tom showed up yesterday for the first time in two weeks. Tom is a big ol' orange tabby from several streets away. He would periodically show up in the morning to snoop through the left-over cat food in the compost heap. So there he was, having waded through all that snow to arrive at our back yard for a meal of day-old cat food; he ate and departed. The fact that he never hangs around rates him a spot on our tolerable list. If he chose to hang around here a lot he'd get an argument from c.c. or me. Or both.
There was another local feline we called Sweeper. He would also show up in the mornings, but then he would just sun himself on the back steps all day. Fortunately, he was not as regular a guest as Tom, and we haven't seen him since last summer anyway.
According to the Husband, we're going to get enough rain this weekend to wash away much of the snow, so we may actually be able to feel grass and dirt under foot again.
Make that mud and puddles. Still beats snow.
Have a pleasant weekend.
Feb. 28, 2003 Friday
Hey, it's snowing. Again! Why am I surprised? Every week it happens. Except last week, when it rained. It's been a really ugly winter.
I actually got out and did some patrolling of the perimeter (nothing new to report there). The snow was pretty much gone from around the house and along the path trodden down by the Husband to and from the compost heap at the edge of the woods. But due to winter's lack of leafy cover, the snow had become pretty deep in the woods too, and I had to be content with staring into its depths from the top rail of the border fence. Not that there was anything happening in there anyway; all my woodsy friends are underground and hibernating for the season.
The Husband and Wife have indicated that the snow that's coming down now is going to be substantial. When the Wife mentions four-wheel-drive and the Husband mentions working from home, I know I'm not going to be spending the day outdoors. So I'll just get comfy in the living room chair where I can count on not being disturbed while remaining within earshot of the electric can opener that signals feeding time.
c.c.'s complaining about the snow already. She's figured out that those flakes falling out of the sky are the same ones that pile up on the ground, making outdoor adventures no fun at all. So she wanders back and forth between the Husband and the Wife, complaining to each about the snow, and actually thinking they might do something about it.
Later in the day, the Husband will go outside with a shovel and move the snow around. I may join him, just to watch, although even that novelty is quickly wearing off. c.c. will probably join us also, just for a renewed chance to complain.
But it is another good day for a nap.
Mar. 6, 2003 Thursday
Spring is near; temperatures were comfortable and the snow was deteriorating and disappearing down the drains. The creek bed is once again more creek than bed. And the animals are venturing out again. Well, some of them. The birds have been picking through the grass and weeds, and the squirrels and chipmunks were out restocking their stores for the remaining cold weather.
Both c.c. and I spent the day outdoors. It was still kinda damp, but there were dry spots on the deck and steps to stretch out for a while. The banks along the creek were snow-free, and I spent some time reacquainting myself with the territory, while c.c. was taking notes on the accessible parts of the woods for future reference.
It's been a while since c.c. brought home any critters. She learned the practice from watching me, and I have since retired. Hot pursuit of small creatures is not as compelling as it once was. I wonder if c.c. has decided to retire because I have. I'm her mentor, y'know.
We were still out when the Husband returned home, and knowing that meant that dinner was imminent, I bid farewell to the outdoors and followed him inside. I don't think c.c. noticed he was home, but she must've noticed I was no longer outside, 'cause she came in just as dinner was being served.
The Husband thoughtfully feeds us first so we can finish up while he makes his own dinner. Then c.c. and I can join him while he eats and offers us bits of his food. Then, sometime later, the Wife returns home, makes her dinner, and we join her for further handouts.
It's a nice arrangement.
Mar. 12, 2003 Wednesday
He's back.
Sweeper, the trespasser. He's hanging out on the back steps (a good place to catch sun). We haven't seen him since last summer. And he hasn't been missed.
Sweeper (we don't know his real name) is a shaggy black 'n white cat with no front claws. He used to come around at night and try to get into the house through our cat door. But with c.c. on the job, he didn't have much luck. The first time he got into the house, we weren't paying attention. He managed to get all the way to the kitchen and partake of our food dishes. This was early in the dark hours of the morning, when c.c. and I were sharing the bed with the Husband and Wife. I heard him first ('cause when c.c. sleeps, it's the sleep of a rock), and cautiously made my way to the bedroom door.
My stirrings did awaken c.c., and when she realized there was a critter afoot in the kitchen, she was right there. A brief assessment of the situation, then she attacked. Sweeper was taken completely by surprise and beat a hasty retreat. In the wrong direction. Instead of heading back down the stairs, he scurried down the hall and into the bathroom with c.c. in hot pursuit.
Now none of this occured in silence. In fact, c.c. did enough hissing and spitting for six cats. Which, of course, aroused the Husband and Wife from their slumbers. The Husband found c.c. at the bathroom doorway, fur bristling wildly in all possible directions, and issuing forth a gutteral growl of varying intensity. The Husband cautiously switched on the bathroom light and, at first, saw nothing out of the ordinary. Sweeper was on the window sill, hiding behind the closed venetian blind. But his long fluffy tail hanging down gave him away.
Unsure of the temperment of this strange feline (and unaware of the absent claws), the Husband fetched a broom and climbed into the bathtub. With the security of the shower curtain between them, the Husband gently nudged Sweeper with the outstretched broom (he really didn't want to leave - c.c. was still growling at the door). The Wife sleepily appeared and removed c.c. to the bedroom. Once Sweeper jumped down, he was hellbent for the cat door with the minimum required strides.
When the Wife was relating the story to her young niece, the niece asked what the cat's name was. Considering the broom episode and the shagginess of his fur, the Wife came up with what seemed to be the obvious answer. And he's been Sweeper ever since.
Mar. 19, 2003 Wednesday
Tomorrow is the first day of spring, and the weather has been in fine form for opening day. Both c.c. and I have spring fever (it's something one becomes susceptible to after a long bout with cabin fever) and we've been burning it off through lots of outdoor activities. The Husband has been following us around with a camera 'cause he's tired of pictures of us sleeping all winter (at least that's what he says - I think he's just keeping an eye on us so we don't get ourselves in trouble on the first few nice days out).
We spend most of our daylight hours with Mother Nature (although we don't venture far from the house). Along about dusk I check in to see if the Husband has reloaded our food dishes, while c.c. tends to find things to do well after sunset. We both avoid the woods after dark - the possums and racoons come out then, and they have nasty dispositions and teeth.
The neighbors' cats have begun appearing outdoors also, but so far they've stuck to their own yard - I don't think they've been out since last fall. They're not as adventurous as we are. There is a gray female that sat by the edge of their fence and watched c.c. for a while. She ignored me and just stared at c.c. (who took several minutes before getting around to even noticing she was there) so see sat down in the middle of the yard and stared back. This went on for a half hour (we felines are quite good at staring).
