You Gotta Get Up in the Morning

It's a heck of a morning. I'm sure Spouse and Son think so. You see, Firestar, our self-appointed alarm clock, has been of the mind that it is time for EVERYONE to be awake and active. Not just he and me. So for the past two hours he has been patrolling the hall outside the bedroom doors - and inside the master bedroom - calling revelry.

Not so loud as a bugle, but just as annoying. Even to me sitting at the desk wide awake. Well, awake.

Cats don't use a clock to tell time. It seems they use sunlight. And with the sun rising earlier and earlier each day his wake up call is coming earlier and earlier.

I'm not keen on moving clocks forward and backward, but I expect Spouse and Son can't wait for the clocks to jump ahead. So it's dark again at 6 a.m..

Some days I can pick Firestar up, rub his head with my chin, set him on the rocking chair, and watch him go back to sleep. Not this morning. He's up and about.

Most annoying. And I'm not even trying to sleep.

Better Than Catnip

We don't get catnip toys for Firestar anymore. But don't think he's being deprived. There is another "toy" which he actually has been enjoying far more than he ever did his old catnip mouse.

What's cool about this "toy" is that it's something we use on a regular basis ourselves. So not only does Firestar have a constant supply of something fun to play with, but we benefit directly from it, too. And it isn't tremendously pricey!

Cool.

So, what is this new toy?

Dryer sheets.

You know. Those scented things like look like thick tissue paper you put in the dryer to remove static electricity and provide a nice, fresh smell to the laundry.

Well, Firestar goes nuts with them. He plays with them for hours. The only real problem is he doesn't let us throw them away. He hides them and we have to wait until he brings his entire stash out to play with. Then he has anywhere from two to six sheets he rolls around with. At that time we toss some, but always leave him with a stash to keep himself occupied. Having him chew on those instead of our hands and arms is much better.

Playing with dryer sheets. That's how dull it can be in an apartment.
.

Firestar Escapes

Yesterday, Firestar left the apartment on his own. I was bringing Son back from school and Spouse opened the door for us. That was the moment Firestar had been waiting for. He dashed around feet and into the hall. I saw him slip by and turned to go after him.

No need. By the time I had even turned to see how far he had run he was stopping and dropping low. Apparently, the long hallway was an entirely unexpected occurrence. He wasn't sure what to make of it, but he was sure he didn't like it. He turned and slinked back into the apartment and jumped on the office chair next to mine. I came in and sniffed noses.

He probably won't be doing that again. At least, not for a while. But some of his curiosity about what draws people out that door has been resolved. He must think we're nuts. What could we possibly be doing out there in that long hallway?

I ask myself the same question every time I walk it.
.

Must Have Been the Aftertaste

Hmm. Yesterday I posted how Firestar and I are buddies. I think he must have read the blog because I haven't seen him all morning. At least four hours.

So much for the flavor of the month.
.

True Friends

Looks like I'm flavor of the month again. Firestar has been keeping close today. Not all day, but for the past couple of hours anyway. I was out at the desktop computer and he came to sleep in the chair next to me. I got up to come to the bedroom while Son was (is) doing his music. Firestar came and lay down on the floor at my feet.

It's difficult to explain fully, but to others who live with animals there is no need to explain at all. Having cats, dogs, birds, or whatever find one likeable is a wonderful feeling. It is probably one of the truest forms of friendship there is. When an animal accepts us, we know without question that it is accepting us for who we are and not because of any gain it gets. After all, they are not always friends with those who give them food.
.

Cheshire Firestar

Today is Rabbit Hole Day. It honors Lewis Carrol, who wrote Alice in Wonderland.

The big thing about Alice in Wonderland is the Cheshire Cat. The big, grinning, cat.

But you know what? I got to thinking. I bet Firestar could produce a big, toothy smile, too. So I decided to give it a go. This is what I got.

It's Back to the Routine

Happy New Year everybody. I hope you made it through the holidays all right.

