shiver me timbers

Me-ow-my-oh!

Me-usings and Me-emories

30 September 2017 - What does one do on a black night?  Well, I hang out with heat sources, i.e., my peeps and their wood stove.  The shorter one was gracious enough to warm my own towel, once she departed for bed.  So I survived a cold night here in the hinterland.  Isn't it time to head for a warmer latitude?  Unfortunately I am a passenger without the independent means to get myself south.  I can do only what my species is known for:  persistent meowing and sleeve tugging until they figure out what I am communicating.  After a thirteen-year relationship, I have sufficient data to know, sooner or later, they will comply.

methodology of the meow-stro

 

 

 

Today's Catechism 

(for the self-taught)

Sweat or sweaters?

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purrspire, to cool the skin through evaporation... seldom needed by us cats

whiz kit

Me-ow-my-oh!

Me-usings and Me-emories

28 September 2017 - An apple a day doesn't keep blah weather away, but how would my peeps occupy their time on a staying-indoors Thursday without their machines?  My appreciation of these things is two-fold:  1)  whatever makes them happy, and 2) my own personal space heater.  The shorter peep believes, and I see no reason to correct her, that I hang out on the adjacent window ledge just to remain close.  That is partly true, but I primarily show up in the office to get/stay warm.  That is the not-so-cold truth.  I understand that when these machines first appeared on the scene sixty years ago, they were virtual furnaces.  Not all progress is a good thing.

methodology of the meow-stro

 

 

 

Today's Catechism 

(for the self-taught)

Don't let the fire go out.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - entrepurrneur, organizer of a business, at the risk of falling off my perch

spoilers

Me-ow-my-oh!

Me-usings and Me-emories

27 September 2017 - It is difficult to look happy when one's eyes are rolled back in one's head, but I assure you that I was purring away.  The shorter peep and I spend considerable time together, when neither of us is working.  Her lap is quite comfortable and, more importantly, available.  What sort of friend keeps you at arm's length for fear of messing up his/her clothes?  As if peeps are not guilty of shedding hair and tracking mud... what can I say:  life isn't pristine and sterile.  My peeps, while neither slobs nor neatniks, understand this.  It is just one of their many admirable traits.

methodology of the meow-stro

 

 

 

Today's Catechism 

(for the self-taught)

Germs want to be shared.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - exempurry, faultless (I said I didn't do it, and I'm sticking to my story)

run-of-the-hill

Me-ow-my-oh!

Me-usings and Me-emories

26 September 2017 - I have an acre, more or less, of primary responsibility, although I do venture onto neighboring property as part of my sentry duties.  The square footage may sound minimal to peep ears, but if one calculates a ratio of four cat strides to one peep's, one might better appreciate the physicality of my job.  But walking is hailed as an excellent life-long exercise, so in many ways I am fortunate to do work that benefits others as well as me.  Plus my "office" is the great outdoors, and that adjective is spot-on.  So many peeps exist in tiny, noisy cubicles for one-third of their adult lives, and live for their annual bonuses.  My bonus is handed out daily.

methodology of the meow-stro

 

 

 

Today's Catechism 

(for the self-taught)

Look where you are stepping.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - pawdestrian, ordinary and unremarkable only to dullards

I'm a thorough breed

Me-ow-my-oh!

Me-usings and Me-emories

25 September 2017 - Our roof, deck, and walkways are being assaulted by woody cannonballs.  I understand the biological imperative to reproduce, but by the hundreds?  And their loud thuds and bounces into surrounding terrain keep me constantly on sentry:  was that the twig snap of something sneaking onto the property, or just one of those head-cracking acorns seeking fertile ground.  The situation is on the verge of being labeled a hard-hat zone.  With my long axis horizontal to the ground, body armor would offer better protection...  but I am appalled by the thought (and at the subsequent pictures).

methodology of the meow-stro

 

   

Today's Catechism 

(for the self-taught)

Being conked on the head

doesn't always produce

profound thoughts.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purrone, inclined to influences (also my favorite position)

5.0 on the Itcher scale

Me-ow-my-oh!

Me-usings and Me-emories

24 September 2017 - Several days ago this deck could have been ridden like a bar's bucking bull.  I watched, as I don't need to test by sure-footedness in such a public way.  Evidently my peeps felt similarly because no one walked out during that blow.  However, this morning's patrol has opened the pier once again for foot traffic.  The lake is silky flat, completely unthreatening (that is, if you are nonchalant around large over-your-head bodies of water).  Taking the lake temperature is not in my job description, so jump in at your own risk.  There is no life guard on duty.

methodology of the meow-stro

 

 

 

Today's Catechism 

(for the self-taught)

We live by ranking peril.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

phrase of the day - purrk up, to become more pleasant to be around (as weather or outlook)

have words, will unravel

Me-ow-my-oh!