Humans have this strange habit of taking all their naps at once, and they end up sleeping through the whole night (the best part of the day!). But lately both the Husband and Wife have been napping in the evening, which makes the long nap not as long. They end up getting up in the middle of the night (though not really waking up) and wandering to the kitchen, then the bathroom, then back to the bedroom. I don't really understand the purpose of all this. The Wife says her job is getting more stressful lately, which is why she doesn't sleep well, and which is why she naps. The Husband nods sleepily in agreement and says his job is the same.
I don't really understand the purpose of all that. But then my job is napping.
Happy Vernal Equinox (and the converse to the southern hemisphere - you know who you are).
Mar. 25, 2003 Tuesday
c.c. has rediscovered the trees. In the warmer months when the trees are thoroughly leaf-covered, she'll spend time just napping on a branch. It sounds comfortable, but I've never really gotten into it. I mean, once you've managed to scale a tree, what's the point of staying. So I've scaled my quota of trees and am satisfied with my accomplishments. Now I get the same view of the world from the deck, and all I hafta climb is a dozen stairs.
But c.c. is still young, and those upper branches beckon. Although a leafless tree (and they all are at this stage) does not seem the least bit inviting, c.c. is nevertheless checking them out. Planning her summer adventures, I guess.
The robins have begun showing up; always a sign the spring is really here, and the crummy weather can be put behind us. I've watched the Husband take note of where the robins build their nests, and c.c. never goes near them. The nests are always in the outer reaches of the tree branches where c.c. can't get to them (she never ventures far from the trunk because the limbs won't support her with any stability).
Shortly after the robins come the ground critters (squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, mice), to which c.c. is much more attuned. Perhaps her present tree exploits serve as an observation post for their arrival. It's been a coupla months since she's brought anything home. But that could all change soon.
She learned from me, y'know?
Mar. 31, 2003 Monday
Greetings, calendar-dependent humans (you know who you are).
Today has the distinction of being the end of the month and the beginning of the workweek (neither of which have any meaning to a feline). Calendar dogma not withstanding, I am quite happy to see this month go; it had too many reminiscences of winter, even though it was a month of tolerable weather.
Tomorrow becomes April, a month of rebirth, nourished by gentle showers (i.e. no hail, sleet or snow) and a harbinger of woodsy wildlife that keeps c.c. and I entertained.
But yesterday it was cold and rainy, and once again c.c. and I were stranded indoors (for what will hopefully be the last time 'til next winter). But it wasn't a total letdown; the Wife was having a cookware demonstration party (I don't know what that is exactly, I just know there was lots of food and people around).
Both c.c. and I know how to work a crowd, and we did, being cute and affectionate and getting head pats and nibbles in return. So let it rain.
That was fun, and a pleasant distraction from the all-too-common crappy weather that we'd been having.
And tomorrow is a new month. If we cared about such things.
Apr. 6, 2003 Sunday
Friday, around dawn. I was semi-napping at the end of the bed, while c.c. had already gone out into the morning air to greet the day. I've greeted plenty enough days and was just biding my time 'til the Husband awoke to make my breakfast. He was already beginning to stir, so I knew it wouldn't be much longer.
It's quiet at that time of the morning - quiet enough that you can hear the door of the green box snap shut from in the bedroom. The Husband and Wife use the green box to catch mice, then they take them outside to play with, but the mice always get away. Humans are not cats.
So I heard the door on the green box snap shut. And so did the Husband; I saw his eyes open at the sound. But he didn't get up right away - humans take a lot longer to wake up than felines - you have to be very patient. So he grumbled and rolled over. Then he repeated the process several more times before finally sitting up. Even then it was another minute or two before he proceeded to the standing up phase. By the time he was dressed a fair amount of time had passed. But he knew what he had to do, and he shuffled off to the kitchen to retrieve the mouse.
The green box has a removable end piece opposite the spring-loaded door. The Husband places the box on the ground and slides up the end piece and waits for the mouse to emerge. He hasn't figured out that once he does that, the mouse just runs away.
But he didn't have to worry about that this time. The captured mouse had figured out that the other end was removable and had somehow slipped his nose or paw under the removable piece and lifted it up til he could squeeze out, which was the way the Husband discovered the box; mouseless with the removable piece partly raised.
I have a new respect for mice.
And somewhat less for humans.
Apr. 12, 2003 Saturday
I had nothing to do with it. I didn't even think that c.c. had anything to do with it. But when I heard the Husband tell the Wife that his mouse had died, I was sure I was gonna get the blame.
I didn't even know he had a mouse. He's managed to lose all the mice that c.c. and I have brought him. Turns out he was talking about some part of his computer that's called a mouse. Who woulda thought that? It happened Thursday night as the Husband was attemping an update to my website. When this mouse thing failed, he got one from his old computer and plugged it in. And bent one of the pins. Apparently, that wasn't a good thing. So now he had two dead mice.
He spent some time going through some junk in a closet and managed to come up with another one of those mice. And this one was really weird. It had ears. And a face. The Husband had bought it for the Wife years ago; it was called a Mickey Mouse (after some famous cartoon critter that it was supposed to resemble). But it didn't get much use; it was made for kids and was too small for grown-up hands, especially ones that used a computer as much as the Wife did. So it ended up in the back of a closet - clever but impractical. Until Thursday night, that is. Any mouse in a storm.
So the web page was uploaded on time, and the next day the Husband brought home a new one (unlike the wildlife versions, they come in boxes), hooked it up without bending anything this time, and the Mickey Mouse has been spared a life in the closet and is now doing duty on the old computer, which is sufficient for as often as it gets used.
At least it doesn't steal my dry food (we've still got the real thing somewhere in the kitchen).
Have a nice weekend.
Apr. 18, 2003 Friday
The weather's getting nice again - warm days to lounge around in the natural setting that animals are born into. Spring is critter season, and c.c. has wasted no time - Wednesday night she returned home with a rabbit, her first critter of spring. But rabbits are too easy. You surprise one and it just sits there, waiting for you to grab it. No challenge. And c.c. knows that. She just dropped it in the kitchen and wandered off. Still, critter season has officially begun.
Rabbits will complain loudly once caught, and this one did just that, which summoned the Husband immediately. Even the Husband knows that rabbits are too easy. This one was waiting in the corner (which he calls the Rabbit Corner, because that's where the rabbits are usually found, once we turn them loose). So he grabbed a paper bag and the broom and began the simple routine of ushering the rabbit into the bag.
Except this rabbit wasn't playing along. He darted between the Husband's legs and headed down the stairs, hiding behind the gumball machine by the front door. Simple enough - the Husband would open the front door and chase him out. Except the rabbit pulled the same between-the-legs escape again (you'd think the Husband woulda caught on) and headed downstairs with the Husband in pursuit, managing to find refuge behind the freezer. The chase was over. For now.
Last night, when the Husband returned home and spent several minutes downstairs, listening carefully - rabbits don't stay still very long. Confirming its presence in the area, the Husband left the back door wide open (on purpose) - the light from outside would be visible from where the freezer is located. He then returned upstairs for some computer work, making sure the house stayed quiet.