With Son returning to school Firestar and I will be returning to our daily routine. He likes (sometimes) to keep me close. When I go for a lay down he comes into the bedroom and lays near (without touching). When I wake and head back out to the desk he will follow and take the second chair, which is within arm's reach.

This is our routine. And here is what Firestar looks like doing it.


.

Merry Christmas

On behalf of Firestar and myself I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas - even if you don't adhere to the holiday. I hope it is a good time for you.

Cat and Bird

There was a cat and there was a bird and they were friends that’s what I heard
The cat was grey and quite a fellow, the bird was flighty and painted yellow
The two would play around the yard and hit each other but not too hard
It was all in fun like friends should be and they sat together in a tree
At night the bird sat in its nest while the cat went in the house to rest
This friendship lasted through long days until days grew short and they parted ways
The bird the cat did never eat instead it savored the bird’s sweet tweet
Would that people could from them learn and be nice to each other in our turn
.

Thoughts Behind the Looks

So I was holding Firestar this morning. He wanted to fight (play) and I didn't. So he didn't want to hang around me. I wanted to calm him down so he would quit biting so I didn't let him go right off. I just kept petting him until he actually did calm down. I was actually amazed he let me think it worked.

When I let him go my nice clean shirt was covered in cat hair. I complained, telling him I had cat hair all over my chest. He looked at me with doleful eyes as if to say, "What are you bitching about? I have that all day every day, dummy."
.

The Cat's Tale Waving

I am considering turning off access to this blog and shutting it down. Should make a decision by Thanksgiving. But even if the blog continues it is not unreasonable to think I will be making the decision again later.
.

The Cat

The cat was known as Firestar
He wandered here he wandered far
His teeth were sharp and he bit quite hard
Often he bit this timid bard

But a cat is gentle a cat is soft
So when a cat stalks through the loft
Be sure to know it’s on patrol
To find something new is it’s only goal

Things that move it’ll pounce upon
From late at night until early dawn
And if in bed too long you lie
The cat out of reach will loudly cry

If cries don’t work it’ll jump on you
And getting up you have to do
And once you’re up the cat is gone
It’s running off but not for long

For soon it steals its way back to bed
And lays down nearly where you put your head
It falls asleep as if to say
You sleep at night and I sleep at day
.

Firestar's Diary

Hello. It's Sunday (I'm told). First or last day of the week, depending on your perspective. For myself - I don't care. My days are all pretty similar.

Let me demonstrate.

5:00 a.m. Sleeping on rocking chair. Bevie gets up and turns on light. How rude.

5:30 a.m. Spouse gets up and wanders around making noise.

5:45 a.m. Spouse leaves apartment. I now wander around meowing loudly. This is to get Bevie's attention.

6:00 a.m. Sitting on chair beside Bevie. Every time Bevie's arm moves close I bite it. Not hard. Just enough to entice play.

6:15 a.m. No play. Just back scratches. Not bad, but not what I wanted. Go to bedroom and sleep on Bevie's bed.

8:00 a.m. Return to main room. Sleep on rocker.

9:00 a.m. Son is up. Son comes to rocker and gets bit.

10:00 a.m. In Son's room sleeping on Son's bed.

11:00 a.m. Back in master bedroom sleeping on Bevie's bed.

12:15 p.m. Fill out blog entry and return to bedroom. Sleeping on Bevie's bed.

These busy days just wear me out.
.

Here's Firestar

Nearly a month since anything has been posted here. Sorry. Posting to blogs isn't an easy thing to do right now.

However, Firestar is still alive. Not going to say well because I think he's incredibly bored. Like Spouse and Son I think he was kind of excited to be in a new place. No stairs meant life was easier on his legs. But now he's discovered the other side of that coin. There aren't any windows to speak of. Two. One in each bedroom. And then there is the sliding door which leads to the deck. But there are no rabbits and few birds. And Firestar seems to find people watching a dull activity.

