worker for sire

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

30 Jun 2026 - It is good to have a kingdom... even if its borders are hard to maintain.  My presence is finally getting results among the local interlopers:  I'm seeing fewer trespassers on my personal screened deck, although they're taunting me just beyond its perimeter.  And I have also spotted little cheeps rummaging below, such industrious sorts (and respectful of my glare, unlike their cousin squeeps).  The tiniest of the beeps have found their feeder of nectar, and now I get to watch their aerial battles... I do enjoy my job.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

"Don't make me come in

there" is a great deterrent.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - catdom, a feline realm of control

what's up

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

29 Jun 2026 - My life might look cushy to the casual observer, but that impression is not my experience... we cats are just experts at hiding our feelings.  For example, this picture of a relaxed me involved many choices, e.g.,  where to take a nap and how to orient myself (head to the south, head to the north?).  The route I take to reach this height predisposes me to point north, but I bothered to turn myself around... which allowed me to keep one eye trained on our "back" yard.  And then do I turn to face inward or outward?  Itemizing what was involved in the process makes me wonder how I even managed to nap.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Don't suppose you know

what's going on.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - judgmeownt, making a decision based on purrceived circumstances

that feels good

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

28 Jun 2026 - People who study my species say that we rub our heads on things to mark them with our scent, in essence to claim them.  My nose certainly can tell where I've been and how recently, but everything in our domicile is mine so why should I feel the need to post a sign?  Rather I've discovered that it is a marvelous way to scratch an itch while keeping all four paws on the ground.  And we cats do have that in common with peeps:  it feels delightful to dig into an irritated section of skin, even if it doesn't rid you of the distracting sensation.  I am mindful not to rub the fur off.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Consider how much we

have learned through our senses.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - stimeowlate, to rouse to action (like those interlopers)

to enter or not to enter

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

27 Jun 2026 - "I get in with a little help from my friends."  <sigh> As is well known, I despise this hinterland portal.  Its darkness is ominous, like a gateway into another dimension... you can see why I avoid using it.  I will cautiously pass through if and only if one of my trusted peeps is standing guard:  I like to know there is someone who can grab my tail and pull me from the abyss.  Despite the risks, I do enjoy patrolling my personal screened deck... its view can't be topped.  Just yesterday, like one of those big beeps, an alien peep went gliding past on the lake, not making a sound.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Tomorrow is a promise

that may not be granted.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purrhaps, possibly (ask me later)

lion of inquiry

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

26 Jun 2026 - Shadows no longer startle me... I've learned a few things since kittenhood.  But the odd noise warrants further study, and falls under my job description.  Besides I'm naturally curious, well cautiously curious, and want to know the whys.  This quest is often disappointing, as I am unable to pin down the source.  And then there are those oh-yeah discoveries that are of no further interest, such as those traced to one of my peeps.  I should clarify:  usually of no further interest... it might be the sound of breakfast being prepared.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

You really should

pay attention.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - investigato, to seek the facts (and determine if I should skedaddle)

whaddya want

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

25 Jun 2026 - I am always curious what my peeps are up to (I like to have some idea if it involves me), and keep tabs on them, if only by pricking my ears.  These advance cues allow me to decide if I should hurry to the kitchen for a meal or skedaddle under the bed.  We cats aren't great at appearing when summoned (although I do recognize the shorter peep's "noise" used to call me)... although unless I am too comfortable to be disturbed, I do eventually wander in to see what all the fuss was about.  And often I am rewarded by a brushing or a treat... I guess you'd say that is positive reenforcement (although the "force" part is off-putting).

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

"Influence" can

be a sinister word.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - meownipulate, to shrewdly control (okay if used on interlopers)

you should have seen the other guy

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

24 Jun 2026 - If there was another cat in the house (and I am not suggesting that would be a good thing), I wouldn't have to resort to tussling with myself.  But sometimes energy needs to be expended, a little fun to be had, and so I engage in a pretend-fight.  The shorter peep finds it most entertaining, even calls it my "antics".  I don't mind causing smiles to break out, and besides I only act silly for my best buds.  Concern isn't warranted until I "perform" for alien peeps. 

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Life is too short

to be stodgy.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - unimeowginative, lacking in creativity (especially before a nap)

as is my habit

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

23 Jun 2026 - With the exception of the foulest (fowl-less?) weather, there is always activity on my personal screened deck to be monitored.  I've even seen pale-colored beeps and cheeky squeeps taking a stroll across the boards!  At those times it is maddening to have a glass portal separating them from me... who do they think they are?  Perhaps they don't think, but only react.  Whatever their motivation, it is unacceptable behavior that I need to stop before it becomes habit.  Glaring is clearly not doing the job.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Sometimes decisive

action is required.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - catstomary, commonly done by felines

no thumbs to twiddle

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

21 Jun 2026 - When things aren't optimal, sometimes you have to take the long-view and wait it out.  At the moment we are having one of those less-than-wished-for days.  I am not so inexperienced to think that this dreary chill will persist for hours and hours:  it might and it might not.  Obviously I'm hoping for the latter, and meanwhile have taken a comfortable spot where I can be cozy and keep an eye on developments.  It all depends upon what Mr. Sol decides to do:  he could put a quick end to this misery if he wanted.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

It's hard to accept

that the universe dwarfs us.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - catsequential, of lasting importance (I'd like to think so)

first-rate

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

21 Jun 2026 - The sun and I are up well before my peeps.  I am not the shorter one's alarm clock, just her morning bright spot, waiting for a head pat.  We have our first-thing routine, and I am eager to chow down and then check out my personal screened deck.  We cats may start the day early, but the scholars claim between dawn and dawn that we sleep 75% of the time.  I feel no need to refute or agree with that statement... and how would I know anyway, since napping and at work I am busy with more important things.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

We each have a

role to play.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purrndit, a cat who has been admitted into the meownsa society

your attention please

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

20 Jun 2026 - I don't have as much territory to patrol here in the hinterland, but still plenty of work to keep me busy.  Just ascertaining risk out each glass portal fills my dance card.  And the view reaches much farther here, although my glare is fairly ineffective beyond the lake shore.  Those interlopers paddling past probably realize that I am a landlubber, and that my threat to them is a bluff... one that I won't admit to (but it's true).  Any ne'er-do-well that far away, with the exception of alien peeps (and I'm not responsible for them), is deemed harmless, and can simply be watched, perhaps with amusement.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

A near miss is

still a miss.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purrenchant, keen and full of vigor (frequent naps help)

my own little corner

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

19 Jun 2026 - Not much is happening in my personal sun room... but that could change in an instant, so I'll maintain my vigil.  I could call this space my personal sauna, because when Mr. Sol is on full-strength, the inside temperature ticks up nicely.  Even on a day when the glass portal is chill to the touch, the ambient air is acceptable, even to my high standards.  It is a different matter when I awake to low, grey clouds:  on those unfortunate days I try to claim an available peep lap.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Woe to those who

can't adapt.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - repurrpose, refit for changing conditions (grousing the while)

otherwise

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

18 Jun 2026 - Although it might look like a small peep's crayon drawing, I was there (but not registering the colors in exactly the same way).  There have been some exceptional days for standing guard on my personal screened deck, and I have had to touch-up my picture of an interloper.  Not the first leep have I spotted in the hinterland, and the local version of a squeep is much smaller (but with lots of attitude).  Yesterday a good-sized beep paddled past my view... it obviously likes expanses of water more than I do.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Face the world

with a smile.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - difpurrent, unlike, not similar (but I like being one of a kind)