He'd done this once before to vacate a rabbit that had gone into hiding in the house, and it worked (although I don't see how he can admit to being outsmarted by a rabbit twice).
Now comes an extended period of listening carefully :)
Apr. 24, 2003 Thursday
Lacking the necessary mousing skills, the Husband and Wife rely on a rudimentary box with a spring-loaded trap door to catch mice. Seems to me that kinda defeats the purpose of mouse-catching - the total lack of involvement makes it all a pointless exercise. Yet that's the way they insist on doing it. Then when it comes time to play with it, they always manage to take it outside and lose it. In the last coupla weeks they've managed to catch nine of those guys, and they all managed to get away! Where would they be without us?
They did a little better with the rabbit that c..c. brought home last week. They managed to keep him around for three days before he escaped back to the woods. But then he didn't fit into those silly plastic boxes that do all the catching for them.
The box's most recent catch was just two days ago. But even the box isn't 100% cat-efficient. Since the last capture, the box has had its bait stolen twice without catching anything. There's still at least one more out there, and he's being crafty.
We had some really beautiful spring weather, which is really conducive to critter capture (for felines anyway), but it's cooled off a bit in the last coupla days. I still join c.c. on the morning patrol of the backyard, but mostly I've been content to catch my dosage of sunlight on the window sill.
The Husband and Wife are saying that the next coupla days are going to be really nice outdoor days (they know that from what they see on the tv, which is that gadget they call the idiot box - sounds like a reliable source, doesn't it?).
So perhaps c.c. will be bringing home something new soon :)
Apr. 30, 2003 Wednesday
The weather has been nice lately. Really nice. Too nice. Hot, even. And humid. I always forget about hot and humid while waiting for winter to end. But yesterday it reminded me that even summer has its drawbacks.
I have a master plan for when my tongue starts draggin'. I stretch out on the linoleum floor in the kitchen and catch the cross-ventilation that blows through. Much more inviting than carpet on a hot day. c.c. has a similar plan downstairs on the linoleum in front of the washing machine. It's actually cooler down there, but there's no breeze.
And that's how both of us spent yesterday.
The Husband and the Wife also engage in special behavior when it gets really hot. They drive their other cars, the ones that sat unused throughout the colder months. The ones with the removable tops. Yesterday morning c.c. and I did our usual post-breakfast tour of the yard, and we discovered both of them engaged in the ritual roof-removal practice before leaving for work. The Wife needed assistance with her roof. The entire thing fits into a small space behind the back seat, and after an entire winter of being in the up position, it really didn't want to go easily into that confined area.
I think the theory is that once the roof is removed, an artificial breeze is created once the vehicle is moving, which cools them off. Seems like a lotta work to catch a breeze, when they could just stretch out on the kitchen floor.
May 6, 2003 Tuesday
One's age matters not; it is how one feels on the first nice days that are soon to be summer. The weather has been warm and wonderful, and I feel like a kitten again.
The woods are once again acquiring a thick green ground cover, ideal for hiding the wide range of critters with which we share nature. I'd gotten used to being in the house and was thankful for a warm, dry place to endure an otherwise nasty winter, but the sounds and smells of a wild forest are definitely rejuvenating.
Of course, sharing quarters with c.c., the eternal kitten, would have a rejuvenating effect on anyone. She can't wait to get out into the woods every morning. With the first light of dawn, she abandons the warmth and comfort of the big bed that we share with the Husband and Wife and is out romping in the dewy freshness of the day. I have to admit to joining her lately. The woods at dawn is just beginning to stir, yet remaining peacefully still. The trappings of human civilization are quiet, and the environment once again belongs to the creatures of the wild. We felines make for a presence that is at once both stealthy and proud, the monarchs of our small patch of nature.
The green undergrowth provides us shelter as we enter the woods, and the small stream gurgles out a welcome and provides a path into the woods, and a familiar trail back out when we're ready to return. The birds overhead grow more numerous with each warm day, and their songs just add to the overall ambience, reminding us of what it means to be feline (as if c.c. isn't reminder enough).
I think c.c. is glad I'm tagging along again. When she first arrived here, being a mere kitten, she had much to learn and used to follow my lead in all matters. But that is no longer necessary. We are now equal partners, taking the lead or following by choice, as we share command of our natural habitat.
At least until breakfast is served.
May 12, 2003 Monday
There's a new cat in the neighborhood - an orange tabby. Whenever a new cat explores his new surroundings, he is inevitably drawn to my creek bed that runs past the house. It is an avenue into the deep woods, which, as every cat knows, is irresistable. He shows up every morning, sniffing around at the water's edge.
So far that's all he's done. He hasn't ventured into our backyard yet, so we haven't bothered him yet. But c.c. and I keep a watch on him while he's there. So far he's explored up to the woods, but hasn't entered yet. He doesn't hang around long either. He heads back where he came from after about twenty minutes.
There are two other cats that have expanded their explorations into our territory and have been informed of our displeasure with their doing so. They still come around, but not often. We call them Sweeper (a shaggy tuxedo cat) and Tom (an obviously unneutered male). We haven't picked a name for the new guy yet - he looks like the snide cat who denounces his roommates in the commercial for Tidy Cat litter for Multi-Cat Households ("Something stinks. And it's not the litter").
I trust c.c. to keep an eye out for him. There is a pine tree with a view of the creek bed that she likes to sleep under on a soft layer of pine needles. It's her outdoor spot now. I prefer the deck - it affords a panoramic view of our territory that enables me to spring into action at the first sign of an intrusion. If I'm so inclined. It's also a quiet place to catch some sun undisturbed.
But New Jersey has a very brief spring, and pretty soon the cool breezes will cease and the air conditioner will begin humming, and we will once again escape to the indoors when the humidity has our tongues dragging.
Until then, the outdoors is ours.
May 17, 2003 Saturday
There is luggage piled in the living room since last night, which usually means one thing - the Husband and Wife are indulging themselves in one of those "vacation" things, where they disappear for varying lengths of time, and another nice human being shows up in their absence to feed us.
And while we will miss curling up with the Husband and the Wife during their long naps at night in the dark, we will also enjoy the freedom of the house, with 24/7 outdoor access, as we usually do. My only complaint is that the nice person who feeds us only does so once a day (although she does give us plenty of food). But we adjust.
Just before they leave, the Husband and Wife sit down next to us and have a long conversation with us about their going away. I can usually determine the length of their absence by the length of their conversation and quantity of luggage, so I can be prepared. The Conversation hasn't occurred yet, but the luggage suggests several days, at least.
c.c. hasn't a clue as to their coming departure; she'll just continue doing her everyday stuff, but after the first night, she will begin to hang around me for guidance.
Which of course I am happy to offer.
