Chores

This was what Diego-san was doing while I was outside on a very hot and humid day trying to get the lawn mowed...

Theo's Joke

Theo: "Hey Thompson. What did the one wall say to the other wall?"

Thompson: "I do not know."

Theo: "Meet you at the corner!"

Thompson: "Whatever."

Professional Lounging

Believe it or not Thompson is not a natural lounger. He works hard, practices every day at being a good lounger.

Yoga Time

Diego-san leads us through our morning yoga session.

The Drinker

Theo has learned a great deal from his older brothers. One thing Diego-san has taught him is the proper way to drink.

The World's Watchguard

Don't worry world. Diego-san is keeping a close eye on you.

I've Just Seen a Face

"I've just seen a face I can't forget the time or place where we first met..."

Take Your Positions...

You snooze, you lose.

Resting Up

Theo's resting up for the weekend. He needs to conserve his energy in order to run around like a cat possessed.

Bananas

I finally got around to replacing Theo's favorite toy- a stick of dynamite stuffed with catnip. The pet store didn't have dynamite however- they offered me a choice of a banana stuffed with catnip or a cigar stuffed with catnip. I jokingly asked the sales clerk if she thought Theo would mind that I wasn't buying him a stick of dynamite and she answered me all seriously, "Oh as long as the texture is the same... I don't think he'll mind..."

I went with the banana in honor of Daisy's late sister Pixie who loved bananas. The boyz all enjoyed the purchase although as this video shows, their message for their buyer was that he should have realized bananas come in bunches and it probably would have been better to buy three bananas and not one...

The Latest Plan

This was Diego-san's strategy in trying to prevent me from going on my latest trip. Fortunately for me I was able to coax him out of my luggage by offering another furminator session.

35 Hour Train Trip

Had a very short west coast trip... flew into Seattle on Friday morning. Took the Amtrak to Los Angeles. Flew back home last night. It was a lovely train trip- going down the coast and seeing mountains and the ocean.

Where's Daddy

Theo is wondering when his papa is going to come home...

The Race

My favorite part of this video is Thompson feels he needs even more of a challenge so he races through the tunnel creating an obstacle course for himself...

ShhhhHH

Maybe Diego-san won't even notice that I'm gone taking another quick trip...

Health Day News Article

One of my favorite things Thompson does is when he tries to do the kneading thing on my chest it's like he thinks his missing leg is still there and I can see that side of his body twitch in rhythm as he purrs away...


Three-Legged Dogs Aid in Robot Design
How they compensate for missing limb may help scientists design robot that adapts to 'injury'
-- Robert Preidt

WEDNESDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- The movement of three-legged dogs is being studied to help scientists design robots that can adapt in the event of an "injury."

German researchers used high-tech infrared cameras to record the movements of dogs missing a fore limb or hind limb as they walked and ran on a treadmill. The tests revealed that the dogs used different coping methods, depending on which limb was missing.

Adjusting to a missing fore limb is more difficult for a dog than dealing with a missing hind limb, for example. Fore limb amputation requires the remaining limbs to undergo careful adaptation to coordinate with each other, a process called "gait compensation." In the case of a hind-limb amputation, the fore limbs continue to act as they normally would in a four-legged dog, so there is little or no compensation strategy.

The difference in compensation strategies may be due to the fact that a dog's fore limbs carry more body weight than the hind limbs.

The research is slated to be presented Thursday at the Society for Experimental Biology's annual meeting in Prague.

More information

The American College of Veterinary Surgeons has more about dog and cat leg amputations.

Lifestyle Changes

Thompson is the only one of the boyz who spent part of his life as an outdoor kitty. Most of the time he seems content with indoor life. And sometimes he even seems to want to be an even more indoor kitty by finding a spot in the house that shelters him even more...

Teamwork

Thompson and Diego-san are putting their own personal spin on the old 'pat your head and rub your belly at the same time' exercise...

Par-tay

This is as wild as Theo's birthday party got....

Hideaway

Thompson is hoping his tunnel hides him from Monday.

Happy Birthday Theo

Today is Thelonious Dribble's designated b-day. Thompson, Diego-san and I wish him a very happy birthday...

Are You Talking to Me?

Are... you? talking... to... me!

Pile o Kitties

Last one aboard actually gets the best spot...

Beggars Can Be Choosers

Didn't take Theo long to find a new favorite toy- it's a little faux burlap sack (filled with catnip of course). It kinda looks like a sack of potatoes and it's clearly not as explosive as a catnip filled dynamite stick but Theo has adapted quickly. Still I think I'll be good to my lil guy and replace the dynamite stick ASAP.

R.I.P. Dynamite

I had to throw away Theo's favorite toy, the dynamite filled catnip stick. I would hide the dynamite stick underneath all the other toys in the boyz's toy box, but inevitably Theo would dig it out. Unfortunately he ripped a hole in the side and the catnip was leaking out all over the place so I threw it away. Theo keeps looking for it though...

