Thursday, December 31, 2009

Our Holiday Letter


Greetings! Hope all is well with you and yours. 2009 sure was a long year for the boyz and David. This was mostly due to David accidentally changing the clocks back in the spring instead of ahead. Boy did that blunder sure throw things off the rest of the year. The appointments missed, the sleep lost…

Much of Diego-san’s year was spent being groomed. The whole family took turns but Diego especially enjoyed the nightly strokes of the furminator. Diego’s fondness for the furminator became so strong that David looked unsuccessfully into 12-step programs. With the nightly ball of Diego’s fur, the house project became building a life sized statue/monument honoring Diego’s self proclaimed greatness.

Thompson continues to hobble around (in the best sense of that word). He sure enjoys long communal naps and isn’t picky who he chooses to nap with. He also enjoys long (or longing) gazes out the window. His gazes suggest that Thompson could share some great stories about his days as an outdoor cat (perhaps next year). Thompson continues to be the glue that holds the household together, the one everyone turns to when turning to is necessary.

As everyone who has ever visited can attest, Theo is far and away the best licker in the house (especially since his chief competition is the cheap whiskey stored somewhere in one of the messy cabinets). Theo loves to lick David’s freshly showered legs in the morning. He loves to lick his brothers (much to Diego-san’s chagrin), and he loves to lick his own tail like a self contained pacifier. Because Theo can be a little squirrely, David is really proud of his ability to hold his licker.

And so it goes. Sorry for the brevity of this year’s holiday letter but the household is still trying to catch up from that daylight savings time blooper/gaffe. Everyone got through the year mostly unscathed except for a few bumps and bruises and an occasional concussion. Here’s to a great 2010.

All the best,

dma, thompson, diego-san, and theo

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Double Duty

I'm spending the next few days house sitting Kurbie and Torii- my friend's two rat terriers. This means running back and forth between our two homes and also means the boyz will be on their own more than usual. Hopefully all involved will survive...

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Bye Bye Tuesday

I told the boyz today is the final Tuesday of the decade. I'm not sure that fact blew their minds as much as I thought it would.

Monday, December 28, 2009

It's a Book

Honestly I was just sitting reading a book when I looked up to see this look on Theo's face. Granted I don't read as much as I used to, but still, it wasn't that odd of behavior...

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Let it Snow

We got about 10 inches of snow the past three days. It's been a good time to stay at home and join the boyz in a lotta of lounging around.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Bah Humbug

After receiving just a few catnip toys, Diego-san thinks all this hype about Santa Claus is way overrated...

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Tolerance

I don't think my boyz would have this much tolerance and patience. Diego would probably whap the puppy on the top of the noggin.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

New Cuisine

A new Szechuan restaurant opened near my house. They serve frog legs. I've always wanted to try frog legs so I ordered some (sorry Kermit). Yes they taste like chicken (a fishy chicken). I told Thompson what I was eating and I don't think he quite believed me...

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

T and T

It starts as brotherly love. Then it turns to playful wrestling. Soon it becomes not so playful wrestling (with an admonition from me... 'not too rough boyz...'). Next is the hissing and growling. And the whole thing repeats itself pretty much nightly...

Monday, December 21, 2009

Out of Place Sunday

Diego-san had a rough Sunday. He was sitting on my lap when Thompson decided he wanted to join us. Thompson kept nudging his way closer to my lap and Diego finally decided he would give up his spot. Later, I was taking a nap downstairs and Theo came to sleep on my chest. Diego-san came downstairs and was ready to take his usual spot on my chest when he saw Theo had already beat him to the spot. I didn't see much of Diego the rest of the day...

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Golden Globe Groomer

The award for the best groomer in the house goes once again to... Thompson.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Noggin

None of us is real sure what goes on in that little noggin of Theo's... Whatever it is, the facade usually makes sure it is something pretty darn cute.

Friday, December 18, 2009

'Xplainin

This is Diego-san's "you haven't been home much this week, you have a whole lot of 'xplainin' to do" look.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Merry Xmas

I switched the boyz litter from wheat based to pine based. I wasn't entirely happy with the clumping ability of the wheat based litter so I thought I'd give something else a try.

So far so good. The pine based litter does seem to clump better and it makes our house smell more like Christmas. The boyz don't seem to mind the change at all either...

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Accomodating Brother

Theo told Thompson to go ahead and use his head as a foot rest. So Thompson obliged.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Taking a Breather

With two weeks left in the year, Theo has decided it's finally time to take a little breather from his normal busy playtime.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Premature Spring Fever

It's only a few weeks into winter, with one bad snowstorm, but I'm already tired of the cold and snow. And given the increasing frequency of the boyz's wrestling matches, maybe they are a tad stir crazy too (even though they are indoor cats only).

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Friday, December 11, 2009

A Place for the Weary

Every kitty needs a place or two to rest his weary head. Thompson has no problem locating these places.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Snow Day

We got around seven inches of snow yesterday and because I had a morning meeting near my house, I spent the rest of the day working from home. The boyz were surprised by my schedule. They also were absolutely speechless about me trying to shovel the sidewalk and coming inside afterward huffing and puffing and talking like a sailor.

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

True Teamwork

Diego-san's one assigned chore in this house is to catch any bug that should make its way into the house. He's pretty darn impressive at doing his job- usually seeing a bug long before I do.

Two nights ago Diego spotted a fly flying around the bedroom ceiling light. It was late and I tried to catch the fly but couldn't. I told Diego we'd get the fly in the morning, shutoff the lights and tried to go to bed. Diego was having none of it. He stood there on my stomach looking up toward the light fixture.

