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

Wordy Wednesday: Happy Halloween!

 One of my favorite poets from childhood was Ogden Nash. He wrote funny lines about anything and everything. 

Like this one:

FLEAS

Adam
Had 'em.

On this Halloween, Tom has allowed me to share a poem I wrote when we had no power. I had just finished a task that no high winds, disaster, or anything else would ever interrupt and that is cleaning out the cat box. 

CLEANING CAT BOXES BY FLASHLIGHT

Oh, desert-like mounds
  in shadow and light
Hiding your treasures
  best as you might.

We sift through the grains
  to find leavings in store
Scooping the pooping
  by flashlight is more
Exciting than winning the lottery?
When we're cleaning and tilling the "pottery?"

Then all is darkness
  as the light is no more
Once again that scritch-scratching
  a sound we deplore

When our power returns
  and things are as they were
You'll find us scooping the pooping
  for our royalty in fur.

Well, you have to make light of our lot in life, my friends, no pun intended..

Hope you enjoyed our treat!

Happy Halloween!

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

(Nose) Kissin' Cousins

We love to visit our cousins since they're only a half-hour away. Recently, when I returned home, a certain member of our party stayed behind.

Mitty's been having the time of his life. Oh, he'll be getting back here one of these days, for sure, but meanwhile, he's visiting, particularly one little kitty who's right around his age.

Here's Minnie. She's just a few weeks older than Mitty, who's about a year old now. (We'll celebrate his Gotcha Day in November)

 Look at the cute spot on her nose! She was rescued from the streets as a tiny kitten by my mom's daughter and her fiance.

They're ignoring each other here, but, trust me, they play a lot.

Who?  Where?

 Originally (this summer), the intent was to give Minnie a playmate and find Mitty a place to go while Mom Julie was getting the house ready to sell. People in and out, it was not the best environment for little Mr. Curious since none of us are outside kitties.

Our other cousin is GubInATub, called Gubby for short and the inspiration for Mrs. Gubbers in my Father Tom novels. That came about since he reminded our mom of when she visited Brooklyn and saw elderly women leaning on windowsills, seated next to their flowerpots, talking to people out in the street. He sits on his elbows in the hole of his cube the same way.

Older at seven and more laid back, he's not interested in tussling about.

And, last but not least is the debonair Chewseph (Joseph). Another kitty rescued, very bothered by Minnie when she first arrived, now is willing to play when not composing. It's brought out the kitten in him again, he being a couple of years younger than Gubby.

He says, "You'll enjoy my rendition of 'As Time Goes By.' "

White paws together, like white gloves, he's ready to play the piano and will tickle the ivories for head scratches and some treats in the nip tip jar.

So, that's been Mitty's home away from home, getting a lot of attention, play time and my human doesn't have to worry about him.

Oh, he'll be coming back. I miss the heck out of him, but I'm going over this weekend to get my nails done my meownicure and visit.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

--Tom

My Job Interview and Job Hunting Tips for Cats

I decided this week I would help out a little around here by finding myself some part-time work, and I've come to the most interesting conclusion.

ANY JOB THAT INVOLVES STRING IS OUT

I thought I had a good chance at getting a job as a puppeteer. You laugh, but I'm telling you, I was a shoo-in.

I was good at manipulating string and I could make the parrot do anything I wanted it to do. After all, I was a cat, wasn't I?

The interviewer said I had remarkable skill with my paws, but it was the string that was holding me back, distracting me, making me want to play instead.

My furriends, I totally embarrassed myself. I was playing instead of auditioning for the job! I recovered by saying the whole thing should be a cat toy, anyway.

We shook paws and I left, but I learned a lesson. I wasn't going to be like the puppeteer in the Sound of Music...odlayeeeeoooooo, darn it.

Not if there are strings attached!

Here are some suggestions the next time you're out looking for work:

JOB HUNTING TIPS FOR CATS

1. Enter the reception area, meow your arrival, and take a seat. Do not sniff corners, chair legs or turn the butt toward the lady behind the desk.

2. Remember to bring phone numbers for references. No Twitter handles, blog nicknames, or names of best buds now in the slammer.

3. Wear a collar. This is expected. It should be conservative, indicate gender without any over the top flairs. And, this is not the time to play guess my after-shave.

4. Look intelligent. No funny faces or goofy smiles or Tickle Me Elmo imitations.

5. Get to your appointment on time. That means no alleys, no nip stops, and watch the fish breath.

Good luck!

--Tom

Pee ess: We might want to share some of this advice with our woofie furriends, too, hehe!

Born on a Mountaintop

We haven't the foggiest notion how this came about, but the other day, Mom Julie started laughing over what I thought was nothing. Tinker was under this bench-type thing, watching the leaves come down and all she could see was his back and tail.

Now, I know we've probably had enough of the tock subject, so I knew it wasn't that..

Look closely, and what comes to mind?


Big and round with a tail attached?

 Of course! Fess Parker as Davy Crockett and his coon skin cap.

You could put Tinker on your head (your hair might get a little messed up, tho) and you'd get the same look, hehe

So, anyway, with a human around here who has nothing better to do than think up stuff, we salute our own king of the wild furrontier, Tinker.

Heard the temperature is going to drop over the weekend. As my wise old grandpaw Tom always said: "Never pass up an opportunity to cuddle."

The man was never cold a day in his life.

Cheers!

--Tom

'Tocktober Rocks!

Hickory, dickory docks

The first Tom's 'tocks

We're showing off our 'tocks

Miss Anastasia Fluffybottom

They are so fine

Some say divine

::cat calls, whistles::

 But, I'm hiding mine

         In a box!

Happy October, furriends!

--Tom

Forgiving Fate

They gave us joy and we miss them so. Words are so difficult as expressions of grief run deep and can only be translated in times of silent sorrow. In knowing them, however briefly, we were blessed:

Angels Trapper, the first Tom, and Vinny;our friend Lee Hudson and others close to our loved ones

For the rest of us, we promise to live strong--guided by friends, hope and prayer, and not least of all, love and caring.

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

(We don't expect comments today as so many are doing their own special remembrances which we all share. We just don't know how to turn off the comments window. ~Blessings~)