Moving Day, Pt. 1

The next two days are going to be stressful times a billion. Thankfully the payoff is a bigger space for me and the boys to run around in. We are giving up modern convenience, (washer/dryer, dishwasher, ELEVATOR) for "old world charm," hardwood floors and the ever popular 3 1/2 flights of stairs. It crossed my mind that the boys are big enough now that I could strap saddles to their backs and load them up like Grand Canyon pack mules. But you know cats. They're such complainers. I would have to listen to them all day whine about how "Albert's carrying less stuff than me. It's not fair." So, into their carrier they go, never having to lift one furry little paw. Wish us luck!

Happy H.Y.C.S. (for specifics, see below)

The boys were so tiny and fragile when I first got them home...

They both would sleep in this bed thing for hours because it was in front of the window and warm..

They didn't totally fit, but they managed. And now...

They are so freakin' big...they can barely fit one of their furry butts into the bed roll. It just blows my mind.

Am I the only who thought kittens stayed small forever?

These pictures make me smile because I remember the day I got them home and how scared I was that I had forgotten how to take care of kittens and what if they didn't like me. Now, here they are, happy, healthy and so big, all within in a matter of months. I go between feeling like I've had them for years and remembering like it was yesterday, the first time I saw the Livermore Four over at the IBKC. They have filled my life with love, insanity and so much more. I know I won't be waiting for May 15th, National Hug Your Cat Day. I'm off to wrangle some kittens and cuddle them for as long as they'll let me.
So, in the spirit of snuggling, Happy Hug Your Cat Sunday(H.Y.C.S.) everyone! Enjoy.

But They're MY Toys!

My boys are spoiled rotten and because of that have a ton of toys they don't use. I had the bright idea to pack these toys and take them to the new place. You know, cause we're moving and all.

Elvis must of thought he would never see these toys again because he put up the biggest fuss. HE DOESN'T even play with the things in the box but because he didn't have them to NOT play with, he freaked.

Albert, on the other hand, couldn't have cared less. He just kind of watched Elvis with this look of total embarrassment, like, "Dude, chill out!"

My threats and finger pointing had no effect on him and in the end...

I just let him stay in the box. No wonder this move is taking so long.

He's cute...

Just a couple of things. Please notice the droopy whiskers, kitten lips and teeth, neck and ear floof and the handsome lil' pink nose. This look just SCREAMS, "I love you mommy, now please hand over that delicious food thing you've been waving over my face for the past 5 minutes."

naughty

Somebody was being very destructive and noisy this morning and got kicked out of the bedroom. He pouted behind the couch until it was time to eat. Then, wouldn't you know it, he was purring and wrapping himself around my legs, begging to be picked up and me-rowing "Good Morning." Apology accepted mister.

Couch Potato

As part of the Great Move of 2009, I was forced to clean under the couch. Out came all of the magazines, socks, utensils, and whatever else I or the cats shoved under there. Albert couldn't be happier.

He spends most of his time under there napping, playing and apparently using the sides of my poor cushions as scratching posts. He has also managed to perfect the most AMAZING trick. Bear with me as I try to explain it...

He lays on his back right under the edge of the couch. He then hooks all four pairs of claws onto the couch above him. From there he scoots on his back all the way around each of the four corners. But really fast. It so funny because it looks like he's walking upside down. Again, really fast.

I hope that makes sense. He literally looks like a cartoon character.
You know the ones where the cat shoots up and clings to the ceiling after something scares him.
Except he is hanging on the couch. He's a strange cat sometimes.

Anyways, other than the Indy 500 going on under the couch, not much is going on.


We should be in the new place by next Thursday and ready to post more frequently.
Have a great week!
P.S. I have no idea why random sections are underlined. That is a bug to be figured out at a later date.

The Reward for Being Such Good Helpers

Mom: Elvis, I have a present for you!

Mom: Close your eyes...3..2..1..OPEN!!!


Elvis: Man o man o man. Is that a mouse? A tasty, furry, yummy, jumping mouse...

Elvis: Oh boy, it is, it is...
Mom: (throws mouse across living room)

Elvis: Gotcha.