The next morning I tried to find the fly but couldn't. A little later on Thompson was upstairs with me and I saw him looking at the light fixture. So I looked closely and sure enough saw the fly. This time I was able to catch it and dispose of it. When Diego came upstairs I broke him the good news that Thompson and I teamed up to catch the fly.

He didn't seem too impressed.

Monday, December 07, 2009

Monday Monday

After a relaxing weekend, for some of us it's time for... more relaxing.

Sunday, December 06, 2009

The Coast is Clear

Sometimes Diego-san goes to great lengths to get away from Theo following him around everywhere...

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Sportscat of the Year

I brought my mail in and was looking at the current copy of Sports Illustrated. On the cover was the Yankees Derek Jeter with the caption, "Sportsman of the Year." I rhetorically asked the boyz, "So guess who's the sportsman of the year?" As I was asking the question Theo hopped up on the kitchen table and looked at me as if he thought he may have won the award. Sorry Theo. As active as you are, you didn't quite make the final cut...

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Hunkering Down

I took the battery out of my scooter and hooked it up with a trickle charger. I then fired up the snowblower to make sure it's working. Ah... the life of a Minnesotan. When I got back inside I told Diego-san it's time to hunker down for the winter. He then went and demonstrated his version of hunkering down.

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Tangled Up in Tuesday

It's not easy to take a picture with two boyz planted on your chest and stomach but somehow I managed.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Four Days

I think my having a four day weekend may have put a crimp in Theo's style. He spent all four mornings following me around and when he was certain I wasn't going anywhere, he'd go chase Diego-san around the house. Sometimes the little guy just can't chill...

Sunday, November 29, 2009

The Cranberries

I went to see one of my all time favorite bands, the Cranberries, play at First Ave. Their singer, Dolores O'Riordan, has a voice that just knocks me out. I'd listen to her sing anything. She also dances exactly like I do... kinda doing an expert version of the funky chicken. When I got home I dug out my Cranberries' CDs and danced away to the music. I've never seen the boyz look more frightened.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Black Friday

I think Diego-san was a little disappointed when I told him Black Friday was not named in his honor.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Profiles in Patience

This is Diego-san's "I know you've been holding a camera next to my head for the last ten minutes but there's nowayinhell I'm going to look at you" pose. He does that a lot.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Brotherly Love

Sometimes brotherly love means letting your brother sleep with his foot planted on the back of your neck.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Pillow Imitation

This is Thompson and Diego-san doing their best imitation of the picture of the two cats on the pillow.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Fall Checklist

1) Yard raked. Check.

2) Gutters cleaned. Check.

3) Furnace filter changed. Check.

4) Catching the final autumn sun rays. Check.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Rearranging

I moved the upstairs desk down to the living room so I'd have a better place to put my laptop. Thompson was the only one of the three boyz who didn't get riled up by the move. I guess he's seen enough of my spontaneity to know how to take it all in stride...

Friday, November 20, 2009

Meeting at the Water Hole



The guys called a meeting at the neighborhood water hole. I guess I wasn't invited. I was able to sneak in with a camera however...

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Equal Time

Diego-san let me know that he thinks there has been far too much attention paid to Theo's antics on the blog recently...

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Balloon Boy Part 3



It was an accidental happenstance but from the juxtoposition of the past two days pictures it looks like the bottom Theo is a bit afraid of the upper roaring Theo...


Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Balloon Boy Part 2

Theo either got really bored (yawn) or really angry (silent scream) looking up for the balloon boy yesterday...

Monday, November 16, 2009

Balloon Boy

I told Theo the story of balloon boy but failed to mention the adventure happened a month ago. Theo spent the next hour looking up through the sky light hoping to catch sight of the mylar balloon.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Spacing

When it comes to the proper relaxation technique, proper spacing is essential...

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Our Week

I began the week by knocking my head hard against the ice. I ended the week admiring Thompson's ability to scope out the sunniest places in the house. I think I prefer the latter.

Friday, November 13, 2009

How Much is That Kitty in the Window?

Diego-san and I are working on a new number...

"How much is that kitty in the window? (meow meow) The one with the silky black fur? How much is that kitty in the window? (meow meow) I do hope that kitty's not for sale..."

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Unmet Expectations

I'm not sure I was who Theo was expecting when he heard someone coming up the stairs.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Veterans' Day

This is the look I got from the boyz when I told them I get a day off during the middle of the week in honor of Veterans' Day.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Thanks Guyz

I've lived with Diego-san and Thompson for over six years now, and Theo for over four. Still they are quite capable of surprising me now and again...

Last night I took a tumble during our curling match and smacked my head against the ice. I never lost consciousness, my vision was fine and I had a relatively minor headache. Still given what happened to Natasha Richardson last year, it occurred to me the smart thing to do would be to go to the hospital and have things checked out. But since my symptoms were not very severe I decided to go home and see if things got worse. I told the boyz before I went to bed that I hoped I wasn't making a mistake and hoped to make it to the next day since it was my birthday. It just wouldn't seem right passing away the night before a birthday...

There must have been something in the tone of my voice because Diego-san spent most of the night cuddled up right next to me. He usually starts that way when I get into bed but shortly afterward he'll move to a more open spot. Not last night- he dug himself into my armpit and purred and purred away. It was early, but it was the best birthday gift a guy could ever ask for...

My head hurt a little today and I have quite the bump, but I don't seem any worse for the wear...

Monday, November 09, 2009

More of a Humanities Major

Sometimes the simplest scientific concepts elude Theo- like why he can't get at Diego-san through solid wood.