May 25, 2003 Sunday
Well, they're due home - I expect them any minute. Our substitute caretaker said so. She not only feeds us, she talks to us, and humans, for all the strange sounds they make, are not that hard to understand. She knows we're waiting for them to come home, and she's happy about it too.
c.c. is putting up a good front. She acts like she doesn't care that we have to sleep alone, or that she only gets fed once a day (she nibbles on the dry food all day - I prefer to be waited on).
Well, things will be getting back to normal pretty soon. Napping is more peaceful when your favorite humans are nearby :)
May 31, 2003 Saturday
Things are getting back to normal around here. Specifically, that means it's stopped raining. The sun shone all day yesterday, and it looks like it's going to do the same today. cc has practically taken up residence on the deck, enjoying the sun all day and the cool breezes at night. I curl up under the bushes out front and watch the world go by. And we both have an uncanny knack for knowing when dinner is served, so our outdoor time is only briefly curtailed.
All the rain has produced an amazing spurt of the undergrowth in the woods, which is just the way we like it. Lots of new patches to explore and new critters to encounter. Summer fun. feline style.
But nothing beats a catnap outdoors on a sunny day with a cool breeze. Even the Husband does it. Last night he stretched out on a piece of lawn furniture on the deck, right around sunset, and fell asleep. I joined him, occupying his lap. How much better can it get than that?
So I've got a busy day planned today - explore the edge of the woods with c.c. from dawn 'til breakfast, nap in the shade of the shrubs 'til noon, then come inside for water and dry food. By then the deck will be in the shade and I'll nap out there while alternately enjoying a clear view of the woods (and keeping an eye on c.c. - I still feel obligated to do that).
c.c. will be spending most of the day in the woods, just indulging her innate curiosity. She has also taken to napping on the railing of the deck's stair landing. It gives her a view of the backyard and the neighbor's terriers. It also allows the terriers a good view of her. They gather by the fence, tails wagging furiously, occasionally barking to get her attention. She, of course, ignores them entirely.
Springtime is good.
Jun 6, 2003 Friday
It's rained almost every day for the last three weeks; when it wasn't raining, it was gray and cloudy and wet. Not a good environment for us felines.
A notable exception was last Friday. It was sunny and warm all day, and I really thought the monsoon season was over. I was ready to feel kittenish again and enjoy some sunshine on a warm slab of concrete. But by the next day, the rains had returned and everything was wet again. There were a couple days when it didn't rain, but it wasn't warm or sunny, so nothing really dried off.
c.c. got tired of waiting and ventured into the woods anyway, but she didn't stay long. By the time she returned, she was soaking wet. So she headed straight into the house and shook herself dry (which the wife appreciated tremendously).
Both the Husband and Wife rely on the television (a.k.a. the idiot box) to tell them what the weather is going to be, and the box says today is going to be sunny and warm and rain-free, just like last Friday. They trust the box enough that they plan to drive their roofless cars today.
Well, speaking for myself (and probably for c.c. too), I'm hoping they're right.
Jun 12, 2003 Thursday
The days are getting nicer. We had two nice days in a row. And there will be more of them in the near future. Which means the neighbor's cats are out exploring after being housebound all winter. I sit up on the deck and watch them (all five of 'em) explore their back yard. They poke their noses into every shrub, sniff every square inch of ground and each other, but never leave the yard. They also share their home with a coupla small terriers (smaller than they are), but the terriers lack the feline curiosity necessary for yard exploration. Instead they just stand by the fence and bark whenever somebody goes by on the sidewalk.
Eventually the cats will strike out on their own, one at a time, either to check out the woods or their front yard, but they still won't venture far from their own house.
Except Dalton.
Dalton is a short-hair tuxedo cat with a white smudge down his nose. He's a bit more independent than his roommates and ventures into our yard at regular intervals. Lately he's just been snooping around, not being confrontational or getting into anything, and he doesn't stay long. He did, at one point a coupla days ago, come too close to our private entrance out back, and c.c. came charging out hissing and spitting, and generally giving a good impression of a banshee. Dalton was so surprised, his fur didn't even have time to stand on end. He was back in his own yard in the proverbial flash.
Last summer we found him up on the deck, peering at us through the sliding glass door. I just gave him a dirty look through the glass, but c.c. (who appeared outa nowhere - how does she do that?) gave a long, low and loud growl, loud enough for Dalton to hear through the glass, but he didn't flinch. He continued to stare at both of us; he knew he was safe out there. But this year's sunny-days season is young yet, and Dalton will be back.
And we'll be waiting to greet him.
Jun 18, 2003 Wednesday
For the last couple summers, about the time all the trees and undergrowth have filled out nicely, we have been visited by a boxturtle. He never gets in the way (or out of the way, for that matter); he just hangs around, crawling under the deck for shelter or out into the sun for warmth. The Husband tosses him lettuce and apple cores each morning (saving himself a walk to the compost heap). This particular turtle also enjoys cat food (the stuff we reject).
Well, he musta told his friends, 'cause this year we're having a turtle invasion. Turtles are streaming (if you can imagine streaming turtles) outa the woods and into our yard. What the heck is the attraction?
Not that c.c. and I are particularly concerned. These guys are about as interesting as rocks (and about as quick). They don't do anything. They just sit there. You can't chase 'em - you'd fall asleep from boredom. So we give them the attention they deserve. Which is squat.
The Husband, however, has to take a walking survey of the back yard before using his lawn mowing thing. During his last such survey he removed six of the creatures back to the woods, and even then the actually mowing part was a cautionary exercise (he succeeded without further turtle encounters).
The original boxturtle has not yet arrived however. Maybe he doesn't like the competition :)
btw, it's raining. Again!
Jun 23, 2003 Monday
Today promises to be a beautiful day - sunny, not too hot - just right for a feline to strech out full length on the deck and enjoy the steady breeze that blows across the boards. Yesterday was the same thing. I was out on the cool concrete of the front steps, watching the Husband work on the Wife's car (one of my favorite pasttimes). He apparently was removing as much dirt and grease as possible from underneath the vehicle and then smearing it all over himself. He did a pretty good job of it too.
I can tell when he's enjoying himself - he has a few special one-syllable words reserved for these special occasions, and he was using all of 'em. When he's happy, I'm happy.
He didn't spend a lot of time under there (I fail to see the attraction under there anyway - it's just a place to go when it's raining, and, surprisingly, there wasn't any rain today).
The Wife hasn't been driving that ol' Bronco very much lately anyway - she's been enjoying her little white car with the new soft top that's very comfy to nap on.
c.c. did, at one time, poke her head under the Bronco to see if the Husband needed any help, but he didn't, and she headed back to the woods.
The Husband finally went inside, and I would usually join him at that point, but the breeze on the front steps was too seductive, so I stayed.
Besides, he was still using those words.