Hey Good Lookin'

I had a spontaneous contest yesterday. I called out, "Hey good lookin'" and Thompson was the first to look at me. I guess he won that contest.

This Looks Like a Good Spot

Bed? Who needs a bed when you can just plop yourself down anywhere to take a nap...

Whap

Theo has an interesting relationship with Diego-san. Sometimes I think his pestering of his older brother is all about challenging who is the alpha male in the house. Other times I think he just wants Diego to like him more by playing with him...

Message Received

I told Thompson I was planning on just taking it easy this weekend. He seemed to agree that was a fine idea.

Nope

I did not obey Diego-san's order yesterday. I did point out to him that if I do obey such orders he may be short of food and shelter some day soon.

Thursday with Diego-san

Diego-san has requested that I clear my schedule and spend the day with him. Stat.

Stunned Disbelief

I told Theo we were going to take a picture of him where he doesn't look totally stunned by something. This was our first attempt. I told him we'd try again later...

Negotiations

Diego-san: "Hey Thompson, I'll let you be in my dreams if you let me be in yours."

Thompson: "ZZZzzztzzztzzz."

No Nap

Went to the Twins baseball game so I didn't get to participate in the usual Sunday nap with the boyz. Diego-san was pretty riled up when I got home...

And on the Seventh Day...

Black and Blue

Last night playing softball, I took a ground ball off the thumb on my right hand (note to self- it's easier to catch a softball with your gloved hand rather than your bare hand). My thumb turned all black and blue and is rather swollen. This meant that when I got home I couldn't pick Theo up like he likes. He also wasn't sure what to make of the new color of my thumb.

A Positive Negative

When I say Diego-san can be a shadowy figure, I don't mean that in a negative way. He's such a handsome boy no matter the light.

First Come, First Serve

Hey boyz... leave a spot for me...

His Own Abilities

Thompson doesn't know anything about having tunnel vision but he does know a thing or two about being a tunnel sleeper (and one with multi color toes as well).

Fool Me Once

I've learned not to just throw my dirty clothes on the ground at night. That's because when I wake up in the morning and don't put on my glasses on the way to the shower, a pile of dirty clothes is pretty much indistinguishable from... And certain housemates don't appreciate getting stepped on.

Our Lil Puppy

Theo spent most of the weekend begging me for attention. He would sit on my lap for a while, kneading away, then he'd decide he needed to lick my arms. He'd jump down, get back up and head butt me. He'd get back down and weave around my legs. Previous evidence confirmed... I swear he has some puppy blood in him.

Last night I was lying on the living room sofa and it occurred to me something strange was going on- for the first time all weekend, Theo was nowhere in sight. So I got up and did a quick search through the house for him. I returned to the living room and this is what I saw... He had been underneath the pillow my head had been resting on. He hadn't made a peep so I guess I hadn't squished him too badly...

Peony Time

One of my favorite times of the year... the peonies are bloomin.

Sunrise

Saturday is as good a day as any to catch the sunrise with your best buddy.

Every Day is a New Day

I must say I truly admire Theo's wide eyed wonder to all things new and all things familiar in this world...

Chillin' with T

Thompson seems confident that everything has returned to normal so it's time to do some serious chillin'.

Pleased

Although the hired help did a good job, Diego-san is happy his regular personal groomer and butler is back.

Dear Dear Dear Dear Dear Santa Fe

Got home from a brief jaunt to New Mexico. The boyz were pretty happy to see me and pretty determined to let me know it had been close to 24 hours since they had last been fed. I was really impressed with Santa Fe. It's a beautiful city with a wonderful art vibe. I told the boyz if we ever decide to move out there, they are going to have to learn how to become kowboyz...

Sigh

Get the Boy a map

Theo doesn't know where New Mexico is but he knows it's far enough a way to disrupt his routine.

The Boy in Charge

When the boyz are left on their own, somebody has to take charge. Since Diego-san seems to think he's in charge even when I'm around, I officially delegated the responsibility to him before I left.

My Summer Vacation

I'm off to Santa Fe and Albuquerque. The boyz are on their own for a few daze...

Not a Pretty Sight

Theo doesn't like the look of the suitcase that just got pulled out of the closet...

Weather Update

There was some very loud thunder last night and one particular boom sent both Diego and Theo scrambling for cover. Thompson remained calm and in his favorite cat tree. That surprised me a bit since Thompson can often be the most skittish of the boyz. Maybe he got used to thunder claps during his time as an outdoor kitty many years ago...

Hotenuforu?

The temperature just kept climbing today. It got in the mid-90's and was extremely humid. This isn't weather most people would associate with Minnesota in mid-May. I didn't realize it was going to get so warm so I didn't turn on the air conditioner for the boyz. I think they were concerned that the earth had broken out of its orbit and was hurtling towards the sun...

May Day

It got up to the mid-80's here yesterday and it was rather humid out as well. There was a slight breeze blowing in one of the living room windows so that was a very popular spot to rest...