everyday

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

31 Aug 2021 - I am definitely feeling more at home... I've even auditioned the guest quarters.  It has its good points:  an afternoon sunny patch, the quiet of a dead-end street.  Yet the head pats are scanty back here, so I find myself hanging out more and more in grand central station.  All the resident noises, so strange upon arrival, are now sounding more familiar, i.e., less threatening.  So much so that I have caught myself running, tail high and sideways crooked, just for the pleasure of it.  And with this uptick in comfort level, the shorter peep is once again the prankster, peeking around corners, jumping from behind doors.  Fun has returned.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

The hermit life

isn't for everyone.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purrdestrian, uneventful (just like the cat ordered)

bolt out of the blue

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

30 Aug 2021 - Another door has been opened, and I have a new space to explore.  This room is quite different from the rest of the house:  it smells more strongly of earth and has more sun exposure.  The latter point has made an impression, as it offers the most warmth... and you know that I am a big fan of heat.  Yesterday qualified as chilly, so I spent most of it "out there".  Yesterday also contained peep strangers, giving me another good reason to stay sequestered.  At least these weren't the exploring sorts, so I was aware of their presence only by voices and, once they had been driven off the premises, by all the strange smells for me to process.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

A warm heart keeps

the torso from freezing.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

phrase of the day - at a loss for purrds, surpurrised by events (which isn't always a bad thing)

ya don't say

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

29 Aug 2021 - One doesn't have to speak the language to get the gist of the conversation.  There is a certain tone of peep voice that is a summons (as a cat I am compelled to delay my response by three minutes), another that is a rebuke (to which I skedaddle), and many others which are lumped into "aren't you a good boy".  The latter I enjoy receiving, more evidence of what I believe to be true... and sometimes they are accompanied by treats, even better.  The way to my heart is an abundance of head pats, varied by chin chucks and brushings, but most importantly in my peep interactions is a soothing demeanor... I am still dealing with trauma.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Quiet is a great healer.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

phrase of the day - meowther tongue, the patois learned as a kitten, as mom roughly washed his face

what now?

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

28 Aug 2021 - Despite the sun's valiant efforts, today is a dim replica of yesterday:  where has all that lovely heat gone?  The porch chimes were clanging away all afternoon, perhaps for the laying to rest of summer?  I sincerely hope not, for it is my paws-down favorite season.  Normally by mid-morning there would be a thin mesh of screen separating me from out there, but so far the shorter peep, despite going back and forth, has without fail shut the door against the chill.  It still allows visual contact with interlopers, however the nose is hampered.  Now I have a new task on my to-do list:  locate patches of warm sunlight in which to bask.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

The beating is worse if you

don't roll with the punches.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - meow swing, the abrupt switch from happy to glum, measured in tempurrature units

by the book

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

27 Aug 2021 - Some things change, some things don't:  it would appear that my peeps must have reading material and games wherever they are.  I am fine with these habits, especially since while they indulge in these pastimes, laps are available.  Typically at twilight, almost everyday, they cease whatever they're doing and meet in the pictured room.  I occupy one end of the sofa, to be sociable (and to keep an eye on my charges), and don't begrudge a thoughtful head pat.  It is a needed wind-down to what have been busy days at this tucked-away place.  Other than an increase in beep activity, my interloper intervention remains nominal.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Change, while disruptive,

isn't always bad.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purrcedure, a fixed and proven program for meowtaining order

sky-high lark

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

26 Aug 2021 - Perhaps I am finally settling into my new digs.  Enough days have passed that I don't immediately fear being stuffed into a bag... but it isn't far from my thoughts.  Most noises have yet to be classified, so the loud ones are sufficiently startling to send me running from the room.  But there are times when I let down my guard, and act silly (the shorter peep's description, not mine).  These playful moments do both of us much good, and I rather enjoy being the resident clown, romping about with tail aloft and crooked to one side.  The taller peep proclaimed that this picture is not very flattering, but I rather fancy its light-heartedness.  The world is in short supply.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Live up to your

own expectations.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - tomcatfoolery, behavior occasionally indulged in by felis catus

a real trouper

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

25 Aug 2021 - Unbeknownst to me, my favorite meep toy stowed away... and I am slightly miffed that it didn't warn me of the upcoming travail.  But I don't hold grudges long, and I've had some moments of abandon knocking it around the floor.  So far I haven't seen any of the real sort, although their scent was strong when we arrived.  The shorter peep has explained to me that their eviction is my number-one priority, and my efforts appear to be working.  I hear that some of the animals in these parts grow quite large, and I have zero experience with those that would arrive by water.  I hope that oversized doesn't apply to the gnawing kind (or I may have to start lifting weights).

