Friday, November 30, 2007

Survivor... I Don't Even Know Her

Thompson has lost his interest in watching Survivor with me. Last night Diego-san took his place lying on my arm the entire show.

I'm now rooting for Amanda. It's rare when a player in an alliance realizes strategically that breaking the alliance sooner rather than later is often the best way to proceed. Amanda was very smart in figuring out she needed to get rid of James, and that she executed the strategic move successfully - including telling my gal Peigh Gee to keep her flap shut- shows she is a player.

Bye bye James.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Riled Up

Theo was driving Diego-san absolutely bonkers last night, continually chasing him all over the house until a pointed hiss put a temporary stop to the madness.

When I got home there were some construction trucks (and people) working on the street in front of my house. I had noticed signs put up the day before telling people not to park on the street. I'm guessing the construction work went on all day and might have been kinda noisy and house shakin'.

This might have been a reason for Theo's extra energy.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Brrrrrrr

The car thermometer indicated it was seven degrees out on my way to work this morning.

Last night the wind was howling and the wind chill factor must have been about a gazillion below. I didn't get up from underneath my covers to confirm that. Today is the perfect sleep by a heating vent type of day for those in the house who aren't breadwinners.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Yay!

Bucky the betafish, who keeps me company at work, survived the four day weekend with no food. I was a little worried about him all weekend long. It seemed a bit much to make a 40 minute drive to feed him.

I actually had some pretty bizarre dreams over the weekend about his fate- the worst being I got to work and he was being attacked by all these tiny lil parasite fish. Thank goodness when I got into my office he greeted me by wiggling back and forth as soon as I turned on the light.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

TP

Someone (some hoodlum, ner do well, delinquent) toilet papered the yard across the street from me. Thompson spent most of the morning looking out the living room picture window particularly fascinated by the streams of white hanging down from the trees.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Cat Man

Had dinner with my nephew and niece-in-law. They have two cats, Arthur and Abby. After dinner I went over to A-'s house to feed her three cats, Marabou, Marcel, and Bud. So counting the boyz I spent the day with eight different cats. T'was a nice day.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Diego-san Maeda-san

Diego was named by his foster family. The girl in the family named him after Diego Rivera. Rivera's wife, Frida Kahlo, has an exhibit being displayed in town. I'm trying to find time to go over and see it. Today I found an advertisement for the exhibit in one of our local weekly newsmagazines and Frida's self portrait is featured in the ad. Check out the cat...

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thanksgiving 2007

Some things I'm thankful for:

A) Thompson's ever determined, I'll deal with whatever comes my way spirit;

B) Diego-san's stubborn personality that is tempered by his snuggleability;

C) Theo's sweet spacey disposition;

D) Thompson's grunt;

E) Theo's peep;

F) Diego's roar;

G) Diego's love of being combed;

H) Theo's love of being picked up and having his neck scratched;

I) Thompson's love of a face rub;

That the boyz are all healthy and seemingly happy.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Gobble Gobble

Me and the boyz plan to spend Thanksgiving determining how many White Castle hamburgers one can eat before getting sick. Should be spectacular fun!

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Sighhhhhhh

Another late night meeting meant that it was one of those nights when I got home I just fed the boyz and went straight to bed.

It must have been a long day for Diego-san because when he crawled underneath the covers with me and I scratched his belly, he let out this massive sigh/groan. I could entirely relate.

Monday, November 19, 2007

The Squirrel

Theo's not much of a window watcher. He rarely sits on the strategically placed boxes, furniture and tables that I have set up under most of my house's windows. Sometimes I wonder if he is even aware that the world extends beyond the house's walls.

Yesterday afternoon he was perched on the kitchen table looking out into the backyard. I saw his head and eyes darting from location to location and looked out to see he was carefully watching a squirrel. His tail began to swish back and forth on the table. Moments later he was chasing Diego-san all over the house either out of displaced frustration or thinking that Diego, with his ever impressive tail, was a giant squirrel.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Bad Boy

I hollered at Diego-san for stealing some of Theo's dinner. I chased him away and a couple of minutes later when I returned Diego again was sitting at Theo's dish while Theo innocently watched his meal disappear.

This time I really hollered at Diego who flew to the basement. He knew he was in trouble because he didn't even come upstairs for his nightly combing instead deciding it better to sleep downstairs on the couch. I eventually went over to him to let him know I wasn't still angry and eventually he joined the rest of us upstairs...

Friday, November 16, 2007

Post-Survivor

Once again Thompson and I tried to figure out who was going to be voted off Survivor last night prior to Tribal Council. Thank the lord Peigh Gee won immunity...