So, he walks around the place crying out for something to do. Son will toss his toy for a while, but Son is also bored about the place. But circumstances have allowed for Firestar to find a few creative outlets.

Hide and Seek is a game Firestar enjoys. This is a throw rug in the foyer just outside the kitchen area. With no windows to speak of the place is quite dark and we have to have lights on even at noon. I had to lighten up this image so I could see it on my dark monitor. Hope it isn't too much for those of you with newer monitors. This is where Firestar lays when any of us returns to the apartment after leaving him alone.

King of the Mountain is a newer game Firestar's discovered. He jumps from box to box until he can nearly touch the ceiling. He's even taken to sleeping up there. That's a unicorn bedspread he's sitting on. You can't see the unicorn because it got reversed when Son did a reconassaince through boxes in search of a specific hat.

Not sure what he's looking at. There's nothing there but the ceiling. Maybe he's praying we can find a different place to live. A prayer I share.

.

Temporary Shelter

So, it has been about a month since the last post on this blog. We haven't disappeared entirely, although it might seem like it. Life just isn't filled with a lot of happiness at the moment. Of course we are aware of others who are suffering far worse than ourselves, so that our approach to our own unhappiness seems even petty. But there it is. It's all we've got.

Not a lot to say. Just felt I should let those who might be interested know we are still alive and as well as we can be at the moment. Still waiting for that rainbow to shine a pot of gold upon us. Maybe tonight, right?

It hasn't all been unpleasant. In fact, I believe I can honestly state that of the four of us (myself, Spouse, Son, Firestar) there is one who is still happy about the move. Spouse and Son were excited - until we actually arrived. They've changed their tunes (as I knew they would).

But Firestar is happier, or seems to be most of the time. I think I know why. Stairs. He doesn't have to navigate any now.

The house was five levels, and we spent most of our time on levels one and three (with one being the highest floor). Firestar's personal bathroom (litter box) was on level four and his food was on level three. He liked to sleep on our bed, which was level one, and he liked to watch the rabbits from ground floor, which was level four. So, here is a typical day in the life of a cat in a five floor house.

Wake up on level one and go down thirteen steps to level two. Go down four steps to level three. Go down thirteen steps to level four. Use the litter box. Come back up thirteen steps to level three and get something to eat and drink. Go bother Bevie at the computer. Go back up four steps to level three. Go back up thirteen steps to level one and take Bevie's place on the bed. Repeat this scenario several times during the day.

Here at the apartment/flat there are three rooms. The living room is nearly filled with boxes, two office chairs, some banquet tables, a glider rocker, a treadmill (which won't work at the apartment), and a desk. There is a two foot wide path allowing passage from the kitchen to the sliding doors.

Son's room has no space for walking. His mattress takes up the room's center, his dresser one corner, his book shelves an entire wall, and his saxophone and tuba another corner.

The master bedroom actually has the most open floor space, but no wall space. Boxes have been stack too high.

So, Firestar never has to go very far at all before he has reached the end of how far he can go and has to turn around. We have the same problem, but it doesn't seem to bother him as much it does us. Even so, I think he misses the rabbits. And he has been going stir crazy more often this past week. Perhaps the novelty of living in a different place is wearing off for him, too.

For your (possible) enjoyment/amusement, here are some pictures Son and I took at our current place of residence.

Son doing his daily exercise under Firestar's intense tutelage.
Actually, this becomes my sanctuary to escape snores in the middle of the night.

Firestar after one of his campouts.
Actually, Firestar has a penchant for crawling into sleeping bags, under blankets and towels, and going to sleep.

Another good idea shelved.
This is one of two desktop shelf units I used at the house. After this picture was taken the shelf units were both moved and now I haven't a clue where they are - beyond some place in the apartment.

Local friends having a quiet chat.
When we first arrived there was a flock of swallows who were convinced our deck belonged to them. Haven't seen them now in more than a week.