Mmmmmm.....

Mm-Mau..

Mm-row...

Me-row...

Meow!

Since posts on new adventures are on the back burner until the move is complete, I figured some fun Tabby legends were in order. I've often wondered about the fantastical "M" most noticeable on Albert's forehead and to a lesser extent, on Elvis's. This is what I found...

"Probably the most distinctive feature seen in common on all tabby cats is the "M" on their foreheads. You will also see this M on many of the big jungle cats, such as tigers, cheetahs, and ocelots.

From the ancient Egyptian days came the first legend about this unique marking. Cats were called Mau, most likely a reflection of their conversational sound. The word Mau also translated to seeing, or light. Since cats' eyes appear so luminous at night, it was only a couple of steps further to associate these glorious animals with the moon, and their marking to reflect that relationship. The Egyptian Mau is a direct descendant of those ancient Egyptian cats; domesticated as an offspring of the African Wild Cat, it carries the M to this day."

It seems I now owe Albert and Elvis an apology. I incorrectly inturpreted the ruckus going on between the hours of 10 pm and 3 am as annoying cat antics when in reality they were just following the ancient cat-raditions of moon worship. So sorry fellas.

Choices

Elvis's butt certainly wouldn't be my first choice as a nap location, but hey, whatever floats your boat...

The Great Move of 2009

The cats and I are both so exhausted from packing, paint prepping and moving that our only downtime is spent napping on the couch or, if you are Albert, napping in empty boxes.

Luckily, the packing upheaval doesn't seem to bother them too much. Boxes are their new toys, and if I didn't know better, I'd think they were teething. There are literally hundreds of holes chomped into the box flaps.

I have some great moving photos that are sure to entertain. Unfortunately, the cord for downloading is somewhere in a mess of other cords, packed in a box which of course was left unmarked because I am lazy. I think I will buy a new cable and not stress too much.


I am posting these pictures to tide everyone over and because I feel they capture the very essence of our cat/human relationship. They love me enough to let me make silly cat faces for the camera, and I love them enough to only do it once and let them go back to sleep.
Happy Monday everyone!

Shenanigans...

The gist: Both of the boys were getting treats last night. Albert, notorious for eating slower than a sloth, or whatever eats really slow, was still on his first treat by the time Elvis was through with all 3 of his. Elvis then bullies Albert away from his treats and before I can stop him, has swallowed both of them whole. I give Al two more treats, none to Elvis, (much to his very vocal dismay), swatted Elvis out of the vicinity and I returned to whatever I was doing.

I'm guessing Elvis was none too happy with his lack of treat and decided to teach Mommy a lesson about with-holding food, i.e. love.

The ruckus I hear in the bathroom about 15 minutes later is nothing new. The boys like to horse around together in the bathtub and I'm fine with that until I realize Albert is asleep in his chair and Elvis is making all of that noise by himself. Instantly alarmed I run into the bathroom and find...

Well, I'm sure you've guessed by now what I found.

1 slightly miffed kitty + 1 innocent roll of toilet paper = Elvis's Ultimate Revenge

BECAUSE OF COURSE IT WAS THE LAST FREAKIN' ROLL OF TP IN THE ENTIRE HOUSE.

The Icky-Poos

Whew!!!! It's been a super gnarly couple of days around the manor. First of all, I decided to move, which is stress enough as all of you know. Then, horrors of horrors, I got food poisoning that lasted about 24 hours. If you've ever had food poisoning you know that one hour feels like an eternity. I was so ill I didn't even realize there was an earthquake until I read the boys comment page this morning. We are fine by the way. Things are starting to perk up around here, though, and I was able to view a really fantastic apartment this weekend which I know the boys will love. It is much bigger than our home now and full of windows and light. Best of all, outside of the bedroom window is a huge tree. With birds. And squirrels. I think we're gonna like it there.

P.S. Both boys were award-winning nurses this week. Albert curled up on my tummy like the best-est of hot water bottles and Elvis was right there with his head in my cup of water, sipping and testing it to make sure it was safe for my sensitive body to drink. At least... that's what I think he was doing.