the end draws sneer

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

31 Jan 2026 - Work must continue, even with grousing.  Yesterday was an appreciated weather reprieve, allowing me to spend extended time on my personal screened porch.  But the shorter peep has warned me that we can expect an extreme downturn today... oh, joy!  Memories of being toasty, alas, do nothing to actually raise my body temperature, so I will be a heat-seeking device until we thaw out.  Just imagine me curled up on my warmed towel.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Adversity may make you stronger,

but it makes me irritable.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - sarcatsm, feline contempt

short-term employment

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

30 Jan 2026 - If the shorter peep is sitting down, she is often in this spot, a small nook at the top of a flight of steps.  It doesn't have great sight lines for interloper watching, so I can truly relax here.  Neither is it bathed in Mr. Sol's brightness, so when the temperatures are nippy we need one another for warmth.  This reciprocity (along with the head pats and treats and brushing) have made us good buddies.  Alas, she never remains still for as long as I would like... which is supposed to make these interludes all the sweeter (but I'm not sure I'd agree).

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Not every minute

weighs the same.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - tempurrary, not lasting (I hope it applies to this weather)

the things we have to do

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

29 Jan 2026 - There are no guarantees that Mr. Sol will put in an appearance, and if he does, will he be effective?  So every cat has a backup plan.  Mine is to claim the shorter peep's lap... and even that isn't fail-safe as it requires her to be seated.  But there are times of the day when those chances are better than fifty-fifty, and I have the when and where memorized.  If all my efforts to find auxiliary heat are unsuccessful, then I find a sheltered spot where I can curl up and wrap my tail around my head.  So far I haven't frozen solid.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

The trick is to always

have something in reserve.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purrsicle, a cat that is colder than it wishes to be

I recommend

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

28 Jan 2026 - The documenting of our domicile's sunny spots continues.  This one is central to our office, so I am able to manage the staff while thawing my bones.  Even my two peeps take advantage of Mr. Sol's gift while hunched over their work.  The trick is knowing where and when these pools of heat can be found, an essential skill when temperatures are inadequate.  But even a finely honed plan will be undone if the clouds conspire against us.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Don't think the universe

is rooting for you.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - advocat, anyone who champions a feline

idyll hands

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

27 Jan 2026 - Didn't I say that change was coming?!  Thankfully Mr. Sol hasn't abandoned us, however he is struggling to warm the air.  This spot of sunshine is the warmest place in our domicile (I have checked everywhere else), so I've claimed it as mine.  Once I'm toasty, I will reluctantly make my rounds... although the sensible interlopers will not be up to mischief today.  But there is always a troublemaker in the bunch that will prevent my checking the "everything's okay" box.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Utopia is unattainable.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

place of the day - Arcatia, a feline's purradise (as long as it's heated)

middle ground

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

26 Jan 2026 - Thank you, Bastet, for another day that isn't nipping at my ears and paws.  I could settle for these temperatures, with minimal grousing, if I had not experienced how warm an afternoon can get.  Those toasty times seem long ago, but not so long that I've forgotten what it felt like.  My peeps routinely spread out my towel... no need to heat it up... and at some point I will find myself up there, taking a break from work.  But it's hard to leave this ledge favored by Mr. Sol.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Recognize the good times.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - meowderation, the quality of avoiding extremes (although we may differ on what that means)

sure-ly

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

25 Jan 2026 - This space is far from any exterior portal, yet just yesterday I rousted an interloper here.  I won't dwell on how its entry into our domicile escaped my attention (I am responsible for a lot of area), but it was apprehended before it could claim squatter's rights (and was returned to the great outdoors by the shorter peep).  So even though I may look "on break", I am constantly alert to strange noises and shadowy movement.  I shudder to imagine what would result if I disappeared on holiday.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Others depend on you.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - trustpurrthy, deserving of a peep's confidence (indeed I am)

humor me

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

24 Jan 2026 - As counterpoint to accusations of my being a sober judge, here is more of my silliness.  Something tells me that these warm temperatures are about to be snatched from my enjoyment, so I am reveling in the warm moment.  And as long as the future can't reach back and touch me with its icy fingers, I will pretend that now will last forever.  It isn't a realistic mindset, but it is one that gives me pleasure, enabling me to flash Mr. Sol my pale belly and dare him to do something about it.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Don't take yourself

so seriously.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

phrase of the day - high-spurrited, having a desire for light-hearted interaction (and a wish to skedaddle)

move over

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

23 Jan 2026 - I won't adjust my standards to proclaim this weather upturn as warm, but how exciting to tarry on my personal screened porch with these almost acceptable temperatures.  I didn't know how to act, so I acted a bit silly... think what you will but cats can't be shamed.  Of course if I'm out there, so are the interlopers, plotting their assault.  The decline of winter pricks their thoughts to sprucing up the nest, and many would like to set up their tents right next to us.  Naturally I don't like that idea, and must be vigilant in asserting our sovereignty.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Visitors shouldn't overstay

their welcome.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - inpurrference, meddling in a cat's daily life (hiss)

it's understood

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

22 Jan 2026 - The office unfailingly is the warm spot in our domicile... perhaps that is because one must walk up all those stairs to reach it?  But it is a good enough reason to periodically check in with my staff, determine if their morale needs boosting... I certainly can't help if it involves the keyboard.  The employees are always glad to see me, murmuring with affection and scratching my head.  I wouldn't necessarily recommend this informal relationship with every boss, but it works for me.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Purr and the world

will envy you.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - catstomary, behaving in an acceptable, expected way (treats often included)

ever clever

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

21 Jan 2026 - This portal ledge can be used for keeping tabs on our western flank, and is very handy when my personal screened porch is frigid.  It is hard to accept that all of Mr. Sol's efforts can't budge these temperatures upwards.  Sunbathing behind glass is my suggestion, and if you should follow me around our domicile you would be introduced to all these sun-warmed spots.  Clearly this keen observation of one's surroundings is a survival skill passed down from similarly challenged ancestors.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

It pays to pay attention.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - respurrceful, skilled at finding solutions to snarly purroblems

give me strength

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

20 Jan 2026 - Sometimes one must summon the fortitude to do the thing that one doesn't want, but needs, to do.  These cold temperatures persist, flaunting their chilly attitude despite Mr. Sol's efforts to move them along.  But my rounds must be made, although they will take no longer than absolutely necessary.  I sit here in dread, yet realizing that on the other side of this unpleasantness is waiting a heated towel.  I should just do it, before that warmth is wasted.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Completing a loathed task

is its own reward.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purrage, that quality of mind that allows a purrson to face difficulty

I doubt that

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

19 Jan 2026 - "Would you mind repeating that?"  A cat wouldn't ask that question because it had not heard the comment... possibly because the statement was hard to believe and the cat wanted to make that very point.  Here's an example:  "did you see that squirrel?!"  Of course I did, and in all likelihood was aware of its passage past this window long before the speaker spied it.  At times like these it is fortunate that a language barrier exists.  "Well, duh!" exclaimed several times in a day might not be well received.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Don't strain a friendship.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - obvipuss, easily understood or recognized by a cat