Jun 29, 2003 Sunday
It finally cooled off today, and I was able to breathe comfortably. I distinctly remember that the house used to be considerably cooler than the outdoors during the hotter months, but not this year. There was no escape from the heat. The Husband and Wife have been sitting (and sleeping) in the presence of electric fans (which is okay for them - they sweat). As non-perspiratory creatures, c.c. and I gain no benefit from the electric fan machines. Instead we spend all our nap time on the tile floor of the laundry room (the coolest room in the house). Contact with the cool tile (which is laid over cool concrete) helps draw the heat away from our fur-bearing selves.
The problem is the AC (or Air Conditioning). This is an artificial environment created by humans by electro-chemical-mechanical means (beyond me) to make the indoor temperatures cooler than the outdoor temperatures. They produce a similar but opposite environment during the colder months. It's their convoluted way of dealing with nature. But it works for them. And I'm not complaining.
So I don't know if it was the electro, the chemical or the mechanical that failed, but the heat and humidity were suddenly located on both sides of the cat door. Not any fun. Their AC machine lies partially unassembled near the cat door, awaiting the return of the AC wizard to make it whole again.
Of course now that temperatures have cooled off again, the urgency isn't there, and we can once again catch a cool breeze while napping outside on the deck.
Still, we'll all be much happier once that AC stuff returns.
Jul 11, 2003 Friday
Cats can't see in the dark.
Which is the opposite of what you've been taught, right? Every human knows that cats can see in the dark. It is an accepted truth, and it generally goes unquestioned.
Well, it's not true. Cats, however, can do better in the dark than many mammals. It's because of the tapetum lucidum.
Huh?
That's the reflecting layer in a cat's eyes that make them glow in the dark. It reflects back the light it sees to enable the animal to detect movement in the dark. This is not the same as seeing in the dark. The cat cannot detect anything that doesn't move. Not with its eyes, anyway. But as a cat moves toward a stationary object, the air it pushes before it swirls around the object and is detected by the cat's ultra-sensitive whiskers. So a cat can navigate in total darkness without being able to see.
Add a cat's sensitive hearing to the equation, and there's not much out there that gets by us.
Just thought you'd like to know. :)
Jul 17, 2003 Thursday
Cats are creatures of the wild - they have allowed themselves domesticity as a matter of survival. But nature is still the controlling factor in a cat's life. This time of year both c.c. and I take advantage of the warm weather and the woods behind the house (she goes snooping, I curl up in the shade and nap). But we are not the only felines around here affected by nature. In the immediate neighborhood there are nine cats - 7 males and 2 females (c.c. being one of the latter). Most, but not all, have been responsibly "fixed" (stupid term).
Then there are Tom and Sweeper, two male cats that remain unaltered. Both hang out in our backyard, though not at the same time. They don't particularly like each other, and I don't particularly like when they both show up at the same time - lots of tension, spitting and posturing.
But c.c. just ignores them, although she can do a fair amount of hissing and spitting herself if they get too close. Having had her own hormones redirected, she has no idea that she is the center of attraction; she just thinks they're rude intruders. If things get too rude, I just kinda wander onto the scene, and the intruder feels outnumbered and loses interest.
Sweeper is more friendly than Tom. He will keep a respectful distance from both me and c.c., and he's never gotten into a fight with either of us. We don't mind when he's around. Tom, on the other hand, is a pest, showing no respect for personal space, although a snarl from c.c. will usually have him backing off quickly (sometimes two snarls are required). He's never actually picked a fight when I was around, but c.c. has returned home on more than one occasion with a small gash on her nose.
We assume the remaining felines have had The Surgery, 'cause they rarely show up except on their way to the woods, and they totally ignore us.
The other female cat is Josie, who lives next door; she is also altered. So, yes, the neighborhood is safe from unplanned kittenhood .
Enjoy nature.
Jul 24, 2003 Thursday
About eight years ago I found myself alone in the woods at night, without knowing why. When morning came, there was no one to feed me. I noticed a lot of humans entering a nearby building, and where there are humans there is food. So I made my way over to them and waited for one of them to feed me. But mostly they ignored me. One nice lady did offer me a piece of a cupcake. Soon they were all inside and I was alone again.
But around midday they started to appear outside again. Another nice lady petted me, then left. She was back a little while later with some real cat food, which I greatly appreciated.
Everyone appeared again later, sitting on chairs on what they called a loading dock. Some were chatting, some indulging in a smoking habit (and they say people are smarter than animals). They could see me from there, and they invited me over, and I went. They took turns petting me and talking to me. That's when I met the Husband. Over the next week he took the responsibility of seeing that I was fed, and I had a box to sleep in under the chairs that offered some shelter.
I didn't realize that the Husband was going home each night to convince the Wife that they needed another cat (they already had two). They spent time making space for me in the downstairs part of their house and figuring out how to avoid conflict with the other felines.
One evening, after the Husband had fed me on the loading dock and I was prepared to spend another night in the box, he surprised me by taking me home with him. They had food dishes ready for me and a place on the downstairs couch to spend my time. I was a beloved indoor cat again! That was eight years ago today.
I have never understood why humans choose to celebrate calendar days marking past events when they should be celebrating each new day as it happens. But in this case, I kinda understand.
Jul 30, 2003 Wednesday
I was beginning to wonder if I was going to get fed last night. The Wife hadn't shown up, and the Husband dashed in hours late, dumped food in my dish, then took a nap. These people are insane. But at least they're feeding me some decent chow again.
It's because I brought them that rabbit last week. I guess I have to keep them happy to get decent grub around here. But the food's been pretty good lately, so I must be doin' okay.
I don't think it was as hot as it has been lately. I was out scouting out the creek for a few hours today and barely broke a pant. Not much doin' down there though. All the critters are feeling the heat. So I antagonized the neighbor's dogs a bit and came back inside.
It was getting late, and the Husband was still asleep and still no sign of the Wife, so I went out on the front steps to wait. It was definitely cooling off. I just stretched out on the cool cement and waited for her to show up. And she did. I knew she would.
The Husband woke up about the time the Wife went to bed. He was up most of the night.
I napped with the Wife. Life is good.
Aug 5, 2003 Tuesday
The Husband's hard drive crashed. That doesn't mean anything to me, but it sure has affected his vocabulary. He replaced the drive and most of the stuff on had been backed up, but installing the XP operating system on the new drive has kept c.c. and I outa that spare bedroom where the computer resides. We used to curl up on the bed while the Husband would work quietly at the computer, but since Sunday he's been anything but quiet. Apparently getting everything working again is not going smoothly.
So c.c. and I keep each other company on the living room couch while the air conditioning continues to do its job. We can still hear the Husband working away at the computer, and we wait for a lull in the festivities before we go meowing for dinner. Fortunately, the Husband takes a sanity break right around feeding time, and that keeps all of us sane.
I'm assuming that this dilemma will be resolved in the near future, and that computer time will once again be quality time for c.c. and me.
