NYE

Thompson is an expert at whooping it up on New Years Eve.

That's No Cat

I told the boyz I was leaving early to get a KAT bobblehead.  I think they were a little disappointed when this was what I brought back home...

Snow Shoveler's Lament

We got a ton of snow overnight.  Theo is hearing some words he hasn't heard since last winter.

Long After Meal Time

Redefining the term "full belly."

Selfie

Theo decided he wanted to join his comrades around the world by posting a selfie.

Happy Holidays

Not a Traditionalist

Instead of a Christmas tree I put out some cat grass.  Diego-san always has known I'm an odd duck.

Poster Boyz

Yup, the boyz have all the parts (well except for a missing leg).

Contest

The boyz are having a sleeping contest.  As the judge, I declare a three way tie.

Take Your Fetal Position Please

Somebody either doesn't like Mondays or cold houses.

Holiday Expert

I told Theo because he and his brothers are Jewish, they won't be celebrating Christmas.  He asked me where our Menorah was then.

House Party

Things got really wild last night. Thompson got up off the dance floor and hopped onto the turntable.

Purr

Thompson's purring much more frequently these days.  I read where a cat's purring means a couple of things- that they are content or that they are healing some pain. I think Thompson's more frequent purring might be related to both. He doesn't seem to be in any obvious pain but something is going on that his vet and I haven't figured out.  In this situation I guarantee his purring is because he's always content to nap with Diego-san.

A Sign

When David Letterman announced his retirement he told a story about how he and his son were excited about a bird they had seen over the weekend and he spent the next day at work researching what kind of bird it was. When he got home that night his wife asked how the show went and he couldn't even remember who the guests were. That was a sign to him that it was time to retire.

Yesterday at work I spent my lunch time researching a question that has nagged me for a while now: why do many yogurt companies make you mix the fruit and the yogurt together rather than just selling it all mixed together to begin with? The most logical answer I found was that because the fruit is denser it would sink to the bottom, and you'd end up having to remix anyway. I was so happy I finally had an answer. I felt I finally had a day where I accomplished something. I told one of my co-workers what I did with my lunch hour and she scrunched her face and asked, "Why did it matter?"

This could be a sign it's time for me to retire.

Francis Albert

We've been listening to a lot of Frank Sinatra music recently (as well as watching some of his movies). I personally prefer the contemplative somewhat morose Sinatra over the ring-a-ding-ding Sinatra. The somewhat morose and contemplative Sinatra causes this reaction from Diego-san. The boy clearly understands music.

Rain- My Bad

It's been raining here seemingly non stop for weeks. On one hand, this is preferable to lots and lots of snow. On the other hand it makes everything seem so dreary. Thompson thinks all the rain is somehow related to the recent toilet installation. All that commode commotion and all that water... there has to be a connection.

Game Playing Expert

Theo's very good at the whole "I'm going to look at the ceiling to make you look at the ceiling for no reason" game.

Shadows

His shadow's got his back until Theo wanders between the two and attacks from behind...

Not Quite a Believer

Thompson's not sure he believes this whole fat guy in a red suit bringing him presents thing. He's seen the presents but he's yet to see the fat guy in the red suit. In any case since Thompson is far and away the best behaved in the house I told him he didn't have anything to worry about.

The Best Present Ever

Ready for wrapping and a bow.

Home Improvement Adventure

Several years ago, the handle broke off one of the two toilets in the house. To flush the toilet required removing the top where all the guts are, and manually pulling the chain. Eventually the guts themselves became further damaged meaning the water never shutoff. This meant to use the toilet I had to shut off the water to the toilet after I was done using it.

I've lived with this inconvenience for a long time (at least five years, probably closer to 10). The other day I went to shutoff the water and the valve wouldn't turn to the point where the water would shutoff. Having a leaky toilet several years ago with the resulting hefty water bill taught me this was not a problem I could just ignore even though there was no physical damage being caused by the issue. Either a plumber had to be called or I could install a new toilet.

I'm not exactly Mr. Fixit as the boyz can testify to under oath. My home repairs typically involve a lot of duct tape. Installing a toilet seemed a tad intimidating but the last toilet was one my brother-in-law installed for me so I knew what was involved. I considered just putting in a large litter box in the bathroom, which would have been fine with me, but may not have been appreciated by the few guests we have in our house. I watched a YouTube video, went to my neighborhood home improvement store and purchased a very heavy toilet. Once I got it in the house I let the boyz check out the box. I wasn't exactly in a hurry to start the project.

After a while I couldn't put things off any longer and I started unpacking the box. I was surprised Diego-san wasn't more curious than he was- usually he's the first one to come over and inspect everything. This time he left that task up to Theo. Diego-san was more curious about me shutting off the main water valve downstairs. He almost made a fatal mistake however when he finally did get around to checking the work going on upstairs. I hadn't put the seat cover on yet and Diego-san came tearing around the corner into the bathroom ready to leap on to the seat. He caught himself just in time to avoid an unexpected face full of water.

