many-sided

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

31 Jul 2024 - I have a good line of sight up our western flank, and from an elevated position that can go unnoticed by the approaching interloper.  Mostly alien peeps use this path, so spotting them early allows sufficient time for me to skedaddle.  But I have also seen large four-legged things that snatch on grass and bushes, before bounding away into the woods.  The parade of creatures, including these infrequent visitors, keeps my job varied and exciting... and keeps me on my toes (a cat's life can't always be a snooze).

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Variety is the spice

(maybe cayenne pepper) of life.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - meowtifarious, of many and diverse types (i.e., interesting)

hairy times

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

30 Jul 2024 - I like nothing better than stretching a warm body.  Without the need to hoard my internal heat, I can roll on the boards and reach my full, impressive length.  The pesky squeeps, I've noticed, do the same thing, but while hanging upside down on a tree trunk... I think they're just showing off, true to their cheeky personalities.  My bit of derring-do is to trust the floor will be there and to execute a full roll-over.  Stop your eye-rolling:  there is a moment, with my gaze up, all four limbs skyward, when who knows what will happen.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

The risk-takers die young.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - hazpurrous, full of possible danger to a cat

difference of opinion

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

29 Jul 2024 - Look at all that sharp light that I am forced to gaze upon through the inconvenient portal... I will try once again to get the shorter peep's attention, so that she will open the door, and allow me to be about my interloper business.  While I wait for her assistance, think of all the impertinences the ne'er-do-wells could be up to!  Eventually I will gain entry to my personal screened deck, and can do my rounds, redrawing the line which the enemy is forbidden to cross.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Conflict seems unavoidable.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - altercat-tion, a squabble (but the cat is always right)

the trouble with trouble

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

28 Jul 2024 - "One if by land, two if by sea"... other than the pair of daring dim-deeps that not that long ago assaulted our domicile, the local interlopers travel in larger groupings.  Perhaps they feel safer in numbers, maybe their kind naturally hang out in bunches, but if I spot one I know to keep watching.  Only recently I have seen a flotilla of large beeps (they do fly but mostly I observe them sitting on the water) slowly passing by my personal screened deck.  Several of them nosily explored the shore beneath me, but despite their size advantage, they are easily shooed away.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

A crowd of unrulies does

grab one's attention.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - insupurrdinate, defiant of a cat's authority (and, what is worse, badly behaved)

bright-eyed

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

27 Jul 2024 - Welcome, Mr. Sol, please come in and stay a while!  I have pushed my grumpy thoughts aside (for another grey day), and am soaking up the bright warmth.  How quickly our moods can switch, from dreary to cheery, and who doesn't prefer the latter?  To make up for the past few days of gloom, I have spent extra time on my personal screened deck... and the interlopers are likewise energized by the warmer temperatures (so I'm truly not goofing off "out there").  Life is once again good.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Sometimes what they

say is true.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - smeowling, a cat's subtle expression of happiness

downcast

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

26 Jul 2024 - The shorter peep assures me that we'll see Mr. Sol today... but he has yet to arrive.  Yes, the air isn't milky and the sky is a lighter grey, but neither of these conditions qualifies as sunlight by my definition.  Still I am hopeful... my peeps aren't wisecrackers (but do they know what they're talking about?).  I will keep circling past my personal screened deck, in hopes of finding signs of summer, but at least I have my job to keep my thoughts busy.  The routine will steady me, keep from curling up in a corner and chucking the day.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Sometimes we need

a ray of light.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purrumph, a cat's grumpy expression of disapproval

ups and downs

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

25 Jul 2024 - I hate grey days.  It isn't a dislike for the color itself, but the absence of Mr. Sol that is depressing.  Without sunshine I am forced to find warmth where I can... no wonder I am grumbly today.  A roundtrip of my personal screened deck doesn't encourage loitering;  at least inside our domicile the wind is not felt.  This weather downturn has upset my routine and ruffled my fur.  I'm sure more likeable temperatures will return (eventually), meanwhile I must find a place to hunker... a nap would be a good way to pass the time.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Must smooth sailing

always end in a storm?

