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Kenta came home Saturday morning. He immediately hid under the futon frame in the basement, the same place he spent the first month in his new home. He came upstairs a couple of times but as soon as he saw I saw him, he bolted back downstairs. Today he’s pretty much back to his old self even cuddling with me a couple of times.
 

Kenta Update

They removed the catheter tonight and now Kenta has to pee without getting blocked again. If he can do that, he can come home, hopefully tomorrow morning. Alias is spending more time with me than usual which is really helpful.

 

Kenta Update

Thanks all for kind words of support…

Kenta did well during his overnight and his catheter was draining. His urine is still full of crystals so they need the urine to be more clear before he can come home. Last evening I got another update. He did well during the day but didn’t eat anything! They keep saying how nice and sociable he is, easily purring. I miss my guy. 

 

Devastated

I came home from work yesterday and Kenta was barely able to walk. He tried coming downstairs for his meal but only made it half way. So I brought him in (screaming his lungs out) to urgent care. He has a blockage in his urinary tract. He will need surgery and a couple of nights in the hospital. The worst part is this is likely a re-occurring issue. It could come back years from now or next week. I can’t afford another surgery. I’m devastated.
 

Brother and Sister

Minutes before they had a hiss filled wrestling match. They do have a complicated yet simple sibling relationship.
 

Irresistible

It's impossible for me not to rub the crown of his nose and forehead. Impossible.
 

Playtime

Norma loves racing into this plastic cave. There's a front entrance that she leaps into and then gets as low as she can and wiggles out the bottom. I'm glad she's so easily amused. 
 

Coming and Going

I came home from work and Alias after greeting me at the front door raced upstairs. He knows the next thing on the schedule is me going upstairs to change my clothes. Kenta didn’t greet me at the door and when I started upstairs he lowered himself down off the top of the scratching post and raced downstairs as he and I passed on the stairway.
 

Norma Tested

Norma claimed our newest cat bed. Alias welcomed the scratching post legs.
 

Desk Duty

All three took turns preventing me from using my desk.
 

My Guy

We don't spend enough time together as we should. Seriously. Kenta is one of the greatest soul's ever to exist. I promise. 
 

Cool

They both like resting on my desk because it is cooler than the carpet in all meanings of that word. I think they enjoy me not trying to work on the desk instead of giving them my full attention. Norma doesn't really rest on the desk. She prefers to squirm around and beg for me to pet her.

Smoky

Not only has it been unbearably hot and humid outside, now smoke from wildfires in the Boundary Waters area is making our air quality poor. It hurts to go outside. Norma is trying to figure out why I'm even crankier than usual.
 

Nipped

I brought some catnip plant in from my yard as I got home from work. Kenta actually skipped a meal for the first time ever to get loopy on the junk. And loopy he got. 
 

Half a Dozen

I can't believe the three of us have been together nearly six years now. Time sure flies...
 

Comfy

Alias is the king of comfort. He always looks comfortable no matter where he rests.
 

Anti-Crisis

It was a HOT weekend. All of us kinda just lounged around the house in the coolest manner possible. It was the kind of weather that made me fear the earth had broken out of its orbit and is hurdling toward the sun. That should be alarming but Kenta showed me otherwise. 
 

Alias and Norma

Called in sick for work and didn’t get out of bed until after 1 p.m.These two always cheer me up. And they did so LOTS yesterday.
 

Embarrassed

I butchered Kenta’s mane trying to trim it some. I mostly did the back and didn’t do so evenly (makes me admire professional groomers). Now his head looks the wrong size for the rest of his body and the part I trimmed is a much lighter color than the rest of his fur. He’s asked me not to embarrass him by taking a picture of his current look. 
 

Mr. Bob

I went to another Bob Dylan concert. This one at a casino amphitheater about 35 minutes from my house. Trying to figure out an affordable way to get there and back was daunting since I don’t trust the condition of my car. But I figured it out thanks to my great acupuncturist (she let me know there's a free shuttle to the casino). The concert was great. I’m so glad to be going to live music events. 

My housemates were not at all happy about a late dinner. I made it up to them today by taking a rare vacation day, and thus enjoying a four day weekend together.  

 

Napper

Took a long nap with Alias sleeping on my legs. He likes to do that. And I like when he does that…
 

Hydration

I’ve told my housemates that during this oppressive heat it’s important to hydrate. Kenta took this to heart and tried drinking out of my water bottle. 
 