Reflections of a cat's life.
This was taken from the deck. Firestar is in Son's room looking out. The glass is reflecting the pool area and parking lot below.

It isn't home and it isn't sweet, but this is where we live now.
It's a corner apartment, so the first two windows from the deck are Son's room and the master bedroom. The air condioning box on the wall has to cool off the entire apartment. That's all right this year because it's been so cool. My plastic white rocker, which is older than Son, is finally cracking apart. But I kept it anyway. It's one of the more comfortable chairs we have. We can't keep windows open long because absolutely everyone around us smokes and the smell congregates in that corner. Son actually gets sick and has to go back inside. I grew up around cigarette smoke, so it's only a nuisance for me.

What a bath tub!
Actually, it's our pool area, shared with about one hundred other units. The sign claims forty people can be in there. Maybe. If they're all leprechans. For normal sized people, though, I would say ten to twenty is max. And on the best days that is about how many are in there. Son and I had it to ourselves one day - when it wasn't too cold.

A symbolic end to a day and an era.
This was taken by Son from our deck, which faces west. It wasn't the prettiest sunset we've had, but it was nice. We're out of the house now, and unless it starts to rain money down upon us we will probably never again see the inside of one we call home. I must say, none of this makes any sense to me. But then I've always been thick.

.

Comments for August Kitten of the Month

Shut Down

I apologize up front for this post's connection to cats is at best - remote. Stretched like cat gut harp strings. (I've played harp strung with cat gut.)

The past month or two I have often neglected this blog in favor of other things, and for that I also apologize. But now I am taking something of a forced sabbatical. I will be offline for a time. Any time from a day to infinity. Chances are it will only be for a few days, but there are no guarantees. So I want to take this opportunity to thank you cats, and cat lovers, for your visits and your comments.

Check every few days to see if anything new has been posted. If September arrives and you still haven't seen anything new you will know things have gone poorly. There are two more days for me to post, but I'm not sure I will on this blog. My mind is a bit stressed right now.

So, if you will, play the following YouTube link and sing along. This is what I'm listening to at the moment and this is how I'm feeling. You take care now, you hear?

Meow.

You tell 'em, Firestar.

Everytime that I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face gettin clearer
The past is gone
It went by like dust to dawn
Isnt that the way
Everybodys got their dues in life to pay

I know what nobody knows
Where it comes and where it goes
I know everybodys sins
You got to lose to know how to win

Half my life's in books written pages
Live and learn from fools and from sages
You know its true
All the things come back to you

Sing with me, sing for the years
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears
Sing with me, if its just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good lord will take you away
(x2)

Dream on, dream on
Dream yourself a dream come true
Dream on, dream on
Dream until your dream come true
Dream on, dream on, dream on...

Sing with me, sing for the years
Sing for the laughter and sing for the tears
Sing with me, if its just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good lord will take you away

New Kitten of the Month

Sorry I am late with this, but we have a new Kitten of the Month. She's a cute and shy little one named Tara.

Comments for July Kitten of the Month

Cats

The cat would walk around the house and meow at this or that

It rubbed its head on legs and chairs, because it was a cat

The cat would jump on window sills and stare out at the birds

And when a human called its name, it feigned it had not heard

At times the cat would sit on laps, and purr loudly half asleep

Other times the cat restlessly, about the house did leap

Aloof, alone, the cat did roam, and own the house it walked

And the looks it gave when spoken of, showed it knew of human talk

The cat comes not at request of others, for that it does ignore

Obeying others is not its way, what an unpleasant chore

But be interested in something else, and soon the cat is there

Demanding your attention, to show it that you care

Some do not care for cats at all, they hate the cat’s strong will

They do not comprehend the fact, that cats and love us still

We need not cat’s compliance, nor need them to obey

They need not come because we ask, nor remain when we say “stay”

A cat need not be else but what a cat can only be

A creature loving as ourselves, who just needs to be free

And so when a cat will come to me, because it wants my touch

That a cat should want my touch, you see, means to me oh so much