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Live long enough, and

you'll have to learn new tricks.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purroven, reliable (it's who I am)

decisions, decisions

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

24 Aug 2021 - Cushion-testing, if done thoroughly, requires time and attention to detail.  Lacking an opposable thumb, I must take notes and tally scores in my head (and you wonder why frequent naps are required?).  Each spot, to remain in the running, must have more positive considerations than negative... but that reckoning isn't as simple as it sounds.  I have realized that certain factors are more important to me, and thus should be given more weight.  For example, an outside view (and all that lovely natural light) keeps things from getting dull, but I also want to keep an eye/ear on my peeps (without being underfoot)... and depending on the time of day or night, they frequent different rooms (could things get more complicated?).  Until a verdict is reached, I remain nomadic.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Someone sitting down on

the job, might actually be thinking.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purripatetic, on the meowve, often due to work demands

Dharma karma

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

23 Aug 2021 - Although I haven't gone "out there", this end of the sofa is ideal for keeping an eye on the lake-side happenings... plus my peeps often hang out here.  Slowly I am ranking the possible snooze spots, with safe and comfortable being high priorities.  I do regret the time spent sorting when I already knew the answers back at our home place.  Is this abode our new home place?  Since I do not know the answer (and the peeps aren't forthcoming with an announcement), I must accept the present reality, make the best of its offerings, map out routes to hiding places, and choose the cushiest cushion.  At least the interloper population is considerable smaller... I already have a full plate of tasks.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

A big problem is best handled

as a bunch of small problems.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - meowntor, a survivor who can act as a guide through life's mine field (cat chance)

limited engagement

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

22 Aug 2021 - Reconnaissance keeps me on the move.  I do take the occasional break to eat, sleep, visit, but there is so much to explore, to file away.  My nose is  overwhelmed with new smells, some funky (and never forgotten), some teasingly familiar (but how could that be?).  As I probe the corners and crawlspaces, I have encountered a few dandy places to wait out an assault.  Just yesterday a strange peep broke through our walls, and I had to quickly seek out such a place.  You might tsk-tsk me for leaving my two undefended, but my contract explicitly delineates the extent of my job... and something that outweighs me by a factor of five or more is their problem.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Respect your circumstances.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - dampurr, something that lessens your enthusiasm (self-purreservation?)

don't bother

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

21 Aug 2021 - The shorter peep and I work well with routines, and finally familiarity is creeping back into my life... such as our communal breakfast.  While the house is quiet, she and I can start our day together.  It isn't the same room or the same floor or the same bowl, but even so recognizable (same kibble, thankfully).  Mid-morning, dependent upon the taller peep's rising, we meet again.  This time the rendezvous spot is the bed, where I enjoy a brushing.  I suppose I qualify as a creature of habit, but after several chaotic days same-old is very soothing to my jangled nerves.  Let's just say for the present I am steering clear of rocking chairs.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

If you must choose between

bad and less-than-good, pick the latter.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - fluspurr, to unsettle, to throw off balance (not easy with a cat)

trauma center

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

20 Aug 2021 - Things are looking better!  There appears to be some version of a porch, the space near and dear to my heart "back home".  Although my peeps have gone back and forth, in and out, I have not... does this place have a personal portal?  But I am not complaining, as my level of courage isn't sufficient to venture out there... yet.  My time (apart from the much needed sauna session) has been occupied with familiarizing myself with this unknown space.  Am I still on the job?  If so (and the shorter peep nods "yes"), I must learn the ins and out of my current situation.  The layout doesn't appear as complicated as "back home", i.e., no stairs encountered, no ladders... definitely more cobwebs.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

What doesn't kill you

is still a pain.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - meow-blowing, emotional distressing (shame on you)

human, we have a problem

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

19 Aug 2021 - Well, the good news is that the jostling and noise have ceased, and I am no longer a zoo animal in his cage.  But one look out the window confirms my fears:  I have no idea where I am.  In addition to a new location, could I have traveled to another season?  This weather couldn't possibly be anyone's idea of summer.  The taller peep called this closet with its own heater (unfortunately not turned on) a sauna... I picked it purely for its dark corner and peripheral location.  Although several times my peeps have peered in, I have been allowed to remain hunkered down, chilling from the past two days of trauma.  I would much prefer baking on my screened porch.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

How much nicer if everything

came with its own reset button.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

phrase of the day - having lost one's purring, not knowing one's whereabouts (and not in the mood to hum)