If I were there (other than make mooney faces at P.G.) I would have voted for James. Right now he's pretty much guaranteed a spot in the final four given that he has two immunity idols. And given his physical strengths he's a huge favorite to make it to the final two. The tribe had the right idea last week (both Jean Robert and Todd came up with the same idea individually) the only way to eliminate James is to blindside him and the chance to do so is quickly slipping away.

I was sad to see Frosty go but I think strategically that made a lot of sense given his performance in challenges and that he seemed a likeable sort.

Thompson was more interested in the fact James wolfed down seven hamburgers...

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Thelonious Dribble Maeda

He peeps, he squeaks, he squeals. Then he runs full speed here to there and back. Oh Thelonious, I wish I knew what goes through that cute lil head of yours. You're still very much a mystery much like the jazz musician you were named after....

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Teamwork

Last night I came home and saw a pair of eyes staring out the kitchen window watching a rabbit in the backyard.

When I approached the house the eyes looked up and at me. It was Diego-san and I swear he did a double take when he saw me as if to say, "Oh did you know there's a rabbit trespassing in our yard?"

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Back to Work

Back to work. The boyz all gave me the 'do u really have to go?' look this morning. I gave them the 'only if you want a continuous supply of food' look right back.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Favorite Lickers

Diego-san loves to lick the mesh of my backpack. Theo loves to lick my legs after I take a shower. Thompson loves to lick the condensation off the toilet bowl after I take a shower. My favorite liquor? Whiskey-water.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Independence Proven

With my extended absences from the house the past couple of weeks I expected to spend a lot of time with the boyz this weekend. Today I watched TV downstairs while all three boyz slept upstairs. Theo eventually did meander down to join me. I guess they were trying to give me a message.

Friday, November 09, 2007

B-Day

How I spent my birthday:

* Took the day off from work after a long hour work week- made even longer that yesterday morning I went out to start my car and it wouldn't start

* Bought a car battery from AAA

* Had a cup of coffee with my friend M-

* Thought about going to the Apple Store to spend my $100 in store credit I got for being among the first to buy an iPhone, but didn't have anything in particular I wanted to buy so I didn't go...

* Took a nap with Theo

* Had dinner with my dad

* Watched the movie Dreamland with the boys

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Roar

Another late night at the office and at the writing class I'm taking. That makes three late home arrivals in a row. (And tomorrow's threatening to make it four in a row...)

I find Diego's reaction- expression of displeasure- kinda amusing. He'll roar at me complete with the lion's circular head movement and then I'll pat him on the top of the head. He'll then follow me around until I sit down and he'll hop up on my lap and demand attention.

He's a very aggressive affection seeker.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

A Cat Possessed

I had a late night meeting so the boyz got fed two meals worth of food when I got home.

Theo promptly threw up his meal(s). And afterward he spent the next hour running up and down the stairs and hallway. He was the ultimate excitable boy either very glad to see me or was being chased by something that none of the rest of us could see...

Monday, November 05, 2007

Let the Sweeping Begin

I participated in my first curling match of the season yesterday. We won. My team played last weekend as well but I was in Chicago so I had to miss the match. They won that one too.

Still working on teaching the boyz how to sweep so I can practice my curling at home during the week. They don't seem to be catching on none too quick... As this picture shows, they still haven't caught on that curling is not a contact sport.

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Here Comes Jack Frost

They say the first signs of winter will be seen this week- a possibility of snow and a noticeable drop in temperatures.

Today was a relatively nice autumn day- warm enough to take a scooter ride. The leaves are all off my trees and the days are getting mighty short (even shorter with the end of Daylight Saving Time).

Hunker down boyz- winter is on its way...

Friday, November 02, 2007

Proud

Theo's back legs were severely hurt when he was a lil kitten. He still walks around gingerly and he doesn't seem confident in jumping up to higher places even though the jumps I've seen him try, he has never failed.

During my basement project I moved some boxes upstairs and not having a better place to store them, I stored them in my bathtub of the main level bathroom since I use the shower upstairs. Last night I found Theo standing tall atop the boxes looking very proud of his mountainous achievement...

Thursday, November 01, 2007

It's Not Easy Being a Black Cat

I missed any and all Halloween festivities at my house because T- and I are taking a short story writing class and last night was the first session.

Over the years Halloween has been a bit unpredictable- I sometimes get five or six trick or treaters that come to my door or I've gotten thirty to forty trick or treaters. It's difficult to know how much candy to buy so my strategy has always been to buy something that I like so if I have a lot leftover, it won't go to waste. Bubble gum has usually served the trick.

It would be interesting to know how the boyz responded to the doorbell ringing multiple times through the evening. (I'm assuming that it probably did.) Both being black cats, the day is a lil special for Theo and particularly Diego.

I do know by the time I got home and into bed both Theo and Diego were riled up. They spent much of the night chasing and fighting, hissin and cryin at each other.