Contest

They are having a contest. Who looks cuter inside their favorite tunnel.

 

Love

I was having a difficult moment and Alias helped me out. He was napping next to me our faces facing each other. I matched his breathing. He’d occasionally partially lift his outer eyelid and his pupil appeared to look at me. It was a moment of pure love of another that lifted my spirits. 
 

My Lion

I'm wondering if I should trim Kenta's ever-growing mane. I swear it gets bigger every day.
 

Norma Jean Sez

Norma had to get that off her chest. 
 

Indoor Weather

We have a severe heat warning for the next few days. Kenta has a front row seat watching our world melt. 
 

Mount Catmore Candidate

I told Alias that he’s definitely both Norma and Kenta’s soul mate and then I admitted he’s in the running for both Theo and mine too. He is such a sweet inclusive fellow. And Alias is the only cat I’ve known to swish in a circle trying to catch his tail. He usually catches it but then pretends his energy was more about cleanliness than embarrassing behavior. 

I love my boy so so much. 

Charm

I was really happy Norma came out and ate her food when I was in California for both people that came over to feed her. This hasn’t been the case with past out of town trips. At the very least, I’m glad other people got to see her charm. 
 

Hangin’ Out

This is the last thing I saw as I left for work. I think Kenta’s living a better life than me.
 

Melting My Heart

There’s that old time song about dancing cheek to cheek. I’m going to have to write a new version about sleeping forehead to forehead.
 

Seeking the Warmth

Norma is seeking the love only the spotlight can provide.
 

Friends

Looks like Alias made a couple of new friends. I think they might be a little smelly though.
 

Disrupted

Kenta stopped greeting me at the door when I get home. At least yesterday he did come halfway down the stairs.
 

Gee But It's Great To Be Back Home

I had to go to work after getting home after 1 a.m. and asleep after 2 a.m. I had to do an orientation for three new volunteers. Luckily it was in the afternoon so I was able to sleep in a bit. When I awoke Alias and Norma were cuddled near my feet and Kenta was sleeping by my side. This has never happened before in the morning. I guess they forgave me for abandoning them.
 

Trip

 

Flew to Berkeley California early Saturday morning to see my 53rd Bob Dylan concert. He was sharing the bill with Lucinda Williams (who I'd seen a dozen or so times, even saw her get married at a First Ave show) and Meet John Doe. It was hard leaving my housemates behind but I arranged for a friend and a pet visitor from Rover.com that I had used before, to stop by to feed them. Also saw my 54th Dylan show (and Lucinda and John Doe) Sunday evening. I really enjoyed both shows. I've been having a hard time listening to music since 2020. I think I'm finally letting my guard down and opening my heart again.

Just got home and I have to work today. I was pleased that Norma came out to visit with the two strangers as did Alias (no surprise). Kenta was the most reluctant (of course he didn't skip his meals) which didn't surprise me too much. He definitely doesn't want disruption to his sense of security and our household's routines. 

Happy to be home but it's a tired kind of happy. My housemates are all letting me know they are glad I'm back but also wanting to punish me for leaving them on their own (relatively speaking).

On/Off

I tried several times to push the power button on the remote. Alias never powered up.
 

Exposure

For one so skittish, Norma often does sit belly side up.
 

Looking Out For Her 'Little' Brother

Kenta doesn't know how much his sister keeps an eye on him.
 

Norma’s Nighttime Routine

Norma does nightly squirmies on my desk. She’ll wiggle around, flip over and stretch out. Sometimes, she forgets that the desk has sides and she’ll fall over the edge if I can’t catch her.
 

Taking Advantage of the Space

It's a rectangle shaped bed and Alias, who isn't a rectangle shaped guy, does his best to cover as much real estate as possible.
 

My New Laptop Wallpaper Pic

This recent photo is one of my favorites of Norma and Alias together. It somehow both captures their individual personalities and their special sibling bond from day one. Forget all the clutter around them, I’ve sadly become more Oscar than Felix. That said, Norma and Alias are not an odd couple in anyway. They have always been a team together. 

I’ve been blessed to get to be part of their team for coming up on the past six years. I know Kenta is feeling the same way with his time with us.

Alias’ Haiku

Sunny day, warm face

I lie on his working space

Prevents him working