Until then, stay outa the spare bedroom :)
Aug 11, 2003 Monday
Rain.
We've had lotsa rain in the past month. It usually occurs later in the day, but when it's not raining, it looks like it's going to. So c.c and I get in our outdoor time early in the day. Saturday morning c.c. brought home a rabbit, which didn't stay long (the Husband and c.c. and I all chased it out the back door). That being fun, I then joined c.c. in a patrol of the woods.
Remember the aforementioned rain? We got caught out there in a sudden downpour. Make that a deluge. At first there was shelter beneath the heavy undergrowth, but that didn't last. It was a long way across the open back yard to the cat door, but it didn't look like I was going to get any dryer remaining where I was. As I was debating the situation, the Husband appeared at the back door calling me and c.c. That was all the convincing I needed; I bolted for the open door. At the same time, c.c. came charging out of the Hundredth Acre Wood with the same destination in mind. We arrived at approximately the same time (okay, she got there a second earlier).
The Husband was holding the door open and we barrelled on through. He had towels waiting to assure that we did not stay wet for too long (yeah, I know it was just to head us off before we decided to shake ourselves dry in the house).
It rained most of the weekend, but weekends are when both the Husband and Wife are home to keep us company. Usually. But not this weekend . The Wife was working (both days) while the Husband was rebuilding his computer so he could get his life back. So c.c. and I curled up in the living room listening to the rain patter on the windows and the Husband curse electronics.
Just another weekend.
Aug 17, 2003 Sunday
Some time ago I discovered Pounce (cat treats). Humans certainly outdid themselves with this one. I know I've been a good boy when this comes out. Then along comes this special Pounce. It heads off hairballs. I hate hairballs. They're disgusting. And this is the time of the year for the nasty things. The Husband and Wife aren't too crazy about them either. Not that they get them; they don't like it when I get them. I choose to come into the living room to hack them up when they're watching television. They ask me to take it outside. Of course I don't.
Then one day they came home with this Pounce Hairball Treatment stuff. I was immediately interested. It seemed that anytime I meowed, I was treated to a coupla Pounce. It was too easy. But I knew what the catch was. Once they were gone, that was it. After they get me used to frequent treats.
So do I continue hacking up hairballs to continue getting the "treatment?" Or do they conclude that, if I do, it doesn't work, and the treats stop? No, I hafta work this out judiciously. Stop hacking up the hairballs in their presence for a while so they think it's working, then suddenly have a relapse. Out will come the treats again.
So far, it's working :)
Aug 23, 2003 Saturday
Sometimes when I'm catnapping, c.c. will start batting at me (her way of encouraging play), but I will ignore her until she gets the message. Sometimes she's a bit slow getting the message and I have to hiss at her, or bat back. I'm not the playful young kitten I once was.
For the past few weeks we had sixteen straight days of rain, and we were pretty much isolated within the house. But this week has been several days of clear sunny weather, and c.c. has been enjoying it outdoors. And of course she wants me to join her. And she's being more incessant in her invitations. One evening, after several minutes of sneak attacks and head batting, I chased her down the stairs and out the cat door. I then returned upstairs for napping. About an hour later c.c. returned, climbing the stairs inattentively and heading for the kitchen for some between-meal snacking.
I was waiting for her :)
I attacked from the dining room, and we rolled around the kitchen floor. I could tell from her hissing and screeching that she was caught totally off-guard. She barrelled into the back bedroom, but I didn't follow. A few minutes later she ventured warily back to the kitchen, and I came charging out again and we wrestled in the hallway, followed by a chase into the living room, around the coffee table and back to the bedroom.
I left her alone for the rest of the evening, and eventually we were both curled up in the living room with the Husband and Wife, play time over.
Or so thought c.c. :)
Just for good measure I attacked her when she wasn't paying attention, and the wrestling and pursuits began anew.
So now when I'm catnapping, you can bet that c.c. tiptoes gently around me when passing by.
But you'd be wrong :)
She's a kitten and she enjoys this stuff. She'll still do a head-bat-and run, not knowing if I'll come after her or not.
And I hafta admit, for an old cat, I kinda enjoyed myself too.
Aug 29, 2003 Friday
I am a God
I'm awed by many
I sit at their throne
I protect their fields
I work aloneI am the Devil
I suck their breath
I know their lies
They're scared to death
It's in my eyesI am Human
I eat from their plates
I sleep in their bed
I join in their fun
I'm one step aheadI am a Cat
And that's that.
Sep 5, 2003 Friday
I gotta give c.c. credit - she knows how to make an impression. This week she brought home two rabbits within an hour of each other. Then a couple days later, she did the same thing again
She knows that the spouses enjoy rabbits - they'll even abandon their extended naptime at night to join in the fun. She dropped the first rabbit right outside the bedroom door at 4:00 a.m, and a single meow alerted the Husband, who surveyed the situation, retrieved a small box from the kitchen, placed the rabbit therein, and (after putting on clothes - humans always do that before leaving the house) took him out to the woods and let him run off. Doesn't seem like much fun to me, but that's the way humans play with critters.
An hour later (after the Husband had returned to his nap), c.c. was back with another, larger rabbit. The Husband repeated his routine of the previous hour, only this rabbit was not so docile. He took off for the nearest shelter - a small space between the bedframe and the headboard.
The short version is that the Husband had to dismantle the entire bed to find the little guy, and by the time he had spent a brief period outdoors with the animal, returned and reassembled the bed, dawn had broken and we were pestering him for breakfast. The Wife was asleep on the couch.
Fast forward: the Husband was making himself dinner a couple days later when he noticed c.c. staring intently behind the gumball machine by the front door. Therein was a rabbit. The Husband retrieved a box, scooped of the furry guy and headed back to the woods. He was in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner when c.c. returned with, yes, another rabbit, which she placed at the top of the stairs. I was becoming exhausted just watching her. The Husband grabbed the same box and performed the same ritual, and the house was rabbit-free once again.
I think c.c. finally had her fill of critter capture by then; she retired to the bedroom for the rest of the evening. Where do these kids get their energy?
Sep 11, 2003 Thursday
(The following is an update of Opie's entry for this date last year. It's still appropriate now, so here it is again).
A domesticated cat will learn to accept living with a bird (or even a mouse) because they have learned to accept another odd relationship, that with humans. Humans offer cats security, and therefore survival of their species. It all comes down to Nature's basic law - survival of the fittest.
Practically everything in Nature is prey to something else, except humans. Humans have no natural predators. To make up for that, they prey on each other. They created "hate" - a behavior that doesn't exist in Nature - it is peculiar to humans. And they refined it to an art form. They form "hate groups," and prey on other humans that are not like them. But hate defies Nature's laws - it does not perpetuate survival of the species; it tends to have an opposite effect.
