Three Blind Mice

I got Stanley a new package a those little realistic looking mice toys today while I was in the supermarket. I actually planned the purchase while driving to the store. I was feeling bad for him since these little mice toys are his favorite and his most recent one (and only one in the house) had gone missing. The supermarket had a package of a dozen of them for around $6 ($0.50 per mouse does now seem a little steep, but the pleasure they bring him and the laughs it brings MacPro and I are priceless). Earlier this evening MacPro brought the remains of these toy mice to me in the kitchen. Apparently I had forgotten to put them in the toy cabinet and had left the package sitting in the living room. Stanley, in his attempt to get them out of the cat-proof packaging decapitated at least three of these poor mice. The living room is a mess of little pieces of fake fur, eyes, and chalky insides!

"Three Blind Mice" - Original work by Stanley The Manly

Enjoy ~SJ

Zen Cats

Is this what they ponder all day while we are at work? This is a new comic, Speed Bump, that I learned about from a fellow cat loving co-worker. If you find that you like Speed Bump you can even RSS Feed it into you Google Reader. It seems a bit like Far Side, and Close To Home.

Enjoy ~SJ

Views And Thoughts From Cat World

While I have been up to my ears in research articles and objective writing (including high Bloom's Taxonomy words of course), the cats have been having quite the day. Here are the views and thoughts of their day....

Phoebe watching the blue jays, "If I could only get outside...."

Sitting on the back of Feeder #1's office chair, "Hold on tight with the claws, you never know when she is going to move!"

Phoebe visiting my desk, "Since sitting on the back of the chair didn't get her attention, try sitting next to the laptop on top of important papers. Might as well wash my side, I think it got dirty jumping up here."

"When all else fails, take a nap"

"And when that gets old change positions, and take another nap."

Enjoy ~SJ

Cat Scratch Fever!

My Best Friend is in the hospital tonight, for the second night, due to a deep cat bite. Yes folks, you heard it right, she is in the hospital for a cat bite. Her cat Emma got scared by a dog and in the process of fleeing the situation she bit her owner on the thumb. My Best Friend woke up the next morning with a "sausage thumb", after hours in the hospital and multiple visits she had to undergo surgery on the thumb to clean out the infection. She is hoping to be out of the hospital tomorrow, but the joking will never end. Cat bit, hospital stay, surgery!

I have always had funny nicknames for her, Betty, Jelly Bean, Pickle Face, Quizno, but now I will have a whole new category of nicknames for her. Oh the joys! Once you get over your cat bite you can pick on me for posting this lovely photo of you with a pickle on your face.

Enjoy ~SJ

C Is For....

Cat!

I know that you all know I am a appreciator of the feline kind. Through my life I have almost always had a cat in my home. These felines have always held a special place in my heart, one of the most special ones is Sterling Silver.

My Mother rescued Sterling from a pet store after multiple visits. They met each other prior to My Mother's back surgery when My Father would take her on short drives to get her mind off the pain. Sterling made sure that when My Mother was in the store she played it up extra how cute and tiny she was. Since Sterling was the runt of the litter she was an exceptionally tiny kitten. So small in fact, she needed to step to get in and out of the litter box.

Sterling was a loyal cat, who would rearrange her busy day when you were sick to lay in bed with you. She always greeted you at the door when you came home, and was always polite around visitors. Sterling was known for her "voice", and used it often. On one occasion a telemarketer thought Sterlings "talking" in the background was my baby crying!

Sterling had a silvery colored coat, thus the name, complete with double paws, huge ears and eyes, and no tail. My Mother and I always joked that she was too busy making sure that she got nice fur, ears, eyes and paws, that she forgot to get in line for a tail! Tail or no tail, Sterling is still a purrfect cat in my book.

My Mother and I always joked about Sterlings extensive "life" outside of our home. After September 11 we decided that Sterling had become Jewish "to be show her acceptance of diversity". This fictious story extended to the observation that the "Shalom bus would pick her up to go to Temple on a weekly basis". The stories went on and on..... the never ending creativity.

Sterling started out as a childhood cat, and then once My Mother started going to Florida for the winters, she become my first pet as an adult.

She enjoyed spending her summer days chasing the ducks up the stream and the chimpmunks along the rock wall. In the winters she found a sunny spot in the house to take long cat naps.

Like all cats Sterling got old, and after 14 years of being my loyal cat it was time to say goodbye. I burried her behind the house in an area that she enjoyed spending her summer afternoons. Her grave is marked with a small pile of stones and a marker reading "In memory of a faithful friend and companion".

Enjoy ~SJ

Hosting Poncho?

My favorite daily laugh is Pooch Cafe. The creator of Pooch and the gang, Paul Gilligan had a stuffed Poncho created to travel around the world to loyal fans. I put my name in and can only hope that I get to show Plush Poncho the sights of Maine. When/if I get him, I will post plenty of pictures. So please Mr. Gilligan, if you read this send Poncho my way, I promise the cats will be on their very best behavior!

Enjoy ~SJ

Now We Know....

The Music Man and I have had several heated debates pondering "Do cats have an extended thought process?" SJ passionately argues the affirmative, while The Music Man passionately argues the negative. He asserts that while cats may have some memory, it is very short term.  I think that Pooch Cafe may have set us all straight this morning.....

Enjoy ~SJ

Now I Know

Have you ever wondered what your dog or cat is thinking? Well this email I got from a dear friend might give us all a little insight.

DOG DIARY:
8:00 AM - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 AM - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 AM - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 AM - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 PM - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 PM - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 PM - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 PM - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 PM - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 PM - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 PM - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!



CAT DIARY:
Day 983 of my captivity. My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Bastards! There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage. Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe.... for now....

Remind you of a furry friend that you know?

Enjoy ~SJ

A Good Friend Once Said

When my life recently took a complete 180 degree turn and very good friend of mine gave me the following advice:

Drink chamomile tea, pet your cat, start a blog, talk to your friends, go for long walks, but don't get back together with someone who sucks the person-hood out of you.



I have been drinking plenty of both tea and coffee. Not only have I been petting my cat, I even got a new cat. Blog, check - the most wonderful thing I have done for myself in a very long time. Talking to my friends - yup sure do that - and I talk to my mother ever day! So, I have followed all of her advice, other than taking the long walks due to the horrible weather that we have been having. Now I truly am feeling as though life is really better and that I am healthier. Thank you for the wonderful advice Beth!

Enjoy ~SJ

My New Toy!

Bil Keane, the creator of Family Circus has a guest cartoonist from time to time, his son. Well, my blog has a "guest" writer, my cat Stanley. From time to time Stanley will weigh in with his opinion of his world.

Stanley The Manly reporting from Worthley Pond. My Feeder got me the greatest new toy this week. It is better than the string on a wand toy, or even my rattly mouse! Her name is Miss Phoebe and she is only 10 weeks old. Now, My Feeder prepared me all week for her arrival, and even made me wear a tie (see photo). I of course very excited, since the arrival of Miss Phoebe meant that I would have someone new to play with. See, My Feeder isn't home all of the time to play with me, so she got me Miss Phoebe.



Miss Phoebe arrived on Wednesday afternoon in one of those horrible crates used to transport us. She waltzed quickly out of the carrier and I knew right off that My Feeder had gotten me THE most wonderful new toy. Unfortunately all she does is sleep, eat, and poop, and so far has not lived up to my grand expectations of playing all of the time. I can only hope that when she gets bigger I can train her to play all of my favorite games, including fetch the rattly mouse!

Stanley The Manly