I struggled some but now have a working toilet in that bathroom. I have two fears: that the toilet will eventually fall through the floor; or that I'll come home to find the boyz up to their necks in water...

Mystery

Not that I'm accusing anyone of anything but... I play curling and have a special pair of curling shoes. I went to put on the curling shoes for our most recent match and the rubber gripper that goes on the bottom of one shoe to provide traction on the ice, and then comes off of the plastic bottom of the shoe when you are 'throwing' your rock down the ice, was missing.

The only time I take the shoes out of the backpack I use to bring them to the curling club, is before a match. I wouldn't leave the ice after a match without the rubber gripper because it would be difficult to walk from the ice to the exit without it.  This means that a) someone went into my bag at the club and stole the rubber gripper; or b) the boyz, who aren't especially fond of me leaving to play curling, hid it on me somewhere in the house.

The Look

I fell asleep on the couch and when I awoke I saw this. By the looks of things I may have been snoring.

A Perfect Match

Theo evidently thinks my knees and his cheekbones go hand and hand.

My Pillow

Thompson's found the perfect pillow. It even purrs.

NBA - It's Fantastic

Thompson has no interest in watching basketball. Theo thinks it's hilarious.

A Daytime Thinker

When Theo gets an idea in his noggin, a light shines above.

Human Observer

Thompson has only lived with one other household of humans, during the time he was in a foster home waiting to be adopted. I think he's trying to remember what normal humans acted like after having spent the past dozen years with me.

Strange Bedfellows

If this is possible I have to think world peace can't be too far behind...

Piling On

Our house has piles of laundry, piles of unpaid bills, piles of music CDs, piles of cat hair, and piles of actual cats.

Bums

The food guy took Wednesday off from work. His office was closed on Friday. He's also taking Monday off.  This means six consecutive days at home. Thompson is glad to have a fellow napper around to bum around with.

Happy and You Know It

If you're happy and you know it (and you're missing a leg), sit purring on the food guy's chest for an afternoon.

Black Friday

It's Black Cat Friday and as with every year Diego-san is appreciative that so many of you honor him on this day.

Hoping to Be Stuffed

Happy Thanksgiving.  Did somebody say turkey?

Thank You Carole

One of my employees made the boyz some catnip pillows. She gave me three (one for each of the boyz). Let's just say it was not an item that was necessarily fairly shared. Diego-san detected them immediately upon my entry into the house. Theo wasn't far behind. By the time Thompson was able to get to one of the pillows, all the catnip had pretty much been licked out of all three.

Heating Pad

We don't need a weatherman to know which way the winds blow. When it gets cold out, all three boyz like to nap on me. This hardly happens during the summertime.

Wary Eye

He often tires of being around my infantile behavior...

Da Feet

Theo accomplishes many amazing feats with his equally amazing feets.

Dignify

I asked Thompson if he had any special plans for the day. I think this look indicates he isn't even going to dignify the question with a response.

What'll He Choose?

The choice was pick up the kettlebell behind him and get in a workout or clean himself in the streaming sun.  It was a no brainer for Diego-san.

B&W

I told Theo most of my all time favorite movies are in black in white. He wondered if the same applies to cats (hint: it does).

Picturesque

I was going through the year's photos in order to put together our annual holiday card.  It was very difficult narrowing down the pictures of Thompson I plan to use. That face knocks me out every time...

Far and Near

One of the few Sesame Street bits I remember is one where Grover was teaching the concept of 'far' and 'near.' To do this he ran back and forth to the camera and away.  The joke of the bit was he got so tired running back and forth that he lost his breath and dropped from exhaustion. Here Theo and Diego-san take a much wiser approach. Theo is playing the part of "near" and Diego-san is playing the part of "far." Diego is also playing the part of completely disinterested.

A Fella's Gotta Deal with His Hunger

My standard joke when I get home and am not greeted by all three boyz is to ask one of them that is present, "did you eat the third boy?" I think Theo might be taking that to heart.

Two Out of Three are Sedate

Just another evening of watching the third boy race around like he's being chased by ghosts.

Life

As tough as life can be sometimes it also can be kind- like letting you live most of your life with your best buddy.

Friday the 13th

I told Theo that some people believe that Friday the 13ths bring bad luck.  He let me know the only bad luck he believes in is the misfortune related to meals that are served late.

ZZZZzzzzzzzzzz

For some of us there aren't enough hours in the day for a solid nap.  (BTW- Thompson does not appreciate sarcasm.)

Premature Projection

I noted the other day that the change in Diego-san's diet seems to be working. He hadn't vomited in a while.  That was until two nights ago when he upchucked an impressive amount right before bedtime.  (Happy birthday, Dad!)

Historical Video

For the first time ever, the boyz posted a video on YouTube. It's even more exciting watching it there because it's in slow motion... I think that's Theo's fur that Diego-san is lapping up after the whapping is done.

The Old Guy's Day

The only thing good about the food guy's birthday is sometimes it means extra treats for all.  Other than that it's about having to tolerate a bunch of excess whining about getting old.