Notes from a parish cat and his author Julie Mackenzie

My photo
I am Father Tom Fish, esteemed member of the religious team at Temptation of Christ Parish in the novels by author Julie Mackenzie. As to my background, I was invited into the rectory as a stray, laid on the charm, and was invited to stay, even honorarily ordained and no less spiritual than my sidekick Father Will. He dotes on me to high heaven and forgives all of my street cat proclivities, whatever the hell that means.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Jingle Bells Keep Falling on My Head

OMC!

I'm staying right where I am.


We're one week into the Christmas season and already the house is turned upside down.

I try to be helpful, but it's just too much for me.


We actually put the tree up Thanksgiving evening and it's so pretty even if I can't climb it anymore. When did the branches start growing so close together?


I love the lights and how pretty everything looks. I can't imagine not having this time of year. What if we never had holidays?



We're thinking of you as you prepare for a time of joy and treasured friends, not to mention food and treats. Since we'll be moving next spring, we're tossing a lot of things like..would you believe..twenty-year-old wrapping paper? I was wondering who those stick men with spears were..hehe. We even came across our blue Hannukah paper which is so pretty. You've heard of Hannumas, haven't you? (Seinfeld, they tell me~whoever that is)

Now, I'm off to find some mewsletoe for Tinker and Anastasia..

--Tom

* * * *

We're sorry we never knew Ms. Judi-bug very well, but the CB has lost one of its dearest folks this week. Our hearts and prayers go out to her family as Heaven welcomes its newest angel. Purrs..


Thursday, November 22, 2012

HAPPY THANKSGIVING


On this special day, we are thankful for all of the things we have. This is a day we count our blessings and are very grateful for the people who have come into our lives.

To our friends, we hope this day begins a season of gladness and treasuring the memories of those who gave us smiles in times we shared.

Speaking of happy happies, lookee here! ( ::very puffed up and proud:: )





We see Mitty!! Isn't this something?  Gracie, you did Mittens and the rest of the tabby crew proud! We know how hard it is to get everyone together, keep us all still in such close quarters, but you did it! hehe

Although Julie can be very forgetful at times, we didn't want the weeks to get away from us before we thanked Katie Isabella (Seven Things About Me) for our award. I would share stuff, but there really is nothing new to add regarding me or any of my kitty family members since we just did a Gotcha post a short while ago.

Oh, wait a minute--as a parish priest in my other life, I want to make sure you all know that I now have a confessional schedule (see sidebar). There's nothing I haven't heard. Remember, I am a former street cat.

Have a wonderful THANKSGIVING! To all of you and our furriends in Canada, UK and other countries, we thank you for your friendship, good will and supportive purrs and woofs in our times of need.

We're heading straight for lights and angel season which we love!




Hugs,

Tom, Julie, Mitty, Tinker and Anastasia

Friday, November 16, 2012

Is Beauty Only Floof Deep?




First we want to thank everyone bunches for coming to our Gotcha Day Party last weekend! We're still recuperating, but we had a great time, even if Anastasia ate all the hot dogs..hehe


We like to pick on her and I'm not really sure why. She's just sort of regal, stuffy fluffy and elegant, and not a little intimidating. I get all tongue-tied when I'm around her, so if I do make a wisecrack, I wisely do it from a distance.

Hey, guys, look at this pose, willya?



"The Taj Majal is my second home, thank you very much."





Besides her beauty, what I find amazing about her is her furs..she has Tinker beat and he has some pretty awesome floofs, too.





"Whaasmmmsffmmmmmmmsfmmmrr?"



 Kinda like beach surf in a way, and we are definitely at high tide!






And, me? Well, I don't have as much floof, I guess, but that's okay. Mitty doesn't have any at all and he's fine without it.



Mitty says: "I may not have floof, but I have hand-painted furs!"


Handsome and no floof needed.

To all you kitties with or without floof, have a great weekend!

--Tom




Friday, November 9, 2012

A Happy Gotcha Day Party Weekend!