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - turpurrlent, characterized by disorder and upset (bring back Mr. Sol)

the daily bind

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

24 Jul 2024 - It may not appear that much work is getting produced, but that is the burden of us office managers.  My day is consumed by organizing the two peeps, herding the countless interlopers... and truthfully not much progress to show at the end of my shift.  It would be very depressing if I allowed myself to dwell on the same-old-same-old, but thankfully I am a cat, a species focused on the now.  So what if I am doing the same thing tomorrow:  I enjoy what I do, and that is satisfaction enough.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

It is only a rut

if you wish to go elsewhere.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

phrase of the day - assempurrly line, a pattern of behavior that gets the individual nowhere (but I like it here)

good turn

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

23 Jul 2024 - It is easy to do things that make us feel good (and I worry about those who do things that make them feel bad).  A cat's spine is naturally supple, so my multiple-times-a-day stretch is probably unnecessary... but it is a great way to end a nap, to start a work shift, etc.  Obviously I enjoy the sensation and, being a cat, won't give it further thought.  But there are peeps who are into denying self... I'll blame such a negative viewpoint on a misguided childhood.  Let me underscore the importance of being nice to one's self... otherwise how can you be nice to someone else?

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Everyone deserves

a kind word.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - dispurrvice, an ill-spirited action (I'd rather be a source of joy)

ahoy, matey

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

22 Jul 2024 - I love my workplace (now that Mr. Sol can be relied upon).  Where else can I take a deserved break from my job with such a soothing view?  Most days the quiet is only broken by the squabbling squeeps, their antics so silly that even the sentry in me must Cheshire-grin.  Of course I haven't forgotten that one of them dared to dash across my personal screened deck, so I remain alert, even when my eyes are closed.  Lately my two peeps have kept me company:  the taller one involved in some project just around the corner, and the shorter one coming out with her vile-smelling cup of brown liquid.  We stretch the definition of family.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Become familiar with

your surroundings.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - intimeowtes, those befriended by a cat

wise slacker

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

21 Jul 2024 - Aaah, my brushing couch!  It also is frequently selected as my nap site... for several reasons:  my peeps are often nearby (and I enjoy their company, when they are quiet), and from this perch I have a grand view of my personal screened deck and beyond.  Even when I'm on break, I am alert to interloper activity... you can imagine what happens if I give them an inch.  We are enjoying grand weather, Mr. Sol flooding our domicile with cheery light... but what encourages us to get out there and enjoy, does the same for the pesky ne'er-do-wells.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Pick your seat wisely.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purrspicacious, having astute insight into things (it's how my ancestors survived)

as a rule

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

20 Jul 2024 - Cats like their routine, and the shorter peep and I have worked out a satisfactory series of morning events.  Once I have convinced her to rise, she opens the door onto my personal sun room.  Then there is an overly-long pause (during which I scan our easterly flank for ne'er-do-wells) until she is ready to head to the kitchen.  I try to beat her there, because my breakfast is imminent (but never quick enough).  She takes far longer to eat, so again I make myself busy, until it is time for my brushing.  That feels-so-good ritual happens here, on this couch... excuse me while I hop up.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Random is not the

way to accomplish things.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - stipurrlation, a condition agreed upon by cat and peep

the morning puzzle

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

19 Jul 2024 - After a day, or more, without Mr. Sol's brilliance, one can understand why I rejoice his presence.  Doesn't that window ledge look like the place to be at this moment?  Although access isn't convenient, neither is it undoable.  Depending upon where the taller peep abandoned his chair, I can make my way, grateful for being sure-footed.  The quickest way to a misstep is to overthink the process, so I acknowledge, only while standing stock-still or even better lying down, the amazing fact that my hind two limbs dutifully follow the path of the front two, tread for tread.  The problem of getting there has been halved.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

A big task is best viewed

as a series of smaller tasks.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - paradoxicat, inconsistent, contradictory (well, it makes sense to me)