foreign lesion

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

30 Jun 2025 - Not one of my more photogenic moments, but I'm a cat so I don't care.  Besides, the shorter peep seems to be always pointing that black cube in my direction... I'm surprised that there aren't more "awkward" moments.  If you ignore my coloring, I could be giving a visual reference to my cousin Leo (although my voice register isn't so basso).  I am still keeping a wary eye on that alien portal that appeared a few days ago... it does indeed lead to my personal screened deck, but where else might it deposit me??

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Strange doesn't necessarily

turn into familiar.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - expurrnal, coming from an outside source (and hence suspect)

timely

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

29 Jun 2025 - Back to the scene of an earlier crime... it may appear that I'm a slug-a-bed, but in truth I've already conducted an early-morning patrol and am now taking a breather.  The past few days have begun quite chilly, so there is little incentive for me to leave my warm spot.  Besides, if that is my thinking, then it is likely to be that of the interlopers as well.  Unless one has an adequate layer of fat (and none of the usual suspects fits that description), one feels these nippy temperatures... it is much more sensible to pause for Mr. Sol.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Wait for the opportune time.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - catvenience, being able to proceed easily (why make life more difficult?)

ordinarily

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

28 Jun 2025 - My job is never boring:  from portal to portal the view is different and offers varied interloper possibility.  It was from this particular office spot, in the not too distant past, that we were amazed by a big black beep.  It too seemed surprised, and did an about-face, so far never to be seen again.  What is more likely to be spotted is the teensy-by-comparison everyday beep, familiar but still presenting in many colors and sounds and sizes (a few even larger than I).  What I haven't seen in quite a while is something feline... but I enjoy being the local one-of-a-kind.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

One-in-a-million

is still fairly common.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - commeownplace, not unusual (until you get to know me)

on the lookout

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

27 Jun 2025 - Again, my ears give me away... but what a glorious moment to be on my personal screened deck!  I am still unhappy with the deck portal development, and have spent quite a bit of time in my personal sun room in protest.  However the views from the deck are unsurpassed, so I try to go in and out on the heels of a peep... clever of me but a spotty solution.  Several times I have dared passing through the alien gate, but only with the shorter peep's assistance.  No harm was inflicted upon my purrson, however I still am wary of its motives (and hoping for its disappearance).

 

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Pretending it doesn't exist

works for a little while.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - meowstrustful, suspicious (despite having nine lives)

retiring

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

26 Jun 2025 - This picture captures my managerial style:  very unobtrusive (unless I happen to be curled in your chair).  My paws-off approach is ideal for our little office, but might not scale to a larger work force.  However I have no interest in supurrvising more than two peeps (and not just any two).  The thought of a room full of strangers makes me want to call in sick or take a staycation (you know how I hate to travel).  So my job is purrfectly suited... and my staff seem to genuinely like me!

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Know your strengths

(and faults).

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - low-purrofile, the avoidance of attracting peep attention

who goes there?

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

25 Jun 2025 - Technically I'm not in this photograph, but sometime prior to the snap I obviously traipsed across the expanse.  Interlopers aren't always lurking beneath things, so occasionally I need to patrol the upper reaches.  As you know, I am not a jumper (chair seats and beds are doable), which means in both domiciles there exist high places that do not get my scrutiny (don't spread the word)... but should the high-minded come to ground, I will be there to roust them from the premises.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

We all have our limitations.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - dampurr, something that is inhibiting a cat

I object

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

24 Jun 2025 - What are my peeps up to now?!  There has been a change to the deck portal, and I don't like change!  Maybe it is the smell of newness that puts me off... more likely I don't like surprises.  The rest of my personal screened deck is unaffected, so I am not too bummed... just enough to register my complaint with the peeps.  If I ignore it, will it go away?  Most things are, after all, temporary... I'll report back in a few days as to this state of affairs.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Life is full of challenges.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - oppurrsition, nature's push-back (why me?)

it's high time

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

23 Jun 2025 - I love Mr. Sol's early-morning light - so sharp-edged and, at least through the portal, warm.  What better place to groom, to start the day looking equally sharp.  Until the overnight temperatures are raised to an acceptable level, this spot isn't a busy thoroughfare, so I have the space to myself.  Sometimes the shorter peep is nearby, in her corner stirring and clanging... I keep one ear tuned in as my meals often appear afterwards.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Life has its own rhythm.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - repurrent, occurring often or repeatedly (I appreciate routine)

foreseeable

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

22 Jun 2025 - Mr. Sol has moved on from this favored spot, but the shorter peep is nearby... so I'll stay a while longer.  The taller peep and I vie for this particular piece of furniture, but the majority of his waking time is spent elsewhere so our joint claim isn't contested often.  And I'm flexible (and outweighed), and can, without much grousing, move myself to the adjoining piece of furniture... where my cat cave awaits.  As you know, I like to be unpredictable, with these peripatetic maneuverings meshing nicely with my overall plan of "where is Shamus?"

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Occasionally step out

of the rut.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

phrase of the day - purr for the course, what is cat-normal in any given circumstances

halfway house

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

21 Jun 2025 - A cat's hearing is quite good... it has to be, since out in the world, we live by our wits.  But the ears catch far more if they are unmuffled.  I can get very toasty beneath this pillow, but if I need to be on high alert, then the head, alas, needs to be out.  It isn't revelatory to state that life is a compromise:  yes to being warm, no to being vulnerable/trapped.  I say "trapped", but this hide-away does in fact have a handy back door, should it be needed.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Goals can conflict.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

phrase of the day - meowdle ground, an area of purrsible agreement between two extremes

plucky me

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

20 Jun 2025 - It may look as if I'm patrolling the great outdoors, but my beat has definite perimeters... beyond that I can only glare and report back to my peeps.  For example just now a very large deep bounded through the yard, and all I could do was note its passage.  Other than chewing on some of the greenery, it had no obvious destructive ambitions.  I did notice that, despite its hulking size, it bolted without much provocation.  Big doesn't necessarily equate to bold (not that I'm intimate with that feeling).

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Derring-do is mostly

an affliction of youth.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - venpurrsome, willing to embark on difficult courses of action (although I should read my contract's fine print)

easy does it

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

19 Jun 2025 - My managerial style is basically paws-off... which isn't to suggest that I don't oversee the work.  I make it my point to periodically drop by to gauge employee morale, to determine what I can do to make things flow more smoothly.  My charming presence seems to be all that is required to keep the peeps happy and smiling (don't I have a cushy job!).  Of course this arrangement only works because my staff was so thoroughly vetted beforehand, but now we are a seamless unit, humming along (well, some of us purr).

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Choose your friends

for the long haul.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - compurrnion, a sidekick with whom one spends a lot of time with (and we still like each other)

dazzled

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

18 Jun 2025 - If you want/need to know where Mr. Sol hangs out, just follow me.  Of course he doesn't stay in one place very long (concerned about singeing the favored spot?), but I can sprawl in the hot pool sufficiently long to remain toasty hours after his departure.  There is something about my mostly black coat that soaks up the heat... an unasked for bonus to being a tuxedo.  It may seem that I'm self-sufficient, but even the solitaire that I am enjoys a bit of company, and the laps that accompany.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Not everyone can

handle the spotlight.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - lumeownescent, emitting brightness (and also feline charm)