Today humans are reflecting on the particular actions of the hate predators that occurred on this calendar date two years ago, and vowing that they will survive and the predators will not. Some have referred to the predators as animals.
And, as we know, animals are better than that.
Sep 18, 2003 Thursday
According to the big idiot box in the living room, there's a big storm coming tomorrow night, and it has a human name. The Husband and the Wife have brought in the potted plants from the deck and tied up all the deck furniture. That means wind. I remember going through this several years ago when one of these storms with a human name came through. There was lots of wind and rain, and I didn't even make any effort to go out in it - just sticking my head out through the cat door told me that it was a good day to spend on the couch. It passed through in a single day, although everything stayed wet for a long time.
c.c. wasn't living with us then. I don't think c.c. has ever really experienced strong wind - she's only a third of my weight and would not like being blown around the yard. But she definitely doesn't like rain, and wind and rain are not a pleasant combination. She doesn't really understand rain either. When it's raining, she constantly meows at the Husband or Wife to make it stop so she can go out. They never do though.
This storm will be a new experience for c.c. She will realize it's not just rain, and she will watch the trees bend and hear the wind howl from the living room window sill in awe. She will keep an eye on me, to see how I react (I will remain aloof, of course). She may complain to the Husband and Wife briefly, but she will figure out that this is something different from just rain.
Eventually, c.c. will reach the same conclusion I did, in the same way. She'll poke her head out the cat door, then spend the rest of the day on the couch.
Sep 24, 2003 Wednesday
Seems like just last week there was all doom and gloom about the approaching storm with a female human name. It passed by here with little or no notice (though it did rain, but the Spouses did nothing to make it stop!). So we just found a comfy spot and waited it out.
Imagine our surprise when a new and really nasty storm appeared outa nowhere yesterday morning with all the sound and fury promised (but not delivered) with the last storm. And this one didn't even have a human's name. The winds (40 mph - 70 mph, they say) blew the potted plants all over the deck, and the morning newspapers all over the street. The Husband, still not fully awake, ventured out into the driving rain to retrieve the plants, but the newspaper was a lost cause.
c.c., who always ventures out at dawn to patrol the perimeter (I used to do that, but I've become more fond of sleeping in lately) was caught totally by surprise (the wind and rain just suddenly appeared with a vengeance), but she wasn't far from the cat door, and she was able to make a beeline for shelter without becoming drenched. Although to hear her complain about it, you'd think the storm was directed precisely at her.
It was all over shortly after the Husband left for work, although we did learn later that tornados (big windy things to be avoided, I'm told) had put in a couple of brief appearances within twenty miles of here (they're not very common in this part of the world, which is fine with me).
The lights flickered and dimmed during the whole mess, but there were no blackouts. It was a very busy hour or so, but the sun was shining brightly by the afternoon, and I was out catching the rays on the front steps, which is as it should be.
Sep 30, 2003 Tuesday
Humans are so weird. You shoulda seen the Husband wrestling with a machine called a vcr this weekend. He hadn't used one in a while, and apparently if you get out of practice using the darn thing, you have to start all over. He wanted to copy a tape from his video camera onto a vhs tape in the vcr. It was a forty minute tape, and after two hours he was still trying to hook everything up so he could monitor the whole process.
I like when he gets involved in things - I just hang out nearby and watch. It's really fascinating. Especially the part where he yells at inanimate objects.
He has a coupla vcr's, so when he couldn't get the first one figured out, he tried another one. There were cables everywhere. The really weird part is that he enjoys this stuff, even if it did take four hours to copy a forty minute tape.
I don't really understand it, but then I don't need to, as long as it doesn't affect our feeding schedule :)
Oct 6, 2003 Monday
Greetings to the cat and the bird and the lady in Florida - thanks for the nice comments :)
Occasionally there are days when the Husband and Wife get very active around the house. They call those days "weekends." I like to find a safe spot and observe this phenomenon. Sometimes the Husband and Wife combine their efforts, and sometimes they're active in separate places (usually the Husband outdoors and the Wife indoors).
And sometimes they put out extra food for us, then disappear for two days. These are still weekends, but they call them "getaways."
But this past weekend was something new. The Wife disappeared for two days, like in a "getaway," but the Husband stayed home and catnapped with us all weekend. It was cool! Both c.c. and I joined him. He rarely got out of bed. He kept glasses of water and snacks called "Advil" nearby, so he never had to go far. He would try to watch tv, but he usually just slept. When he wasn't having sneezing fits.
When he was awake, we'd both curl up next to him and receive petting and attention, although his words were kinda raspy and mumbled.
It was definitely different - I hope he decides to do this again sometime soon. There's nothin' like a little quality time :)
Oct 12, 2003 Sunday
The Husband and the Wife, being human, have been celebrating another instance from the past. Because of their inability to celebrate life on a daily basis (as cats do), they are forced to rely on the past for uplifting experiences. They have calendars to tell them when to do this. So according to their calendar, it was on yesterday's date nineteen years ago that they were married.
To celebrate they went shopping. They bought six new movies on dvd and had lunch out at an upscale Mexican restaurant. And they got themselves this year's present to each other. Each anniversary they celebrate by each buying half of the same present to give to the other. Fur instance, last year they gave themselves a tv. The year before it was a dishwasher.
The dishwasher was kinda responsible for this year's present. The dishwasher they bought two years ago was black. Everything else in the kitchen is beige (they call it Almond, but beige is beige). So this year they bought a new electric range, also black, so the dishwasher wouldn't feel outa place. Not that they needed a new range. The old one is perfectly fine. But it's beige. And they couldn't think of anything else to get each other. Of course, you know what this means. There is a black refrigerator in our future.
So c.c. and I curled up with them for an evening of movie watching. You don't have to understand human celebrations to enjoy them.
Oct 18, 2003 Saturday
When you live with humans, you become acquainted with some of their unique behaviors. You learn that when they go into the kitchen that food is involved, and that's your cue to follow them and get under their feet as much as possible. Even if it's not the normal feeding time, you're likely to receive some kind of treat just for being there.
And when they sit down in the living room, that usually indicates that they will be there a while, and that is the ideal time to curl up next to them and receive petting and attention for extended periods.
One behavior that bothers me is the assembly of luggage in the living room. This usually means that the next day both the Husband and Wife will disappear for an extended period, and a very nice lady will take over feeding us, but only once a day. There will be no humans to sleep with at night, and no one to complain to about the once-a-day menu.
Yesterday, luggage appeared in the living room. But only two pieces, one large and one small. Not usually indicative of an extended departure. Yet, the Husband and Wife and luggage all disappeared after dinner (also not typical; they usually leave early in the morning - and our food dishes were not filled!)
But a little while later the Husband returned (but not the Wife). c.c. and I spent a quiet evening with him, staying nearby to make sure he didn't disappear again. All was well. We feel assured that the Husband will remain here until the Wife returns.
One human is better 'n none.
Oct 24, 2003 Friday
It's cold.