Me-usings and Me-emories

23 September 2017 - One shouldn't go to sleep mad:  if you were concerned that the shorter peep and I had knocked heads yesterday, smooth those worry lines.  Neither of us left the scene with a grudge, and shortly thereafter I was curled in her lap.  All altercations should conclude so peacefully:  the disagreement is stated, solution agreed upon, and issue set aside.  Holding anger sours my stomach and causes more fur loss,.  I have more self-respect than to beat myself up.  Besides there are perks to forgiveness:  for one, I get to make my bed on  her discarded clothing.

methodology of the meow-stro

 

 

 

Today's Catechism 

(for the self-taught)

Both sides need their say.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - expurrt, knowing enough to keep unsolicited advice to myself (which could explain the Cheshire grin)

wise guise

Me-ow-my-oh!

Me-usings and Me-emories

22 September 2017 - Yes, idle cats can get into mischief.  Most of my unoccupied time is put to the good use of napping.  However, sometimes I have had enough sleep and toy with trouble.  The shorter peep was unfortunately watching my plan as it occurred to me, and put the nix on it pronto.  I wasn't offended by her contrary suggestion (delivered at a certain recognizable pitch... the volume indicating the severity of the thing... this particular shenanigan rating perhaps a 3 on a 10-point scale) as she saved my expending, just for the heck of it, a bunch of energy.  In fact, now that I am revisiting the moment, I think that I had decided not to follow through on my lark just milliseconds before her comment.  Her remark was totally unnecessary.

methodology of the meow-stro

 

 

 

Today's Catechism 

(for the self-taught)

Self-governance is

the least irritating.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

medicine of the day - aspurrin, something that relieves the pains of living with peeps

fickle relish

Me-ow-my-oh!

Me-usings and Me-emories

21 September 2017 - I haven't auditioned to be the shorter peep's sous chef, but I find it advantageous (and don't forget helpful) to be near the kitchen when she dons an apron.  Not only do I get to participate vicariously in meal preparation, but occasionally the result is mine.  Unfortunately there is no announcement to that effect, so I must hang out, bide my time, just in case.  What a terrible waste to appear on the scene, and discover my saucer of chow has dried out in my absence.  No, I am not big on delayed gratification:  now is always better, although I am not always successful in convincing you-know-who.

methodology of the meow-stro

 

 

 

Today's Catechism 

(for the self-taught)

Show your enjoyment.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - satiscat-tion, the fulfillment of one's needs through the filling of one's belly

amen-able

Me-ow-my-oh!

Me-usings and Me-emories

20 September 2017 - I have noticed that when Nature turns threatening, my peeps tense.  Evidently they haven't noticed that trees survive a wind by yielding to the blow, by bending and bowing... to be rigid is to snap.  But then, how effective is my advice to "relax"?  So I have happened upon a much more helpful approach to peep anxiety:  be a visual reminder of what relaxation looks like.  Other than my trips to the vile vet and through airport security, I am the picture of carefree.  Let's hope for "peep see, peep do".

methodology of the meow-stro

 

 

 

Today's Catechism 

(for the self-taught)

It pays to be flexible.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - coopurration, the process of helping peeps find their purr

zip purr

Me-ow-my-oh!

Me-usings and Me-emories

19 September 2017 - Were it not for my white socks, you might have trouble making sense of the picture to the right.  I am napping on a window ledge that provides a convenient overlook of our front yard.  I am conducting a virtual patrol of the property from here, mainly because the outdoor conditions are so uninviting.  Eventually I will stir myself to put boots on the ground, but what is the rush?  Nocturnal prowlers are the major threat in these parts, and the sun (as best as I can determine) is still up.  I suppose we need days like this to make us appreciate truly glorious ones, but repeated lessons are not necessary.

methodology of the meow-stro

 

 

 

Today's Catechism 

(for the self-taught)

Take your time.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

lyrics of the day - "Slow down, you move too fast.  You got to make the morning last." 

~ The 59th Street Bridge Song

purr found

Me-ow-my-oh!

Me-usings and Me-emories

18 September 2017 - Another day, another week, meh!  There are several reasons why we cats don't wear wrist watches:  bands are never small enough, the asymmetric weight would be annoying, and most importantly, we don't care what time it is.  Call us what you will, cats sleep when they want, eat when they want, do what they want.  This outlook on life is why many peeps prefer dim deeps:  we are self-centered creatures.  (But then so are peeps... the maligning may be because we are too much alike.)  I can, and do, feel affection and gratitude toward my peep mates, but eschew announcing these feelings with a marching brass band.  Subtlety is one of our fortes.

methodology of the meow-stro

 

 

 

Today's Catechism 

(for the self-taught)

Please don't shout.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - inpurred, suggested by evidence and reasoned through our gray-tabby matter

a yawner

Me-ow-my-oh!

Me-usings and Me-emories

17 September 2017 - Variety definitely spices up my life.  I am prone to sleep in the same spot, eat the same foods, behave in unsurprising ways.  But every now and then, I mix things up.  I can't recall the last time I napped in this particular living room chair... the living room, yes, but the chair, no.  The reasons behind this change-up don't warrant exploration:  I just felt like it.  And the feeling may not come upon me again until next summer, who can say.  There are a number of points that recommend this particular spot, so I don't regret the decision... but it is unlikely to become a habit.  I have enough of those already; reread the second line.

methodology of the meow-stro

 

 

 

Today's Catechism 

(for the self-taught)

"To be expected" is typically

said in hindsight.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purrdictable, living in one's comfort zone (no wonder we have nine lives)