meanwhile

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

11 Oct 2026 - Just when you think the dreariness won't end, Mr. Sol pops in for a visit.  Everyone, including the interlopers, seem glad to see his beaming face.  There is definitely more beep activity in the surrounding woods, and they often frequent the bushes just beyond this portal.  From my ledge I can watch their comings and goings, eavesdrop on their plans.  Possibly because there isn't a big body of water just beyond the deck,  I don't see the very large beeps passing by our yard.  However there are some that soar overhead of noteworthy size, but remain quite distant, far beyond the effects of my glare.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

The difference between nosy

and inquisitive is interpretation.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purriosity, eager for understanding (inquiring minds want to know)

watch this

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

10 Oct 2026 -  Very occasionally I throw a bit of silliness into my day, just to keep my routine from atrophying and to keep my peeps wondering (and entertained).  The inclination to be ridiculous exhausts itself quickly ("sorry, the show is over"), and I snap back into my staid form.  The transformation is like an internal switch has been flipped, from inane to sane, and I continue on my patrol as if that bit of otherness had not occurred.  We cats don't bother with self-analysis, so I'll just end my story there.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Life is short;

have some fun.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - manicat, frenzied (but it soon passes)

rounding up suspects

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

9 Oct 2026 - Lots of furniture means I spend a lot of time circling and peering underneath.  Sometimes I wish that the rooms of our domicile were empty, maybe excepting a few comfy cushions, so that there would be no spot an interloper could hide.  By merely walking across the floor, I would immediately declare "coast is clear" and move on to the next item on my list.  But that is not my reality, so I steadfastly make my rounds and take breaks when needed.  I like being my own boss.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Be productive,

and then relax.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - genpurrative, making good things happen (one by one by one)

where the trail leads

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

8 Oct 2026 - Interlopers have been known to hide beneath furniture, so a thorough surveillance requires me to check these under-areas.  Plus here I can avoid peep traffic, and often peep notice... until they miss me and wonder where I've taken myself.  And sometimes, if my stomach tells me that meal time is imminent, I hang out here... it's good to be the first in line!  Whatever the reason, I won't tarry long, as there is much to patrol in this domicile.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

There is no reason

to be conspicuous.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - obspurrvable, easily noticed (and why would I want that?)

keep moving

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

7 Oct 2026 - And here is a picture to show that I am (occasionally) mobile.  There was a bit of strangeness waiting for me on my personal office deck, but it has now been vetted and deemed harmless (and made to disappear by the shorter peep).  One never knows what one will find after a long absence, however it can be said that our southerly domicile fared well enough while we were away.  There was one very stiff leep waiting for me on the floor, and that was mostly the extent of interloper intrusion.  Going forward, I intend to keep it that way.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Some surprises are nice.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - ameowzment, a welcome occurrence not expected by a cat

quiet zone

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

6 Oct 2026 - Another day, another cushion - you might think that I'm a pampered cat, the storied sort that eats from a crystal bowl.  That is far from the truth.  I come from the gritty streets, and I work for my keep (remember those hinterland meeps?).  That my peeps appreciate what I do for them and our domicile is obvious, and for which I am most grateful.  Lest you worry about my setback from the recent travel ordeal, I will say that I am feeling much calmer and am able to make my rounds and keep the interlopers beyond our perimeter (no cheeps seen but leeps have been spotted).

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

That which doesn't kill you

can still leave its mark.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purrcovery, a cat's process of returning to normal

catching up

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

5 Oct 2026 - Drippy days are very conducive to catnapping, the soft rain upon roof and leaves quite relaxing.  When interloper traffic is washed out by inclement weather, my patrol contains lots of idle time.  And I am still recovering from that trying trip back from the hinterland, so I am purposely making a slow reentry.  It has been delightful to revisit all my favorite spots, test the cushions, and then choose which one I'll favor today.  Every cat should have it so good!

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Don't neglect the lower gears.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - lethpurrgic, drowsy and sluggish (with good reason)

that was close

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

4 Oct 2026 - I am getting my C-legs back:  after two days of chaos and noise I finally feel like eating.  The initial house rounds have been made, and there is thankfully nothing of interest to report, unless you'd like to hear about dead bugs and lint.  The portal to my personal screened porch has been reinstalled, and it is now clear that Mr. Sol abandoned the hinterland abode to glare upon the more southerly latitudes.  It is toasty out there, in a sticky sort of way... quite the contrast from needing a heated towel.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Sometimes heaven can

be reached without dying.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

place of the day - utopurra, an idealized existence for a cat

please get it over with

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

3 Oct 2026 - And just like that, I'm back to our southern home.   Hah, it was an ordeal, the only good thing being that it is over and I am destressing under a protective piece of furniture.  My ears are far more sensitive than those of peeps, so the bombardment of noise was enough to completely freak me out... but there was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, except in this pictured compartment.  I tried mightily to escape my confines, but it is made of tough stuff, impervious to claws and head-butts.  Forgive me if I'm still jangled.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Long-term tension is a killer.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - decompurressing, the release of clenched muscles (and purrhaps vengeful thoughts)

neither snow nor rain

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

30 Sep 2026 - A  second day without wind and drizzle... has Bastet heard my plea?!  You might notice in this photo that I've taken up surveillance on a dry patch of boards... no dummy, moi.  A cat's color perception differs from that of peeps, but it seems to me the view of our surrounding woods is shifting to more mellow hues, no doubt due to Mr. Sol's negligence and the resulting dip in temperatures.  (It certainly can't be from lack of water, unless they've succumbed to drowning.)  I'm just glad that once again I can venture out on my personal screened deck, and that I can retreat when the job is done.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Make the most of the

hand you're dealt.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - impurrovement, the betterment of a feline's situation

don't messy with me

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

29 Sep 2026 - The nastiness abated enough this morning that I could make a quick round of my personal screened deck.  There were lots of smells to investigate (and rain water to sample), but I'm relieved to discover that the foul weather largely kaboshed the interloper invasion... actually the more accurate term would be "postponed", as the reason for their urgency still remains.  It would be naive of me to think my job is only for the summer.  On the other paw it is good to have year-round employment.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Realize that you can,

and should, only speak for yourself.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - silvacatlous, living in woodlands (that teem with interlopers)

going without

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

28 Sep 2026 - The middle of the day isn't quite as dark as in this picture... but, with all the gray clouds between us and Mr. Sol, not much cheerier.  I have largely abandoned my personal sun room.  Without "sun", it is just another space to patrol, and I make my inspection first thing and then leave it to be lashed by the wind and rain.  In between wet drops the interlopers are on the move, looking for a spot that is drier and warmer, even if only slightly.  I don't want to think about what would happen if I wasn't here to maintain law and order.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Pick your battles, and leave

the rest to sort itself out.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - dismeowl, gloomy (even through a cat's eyes)

hurry up

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

27 Sep 2026 - We cats aren't nocturnal animals.  We prowl the edges of night, but as you can attest, I otherwise do a lot of napping.  So I am always ready to retire for the evening, and the shorter peep often keeps me waiting.  But I bide my time (what other options do I have?) until she is settled into bed, and then I join her... two bodies are better for warmth.  Mr. Sol disappeared hours ago, and his effectiveness these days is minimal... which means we are on our own until tomorrow.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

An individual needs

one or two good friends.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - catrade, a feline chum