I knew it was going to be, but I still kept going out in the morning to use the bathroom bush. But yesterday morning it was not only cold, it was snowing those little flurry things. Just briefly, but enough to make a cat realize that those sunny summer days are gone 'til next year.
That means c.c. and I will be spending lots more time indoors, getting on each other's nerves (actually, she'll be getting on mine - my constant presence doesn't seem to bother her at all). Occasionally, she'll curl up near me and nap, which I have no problem with. But eventually she'll wake up and want to play kitten games, and she thinks I do too. I don't.
Have you ever been pounced on while soundly napping? It's not a congenial way to awaken. Usually a dirty look will get the message to c.c., and sometimes it takes a quick bat to the ears. And sometimes she doesn't even get the message. She knows play, eat and sleep. There is nothing else. So a quick bat to the ears just means playtime has begun. I haven't figured out how to get around that yet.
I just know that as temperatures go lower, c.c.'s presence around the house becomes greater.
And my opportunity for some sound napping becomes nil.
Oct 30, 2003 Thursday
Tomorrow is Halloween; another one of those strange celebrations that humans engage in. Cats are unfairly stereotyped as evil during this event, so we don't really care to participate.
One of the more interesting aspects of this celebration is the arrival of short, strange-looking creatures that appear at the front door. The Husband and Wife give them candy to make them go away. Both c.c. and I hide behind a chair where we can get a clear view of the front door, and we watch in fascination as the many strange-looking creatures come and go. It's kinda fun.
The nieces and nephews also show up for a while, disguised as some of those strange creatures so they can sneak in unnoticed. The Wife gives them extra candy and takes their pictures.
Pretty soon it's all over and everything is quiet again, and we get lap time for the rest of the evening.
All in all, not too bad.
Nov 5, 2003 Wednesday
Yesterday was election day. What a strange exercise. Basically, humans go out and select people to make decisions for them. It seems that would require finding people they trust. So they choose people who go on television, not to explain why they should be trusted, but why the other guy shouldn't. So the humans end up trusting the guy who does the best job of tearing down his opponent. Not that the humans trust what these people say about their opponents, because their opponents say they can't be trusted either. So it seems that none of them can be trusted. Then, based on all that, they make a choice.
Am I missing something here?
There are no requirements for these jobs; anyone who can successfully discredit another human gets the job. These are professional truth-twisters that spend one out of every four dollars that humans make. And they are paid to do this. And yet the humans, once they have chosen them and pay for them, generally ignore them and pretty much let them do whatever they want.
Huh?
It gets better. About half the humans never bother to participate in the selection process. They let other humans make the selection for them (even though they still have to pay for them themselves).
Humans tend to make things much more complicated than they need to. It's what makes them human. And this is an example that proves the point. In spades.
Nov 11, 2003 Tuesday
One thing most notable about humans is that they find it necessary to modify the rules of nature. Exactly why they choose to do this is unclear. They never manage to improve on the cycles of nature that have been in business since before they walked upright. But that does not stop them from trying.
Case in point: the seasons. Nature has warm, growing seasons that produce nourishment for all living things. And there are the cold, dormant seasons when nature recycles its growth for the next warm and growing season. The leaves on the trees absorb sunlight and nourish the trees. When the dormant winter season arrives, the leaves drop to the ground to decay into nutrients for new growth in the spring season. Or they would if the humans would let them.
Once there are more leaves on the ground than on the trees, the humans venture forth with implements of destruction. These include rakes, which remove the leaves from the soil - which could use them for nourishment - to the streets, to be devoured by noisy machines that drive by, sucking up all the leaves the humans have left out for it. Sometrimes humans use other types of machines - noisy, polluting leaf blowers - to propel the leaves to the street. The grass, which grows in the soil previously covered by the leaves, must rely on a winter feeding supplied by humans to replace what the leaves would have done naturally. But humans enjoy doing this, although you have to wonder why.
Lately, all the local humans have been out with their implements of destruction, relocating nature's work to the curb for mankind's machines. And we just smile our enigmatic chesire grins in amusement. Humans can be fun to watch - that's one reason we hang out with them.
Enjoy your humans.
Nov 17, 2003 Monday
Yesterday was a gift. That's what the Husband said anyway.
It was like this - a little over a week ago it got really cold. Too cold for outdoor stuff. Which had c.c. and I miffed. We were still looking forward to our outdoor events (woods patrol, creek bed inspection, annoying the neighbor's yappy dogs; fun stuff like that). The Husband was also miffed. He still had leaves to rake, and his truck hadn't been washed all summer. He thought he would have to be raking leaves in very chilly temperatures and driving a dirty truck all winter.
But last week we had strong winds gusting up to 50 mph - and they lasted for a day and a half (if you think cats don't like rain, you should see how they react to 50 mph winds). So c.c. and I stayed inside and watched the trees bend and sway with curious amusement. The Husband was also amused. Those leaves that had to be raked? Gone! They were last seen heading east at 50 mph :)
But there was a down side to the mighty wind. The tv antenna (no, they don't have cable and probably never will) was wildly askew. And apparently when you have a digital tv, pinpoint direction is required to pick up any signal at all. There is an antenna rotor, but it's really unnecessary since all the local tv towers are on the same hill. - you get one, you get 'em all). But after 40 hours of nasty winds, an antenna rotor can be very handy getting things back on track. If it works. But the wind had done a number on the wires leading to the antenna rotor.
Then comes the gift - a beautiful day - temperatures in the upper 50's (F.) - not summer, but comfy. I was busy with woods patrol, creek bed inspection and sneaking up on c.c. The Husband washed his truck and was up on the roof aiming the antenna at all those towers on the hill and rewiring the antenna rotor.
Now we're ready for winter.
Nov 23, 2003 Sunday
It was another nice, sunny day. Where is this winter thing? It was here a little while ago.
Humans play an odd game called politics. They play this game every couple years. They're beginning to prepare for another match next year. They have very different politics, very different views of their political leaders, very different opinions of any given subject. They isolate themselves into groups of like-minded individuals and tell each other "See, we're right." They call that diversity, and leads to an interchange of various ideas and opinions. But when diversity is isolated it becomes intolerance and hatred.
Then there's cats and dogs. Isolated, they are enemies to be feared and hated. But when raised together, cats and dogs get along just fine. They share what's good for each, and tolerate the differences.
Humans of all opinions live in close proximity to each other and have the opportunity to share their diverse views, but they don't. They isolate themselves within and share very little. They prefer to believe that everyone thinks the same way they do, without actually exchanging any opinions or ideas.
Canines and felines have no opinions or ideas to share with each other. So we just avoid each other while eyeing each other suspiciously. We're kinda human-like that way.
Just thought I'd share my opinion.
Nov 29, 2003 Saturday
Humans are fun. They do very amusing and unexpected things. Take yesterday morning, fur instance: