it continues

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

30 September 2020 - The middle of a work week really does seem like a hump, maybe closer to a hill that one has been slogging up.  So it is appropriate, even called for, to pause at the summit and gaze upon the stretch that lies behind, what has been accomplished.  Then there is that satisfying feeling of anticipation, the coast down the other side, propelling one into a weekend planned with fun activities (that may or may not happen).  This viewpoint is obviously antiquated:  my peeps report to the office whenever, and there are those whose services are needed/expected on Saturdays and Sundays (I won't even mention the pandemic).  Yet there is a learned exhalation of relief when one awakens to Wednesday.  My managerial advice is to take news, good or bad, lying down... it is easier on the body.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Work is a four-letter word,

but then so is life.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - remewneration, a pat on the head, a mere scratch of the chin, for services rendered

swank and guile

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

29 September 2020 - After yesterday's suggestion that I am a scaredy-cat, I wanted to balance my record:  I am fierce when the odds aren't stacked.  Just observe the tattered states of my meep toys!  And my incisors and claws are adept at shredding, although I try to be careful what I am destroying.  Quite unintentionally, and she will verify, I have left my mark on the shorter peep, an unconscious reflex prompted by being startled.  I do, as I said, try to be careful... but sometimes matters are beyond my control.  We cats are pint-sized predators, and our weapons serve to defend as well.  My domicile is an artificially safe environment (with the bad guys relegated to "out there"), so mostly I practice at being a watch-out-for-me beast.  Surely you can remember how much fun it is to swagger through a room (perhaps you still do?).

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

There is nothing wrong

with a healthy self-esteem.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - delicat, demonstrating finesse and subtlety (while skidding around the corner)

the devil you say

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

28 September 2020 - Periodically the peeps free from the closet a thing that menacingly moves through my safe spots, growling loudly as it goes.  I don't know its proper name (nor why they tolerate its evil presence), but ever since it roared through my I-thought-secret lair it has become my nemesis.  Now when I hear its almost comical squeak as it exits confinement (I don't dare snicker lest I give myself away), I seek asylum.  Its latest outing had me totally panicked... until I noticed the shorter peep sitting at the table, hunched over food.  Not wishing to die alone, I joined her... and escaped molestation.  I am not certain if this area is simply off-limits to the beast or if it knows to avoid my peep... but I am sticking with her next time it appears.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

I snarl "humbug" to the notion

that if it doesn't kill you,

it will make you stronger.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - despurrate, feeling that one is about to need the next life

the knack of being nimble

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

27 September 2020 - The story goes that George Balanchine told his prima ballerina to get a cat and watch how it jumps (and lands).  I am still in my gangly phase, but there certainly are felines who epitomize grace in movement.  There also is that notion that we always land on our feet (and that a perpetual-motion machine could be created by strapping buttered toast on our backs)... perhaps that is true, but I am not going to volunteer for the experiment.  I suspect I fall in the mid-range of agility and at the low end of daring.  And daring is what is needed to look up at a door, tall enough for peeps to pass through, and think, "I can jump up there."  And it is true that one doesn't know until one has tried... I'll continue to practice.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

We have the ability

to amaze.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - spurrightly, putting the purr in perky

piece of (my) mind

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

26 September 2020 - It is important to remember, especially when life is overly busy, to take care of one's self.  I reluctantly tear myself away from duties at the window, for a few minutes of well-deserved and needed relaxation, knowing that I can't be at my best if distracted and fatigued.  Besides, if the shorter peep is nearby, she deserves a smidgeon of my attention, even when the interlopers are clamoring.  The logical part of my head recognizes that there will always be interlopers (talk about job security), so victory will not be mine today.   Seen from that vantage, my responsibilities can be momentarily preempted for rest and camaraderie... and the strategic part of my head can determine a more effective attack.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

When viewed from the fray,

progress might not be evident.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - PURRpose, the reason for doing things (for others or, even petter, yourself)

you were saying?

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

25 September 2020 - One of the services I offer to my peeps is a listening ear.  If they wish to coo or need to complain, I am hear, er, here.  Without my presence, they could be accused of talking to themselves, but once I take up residence their verbal meanderings assume legitimacy (or at least attract fewer arched eyebrows... which I will remind you that we cats are incapable of pulling).  I wager my gain of a warm, comfy lap is more than they gain... yet who am I to say?  Both sides are aware that we don't speak the same language.  Another, little known talent of felines is to look engaged when in reality we could be far away, chasing imagined meeps, perhaps even dozing off with eyes wide open.  Because it is the listening part of this arrangement that is important to the speaker... there is no guarantee of hearing.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

To acknowledge the

other's existence is a gift.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

phrase of the day - purrick up one’s ears, to pay attention, to be (a) purresent

I found my thrill

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

24 September 2020 - Look what slightly cooler mornings have brought me!  Toys that move and react are so engaging... do you suppose my peeps are responsible?  The shorter peep found me at breakfast, guarding this window from feathered interlopers.  It truly provides top-flight, ahem, entertainment:  not only does it flutter frenetically from ledge to bush to ledge, but it also chirps!  I have been accused of chirping, but I sound nothing like this creature... at least I can't understand a thing it is saying, perhaps it hails from further north.  With all this activity on the domicile's western face, I must be careful not to neglect the other flanks.  But it will be hard to tear myself away:  these cat-chase scenes really stoke my adrenaline.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Life can quickly flip from

boring to breath-taking.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - anticicat, to expect and then take action in order to be purrpared

contra temps

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

23 September 2020 - I have mixed feelings when I peer out our domicile portals.  There is a huge, wild space beyond these walls, of which I was a denizen four months ago.  And then there is the comforting confines within these walls.  Part of me, no doubt the curious part, wants to check out this green, brambly unknown; the sensible part of me affirms all the positive points of my current life.  I am somewhat relieved to suspect the decision lies in the hands of my peeps.  They pass back and forth between these two worlds, but have not invited me to join them out there.  And if they did leave an exterior portal ajar, what would I do?  So far I am stretching my bravery by venturing into the screened area.  Even that at times seems too exposed, too noisy:  I am not ready to be more.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

The more one knows

the more questions one has.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purradox, the seeming contradiction of wanting and also not wanting something (or getting a desired thing and then not wanting it)

knock on wood

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

22 September 2020 - A reliable poker face is useful even when cards aren't involved.  I find it difficult to suppress looks of surprise (happening so quickly after the thing which caused them), but I am hopeful with other expressions.  A vacant look, coupled with an authentic yawn, could remove one from the line-up.  Large eyes dripping of innocence tug at a peep's heart, I have noticed:  "how could I even think the dear thing would do such a thing??"  Exaggerating one's indolence (which already is rated high by peeps) can be effective, suggesting that aerial escapades are quite impossible.  And then, returning to my original thought, there is just the fun of winning at the game.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Look down the road

to avoid the bumps.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - incompurrhensible, not able to be understood (I'm blaming cross-species communication)

to boldly go

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

21 September 2020 - It would be embarrassing to be a cat with acrophobia, a secret to bury in the backyard.  My peeps think me a tad skittish, but certainly not when I am perched on a ledge (of which there are quite a few in our domicile).  As house sentry I like the big picture, the overview of levels below.  Many times, high above the heads of friends and interlopers, my immobile form is undetected.  The things said and done when one believes he is alone, is surprising, sometimes revelatory about the character's character.  But it is a false sense of privacy when I am peering down from above.  We should all behave, regardless of the time of year, as if Santa is making his list.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

You never know

who is watching.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - sophisticatted, possessing worldly expurrience

as usual

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

20 September 2020 - "Guilty as charged"... although I don't know what the shorter peep thinks I am up to (nor will I volunteer any incriminating information).  There is a fine line, not always obvious to us cats, between exploring and poking about, and the latter sometimes provokes comment.  For large parts of the day our domicile is large enough for each occupant to pretend he/she is alone, and those moments permit me to do my job without opinions and obstacles thrown into my path.  I suppose trust must be earned, but my view is that I be given the benefit of any peep doubt (until it is obvious that I shouldn't).  Maintaining order, after all, is a combination of out-thinking and sometimes out-muscling the interlopers.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

It is hard to stay clean

around dirt.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

phrase of the day - purr for the course, that which is "normal" (but we cats have high expectations)

expectations

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

19 September 2020 - We do tend to have our favorites, although cats are known for choosing a new one every few months (our way of keepin' 'em guessing).  If I am not at the foot of the bed early morning, the shorter peep knows that I can most likely be found in the reading nook.  Don't get the wrong impression:  most books induce drowsiness in me... the exception would be one with lively pictures of meeps and beeps, etc.  But this chair, which also seems to be a shorter peep favorite, is very comfy for naps, regardless of the time, with minimal foot traffic (as I am a light sleeper).  Its one drawback is that I must share this seat, and the interruption is, I admit, annoying.  There is a positive note:  once the shorter peep has settled in, I can claim her lap (and some of her attention).

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

It is sometimes better

to give than to receive.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purrdictable, behaving in such a way that one can be second-guessed (not good if one is the guard cat)

buoy, oh, buoy

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

18 September 2020 - My kingdom might be under-appreciated by the 1%, but the relevant word there is "my".  I am quite satisfied with dinner under the verandah, pompons cheering me on, toys near at hand.  It is hard to believe, but the calendar has been checked:  I arrived here fourteen weeks ago!  New hires (and I would be referring to the two peeps) often get a three-month review, the equivalent of a thumbs-up/thumbs-down evaluation.  We cats don't possess thumbs, but we still can voice our opinions (we are not shy on that account)... and I see no pressing reason to discontinue a "good thing".  In fact, lest they read my middling endorsement and become discouraged, I would add that I'm looking forward to our future together (as soon as the home-improvement projects cease).

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Words of encouragement

cost little and return big.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - appurreciate, to recognize the value of something (hang on to that "beep in the hand")