duress for success

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

21 January 2021 - Whenever I see bright sunshine, my spirits are lifted.  It represents improved circumstances and viability... a powerful message to those who are in despair.  And I am not suggesting that my situation is akin to the struggles of the unnoticed:  I know that I lead a privileged life, and through no merit of my own (although perhaps my cuteness helped).  My prospects could easily have been different, another me on the outside glaring at the brother ensconced on a window ledge.  We can't forget our commonality... that we all want/need respect and love.  To think that we have earned our superior position, and deserve the accolades, is to sanction the system that created the hierarchy.  The playing field is of course not flat, and the winning team was picked yesterday.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

An abundance here

creates a shortage there.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

tuxedo of the moment - Sparky, who in 1998 inherited his peep's multimillion dollar estate (but did not acquire more lives)

wake me when it's over

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

20 January 2021 - Even fifteen minutes outside makes my day (and secures our perimeter).  Unfortunately a lengthier period of time would thoroughly chill me.  Cats are particularly poor at postponing gratification, so the fact that I can't be out there all afternoon truly bites.  I realize that my being house-bound isn't an arbitrary peep decision, as all three of us know how much I hate cold weather.  I also know that grousing at the peeps will not hasten the return of warm temperatures, yet I find it difficult to withhold opinion.  Is it possible to hibernate?  We are known for our ability to catnap (although I am dubious that the daily amount might reach sixteen hours)... and  I would so love to wake up, feeling refreshed, with all this nasty winter stuff behind me.  

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

"Let's sleep on it"

is an excellent idea.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - sopurrific, inducing drowsiness or boredom (no wonder our eyelids get heavy)

meow, myself and I

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

19 January 2021 - Evidently my peeps are comfortable with me "in charge" of the house (and myself).  Last evening was the first one (since my arrival seven months ago) that I was the only presence... the entire night.  It made me feel like a grown-up cat, yet part of me was "uncomfortable" having no one around.  I was left with plenty of water and kibble... I even "found" a few treats stashed where I couldn't miss them (thank you, shorter peep).  So my anxiety was not founded in anything tangible... perhaps I was worried they wouldn't come back?  Their absence certainly had me rethinking our last few encounters and conversations:  was there something I missed?  was the final straw broken?  But now they are back <purr purr>, and all is good.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Treasure your friends.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - compurrs, respected equals (and we cats aren't pushovers)

funk-shun

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

18 January 2021 - Rituals are satisfying in their familiarity, and because they meet some fundamental need, we continue to practice them.  The shorter peep and I start our mornings together:  very little is said but much is understood.  We refuel our bodies, adjust ourselves to the day ahead, and acknowledge the other's role in making that happen.  Mondays are, for the general public, a difficult transition between family and work, personal and public.  Even for those largely exempt from the 9-to-5 existence, the pattern is recognized and impacts perception.  The first day of the week is seen as a beginning:  one for starting a project, for doubling down on effort, for making inroads into the chaos.  Perhaps I will need another bowl of kibble?

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

All progress

involves a start.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purrform, to accomplish something (which certainly deserves a head pat)

a tail of one kitty

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

17 January 2021 - I am the first in line for a magic-carpet ride to the tropics... yeah, yeah, "in my dreams".  At least there has been sunshine to brighten my spirits (where is my genie?  perhaps I should take up the bottle).  But that is enough feline fretting.  I am fed and occasionally warm, which gives that unsatisfying statistical measure of above-average.  Without need of pen and pencil my peeps can assess my well-being by noticing my tail.  Curled up, whether at my paws or over my back, indicates contentment... being without a thumb I use this for my OK-signal.  If it drags the floor I am in stealth (or get-me-outta-here) mode.  And if a cat is beyond mad, the tail is cracking about like a whip:  beware!

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Don't sit on your feelings.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - expurressive, effectively conveying one's thoughts across a language barrier

don't goad there

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

16 January 2021 - We haven't been formally introduced, but my squatty buddy and I have a natural camaraderie.  We both work in the security sector, and know the pay is low and the respect even lower.  But we have pride in doing a good job and a necessary one.  My task may be somewhat more rewarding, as I am guarding my peeps, but you would really need depth of character to protect those you didn't especially like.  It is a topic one wraps in brown paper, and sets aside for another day.  But thankfully, for many reasons, that is not my situation.  The other thing I admire about my fellow sentry is that he is not a gabber.  Have you ever been stuck next to a moronic motor-mouth?  With my keen hearing and sharp wits I just wanna swat 'em.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Some things just

shouldn't be said.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purrtrol, to walk the beat and safeguard against interlopers <hiss>

an inexact science

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

15 January 2021 - I am a sweet-natured creature... just ask my peeps.  Even so I am equipped with razor claws and pointed teeth, the result of evolution's millennia.  My ancestors' survival depended on their effective defense (and offense), and occasionally I channel this wilder side...  and I must admit it is great fun to don my panther avatar.  It gets the heart pounding, and the endorphins flowing.  A toy on a long string, I have found, is a good way to minimize scratching my buddies, but accidents do happen (the shorter peep has shown me the red slashes on her fingers).  But when I am taken by this bloody madness, my vision narrows and my sympathies retreat... which makes it difficult to quickly intervene when that high-pitched internal voice says, "wrong target".

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Sometimes one can

only apologize.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purrilous, not without risk (but worth it)