HAPPY GOTCHA DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN
WE CELEBRATE WITH NIP AND 'HEN
LOTS OF LOVE AND HUGS COME OUR WAY WHEN
HAPPY GOTCHA DAYS ARE HEEEEERRRRRRE!!!!!!!!!!

Hi, effurrybody and welcome to our surprise Gotcha Day Pawty!

Three of us are celebrating Gotcha Days this weekend--me, Anastasia and Mitty!

Just look at this spread!




Come on in, help yourself to some nommies and yummies and a drink or two..
while we tell you our story..




First, let me get something to wet my whiskers and my whistle..
By the way, the purrbon is mighty fine. You might try one of the niptinis, meowgaritas, singapaw slings or other fancy drinks we have on hand..




Now to the gotcha stories, starting with me..

Mom Julie found me at the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk, Maine. Originally, my name was Jerry. She wanted me sooo bad after seeing me online and how cute I was. Well, fate made me play "hard to get."

Let me explain.

Setting clocks back and adopting me came hand in paw.




It was a comedy of errors. Mom Julie set all the clocks back in the house and forgot to set her watch. So, she arrived at the shelter an hour early, really put out and fussed up that it wasn't open. Then, somebody (after calling the nut house) leaned out the door and asked who she was looking for. "Jerry," she said. The lady checked and found out I was at Petsmart. Mom Julie then high-tailed it (hehe) down to the store and guess what--she didn't see me and the adoption place was locked up, not to open until a volunteer from the shelter came.

Well.
Mom Julie flipped her lid.
Decided to go shopping.
Came back.
It was open!

She saw me and fell in love with the funny way that I walk, all the toes on my paws, my face, and my overall drop-dead cuteness!




That was two years ago.

Last year, she went back to the same shelter after seeing Anastasia online.


There go the hot dogs!!


When Mom Julie arrived, someone else was at her cage! Oh, no! There they were--a volunteer and some other lady. How could this happen?! Anyway, back out in the lobby there were kittens.

That's when she found Mitty whose given name was Bolt. (what a perfect name for him that was!)

Then, by Cod, it turned out the other lady didn't want Anastasia after all.

The Mom was in love with two kitties at the same time! There was no way she was going to leave Anastasia behind. So, she adopted them both on the same day.

So, cheers! Happy Gotcha Day to all of us--me, November 9, 2010; Anastasia & Mitty (November 12, 2011, so we just say November 9th.

Look how grown up Mitty looks now (compared with his kitten photo in the sidebar)




Thank you so much for stopping by and helping us celebrate!

Hugs,
Tom, Mitty, Anastasia, Tinker and Mom Julie

Friday, November 2, 2012

Angels (Already?)

We're in the Christmas spirit and we can't help it.

It all started with an angel. Well, actually, make it two..three...?

About a week ago, we were told we were winners in a contest held by our friends at Ask Fisher. We entered because the book they were giving away had to do with angels and we have a thing for them around here. Mom Julie's convinced they exist. As a cat priest, I see them now and again, but not often.

Here it is when we first received it in the mail.




Oopsie, sorry, I'm in the way. Did you know bar codes have a smell? (hehe)

Anyway, here it is.


Hey, my whiskers look like heavenly rays!

 I'll just step aside now.






The book, as you can see, is CHRISTMAS ANGELS by Elaine Marlier.

We loved it. In fact, we read it in two sittings, and yes, it was easy to get into the Christmas spirit! It's the story of a homeless man who finds himself facing the holidays without friends or family. He catches sight of an angel in a storefront window and that begins a series of events that includes having his very own Angel, a dog who never leaves his side.

We're so happy we won! Thanks, Fisher and Jobi!

We don't want to forget others who have sent good things our way. Sage, our woofie friend from Portland, Oregon threw us a cupcake. Then, an award came to us from Sherlock, Ash and Traveler. Yay!!

Angels are everywhere.

Purrs...

--Tom