Just to follow up on my last post, I have not received a call from Cadbury, so I assume I did not get the job. But I have been getting a lot of chin scritches lately. Sometimes all a guy needs is a little loving to feel like a winner.
I’m getting ready for my audition to be the Cadbury Easter bunny. Wish me luck, and happy Easter!
Both my mamas have some sleep issues, thanks lately in no small part to me! It annoys them to no end when I cry at 4:30 a.m. until finally they give up and get out of bed, only to find shortly afterward that I’ve tucked myself into the big king bed for a good nap. But what are they gonna do? I’m a cat!
Mama G has an app on her phone called Calm, which includes various meditations and exercises designed to calm her mind and relax her body. It also features sleep stories, which she really likes to listen to after she gets into bed. One of her favorites is actually a series of stories about a handsome black-and-white cat called Humphrey. Humphrey lives with a famous author, and is quite well-traveled, flying around in a private jet to different corners of the world. In one story he’s in the Bahamas, in another it’s Rio, then on to Rome, London and Paris. In each story, the narrator, Michael Griffiths, remarks that Humphrey is “rather pleased with himself,” adding, “but then you could say that of most cats.”
Although many humans seem perplexed by my species’ behavior, Mr. Griffiths sure nailed that one!
Well I have to apologize that this post is five days late, but I’m on Pacific Cat Time. I just wanted to mention that this past week was a tough time to be orange.
Would you believe Those Two did it again? Yup, they relocated me! Fortunately, this move didn’t involve a 3,000-mile journey in a plane. In fact, it was a mercifully short three miles, or eight-minute car ride, still within the Vancouver city limits. They didn’t tell me ahead of time, but I knew something was up weeks before when photos and prints started coming off the walls and were wrapped and stacked by the door. We cats are very observant and notice even minor changes in our environment!
Then boxes started being packed, and small pieces of furniture removed. I knew the drill, seeing as how this would be my third move since joining the family, and my second in a year. Still, I was nervous and afraid they might leave me behind, so I tried to stow away in a box. Usually I’m pretty good at hiding, but I clearly wasn’t thinking this attempt through.
Finally everything was pretty much gone, except for the big pieces of furniture, and then I was imprisoned in my bathroom for an hour, having to endure horribly loud noises and the sound of men grunting. Mama G poked her head in occasionally to make sure I was OK. I came out from behind the toilet to eat some treats, so she figured I was doing just fine.
Eventually Mama C returned from wherever she had been for a few hours, and the two of them scooped me into my carrier and off we went. When my carrier was finally opened, I immediately began exploring our new apartment. It’s brand new and we are the first tenants to occupy it, so there weren’t a lot of smells for me. But it sure had some cool features that I enjoyed later that night!
We’re on the third floor, and I just love sitting up high and watching all the action outside — so many dogs, so many silly humans!
We are all quite content here.
Today is not Mother’s Day, or anything like that, but I just wanted to say that there is no greater love than a mother’s love.
Well here we are, starting another new year. I’m looking forward to another 12 months of naps, treats and mischief! But one thing I am sad about is that our beloved Christmas tree will come down today. I have enjoyed lying underneath it and drinking the water at its base, which irritates my mamas to no end. But because they love me so much, they went out and bought me my own little tree, with lights and all, which they plan to leave up year-round!
How thoughtful was that?!! The only issue I see is that the little tree is anchored in dirt, rather than water. Who knows, maybe I’ll develop a dirt-eating habit. As the new year begins, I am ready to embrace change and go with the flow. Sometimes it’s pointless to look back.
I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and an even better new year!
Nothing piques my curiosity like a package addressed to me, so I was quite excited when one such package was delivered a couple of days ago. There were no signs identifying the sender, but I had no doubt who it was the minute Mama G helped me unpack the box by our tree.
The sender had to be Joyce, my wonderful godmother! Who else would be so thoughtful? The box contained a kit to grow my own organic pet grass, two all-natural toys designed to help me “stay in a good mood” (we’ll see about that!) and to keep my teeth (or in my case, tooth) clean, and a three-pack of sisal rope toys that promote “quiet self-entertainment” (sorry, but when I entertain myself, I like to make some noise!). As you can see from the thoughtful collection, Joyce cares a lot about me and my health.
I started playing with my new toys immediately. And to think Those Two thought I had given up playing in my senior years! They just aren’t as good as Joyce at picking out cool toys.
Later that evening, exhausted from the excitement of the day, I discovered a new use for one of the ropes. It felt like a security blanket as I rested on the floor with it surrounding me. And who wouldn’t feel secure, knowing that he or she is so loved? Thanks Joyce!
My life took an exciting, if not predictable, turn this weekend, when Those Two began shuffling furniture around, disappeared for an hour or two, and returned with an aromatic tree! Yes, I can now feel like an outdoor cat without getting my pretty pink pads dirty!
Since this is our first Christmas in the Pacific Northwest, my mamas had to find a new tree farm, and apparently they picked a winner. They set out on Friday, which was a beautiful day before the rain moved in over the weekend.
Not only was Washougal River Christmas Trees a beautiful place, but it had a festively decorated barn full of animals for viewing and petting. My mamas just adore animals, so they spent a while in the barn and at a couple of outdoor pens before launching their tree search. I can’t tell whether Sierra here has been hitting the eggnog, or if she’s just had enough of the holiday hoopla already.
It has been a tradition for years for Those Two to cut down their own tree, but this year they opted for a pre-cut tree, because they wanted a smaller one to fit into their downsized lifestyle. They discovered that it was much easier to make a decision when no manual labor was involved, and soon settled on this one:
After it was baled, they stuffed it into the Honda and returned home, where before they could unfurl it, I decided I was mighty thirsty!
Later in the afternoon, the wine was uncorked, and they started stringing the lights and hanging ornaments while watching “A Charlie Brown Christmas” — another tradition of theirs.
Now I have a place to put my first — and possibly only — Christmas gift. Yes, I was quite surprised and flattered when our cat-loving friend Morgan brought me an Advent calendar. I have no idea exactly what an Advent calendar is, but it has lots of little doors that conceal treats, so I’m all in!
I’m a cat who is very loved and pampered, so almost every time of the year is pretty wonderful, but there is something special about those few weeks when I can sit by the tree, enjoying the lights and scents of the holiday. Peace.
Oxbow's World 