Easy Like Sunday Morning

Bennette: So which stocking is mine?

Ellie: I think it's the second one from the right.

Bennette: Cool...so when does Santa arrive?

Ellie: You are going to have to wait awhile, almost a month! We don't even have a tree yet....

Bennette: You mean I have to be good a whole month?

Satisfied Saturday

Happy Day after Thanksgiving Dinner has finally come true!

Cory: Hey Dad, that turkey doesn't look done yet, stick it back in the oven for awhile.

Cory: See I told you, it still has a few degrees left to go!

Ellie: I'm getting tired of waiting, I'm heading for the salad course. I prefer salad to turkey anyway!

Madison: The turkey tastes great to me! Thanks for the plate! Good thing Cecilia doesn't care for turkey too much...I get both plates! Yay!

Happy Thanksgiving weekend everyone!

It's Friday Dog-gone-it!

Since I share my home with 6 other kitties and a doggie, everyone gets a chance to get a word in edgewise once in a while.

It's been almost 2 months since my Grete dog had elbow surgery. This is the first of 2 surgeries she will need...one elbow at a time. She was on house arrest for a whole month! All she wanted to do was go back to the doggie park and play with her friends. She's been building up to it and Thanksgiving Day was the day my Grete got to be thankful that she could cut loose in the park with her pals....if only for a short while.

She has healed well, but she is still favoring the leg that is still awaiting surgery. We wanted her to have this brief bit of fun before she has to start round 2.

We are thankful she was so happy!

We did get our little bits of turkey handouts, brought to us in a Ziploc baggie. We understand that our dinner tonight should make up for missing out on the big day.

Thanksgiving Thursday

Well, we we don't want to sound like we're not grateful or anything like that....but....

This is Thanksgiving...the turkey is in a cardboard box...momma can feel that it's still cold. The oven is not on...not even lukewarm. There is no pie to be seen...no salad being tossed.

What gives?


I'm getting tired of waiting.....

What? You're leaving? What?

You mean we have to wait? You'll bring us....left-overs? What?

Ok...you have to go have dinner with "family"...aren't we your family? You'll bring us something...we'll believe it when we see it!

Ok...tomorrow, Friday we'll have our real family Thanksgiving dinner with ALL the trimmings? REALLY? Just for us? You mean it? We get to eat all the dinner AND get the leftovers?

I am Thankful for my family! Even if I do have to wait an extra day for the real deal dinner. Meanwhile, as soon as you leave you can bet I'm heading over to the Turkey Cats to have some real fun!

Party!

Wishing Wednesday

Cory: I wish someone would make a pie out of this thing...might not be enough for mom and dad but a little cat sized pie could work. I can google a recipe for you...

Tuxie Tuesday

Bennette: Hey, I heard there's turkey happening this week...so what's the story? I'm assuming there will be little plates set at the table for us, right? Look me in the eye...real close and tell me it's true. Closer....

Jonesie: Turkey please! I won't blink until I get some....

Meezer Monday

Ellie: I'm dreaming of a wonderful holiday week where mom and dad only disappear for 3 days...then get to spend a whole 4 days with us. What a nice dream.

Sunday Morning Playtime

Why whap, when you can pounce? Sunday is a great day to play!

Saturday- Fierce Fighters Continued

I was all ready to write about the photo hunt theme of the day: Reflection...but as I tried to get my mom to help me find a picture that would work, she kept stalling. The whole thing about Fierce Fighters kept on getting to her. I finally wrote about my brother Michelangelo "Mikey", and my poor mom just couldn't let me stop at one post. She still misses him every minute of every day. He left almost 7 months ago. So I thought I did the 8 random things meme....maybe if I could help my mom do this for Mikey she'd feel better. We're not posting any rules...not tagging anyone this time around...so if anyone just wants to consider themselves tagged, that's ok. This is mostly to make my mom feel better.

1. Mikey was very playful and once he did the major healing from his injuries, he wanted to play just like all the other kitties in the family.

2. Mikey usually had a very worried look on his face. Even when he had nothing to worry about, he just looked worried. It took years for that to go away.

3. Mikey loved to go outside. Because of his injuries, he could only go outside 100% supervised by my mom.

4. Once outside, Mikey loved to roll in the dirt. He loved to turn his beautiful white fur brown. He would complain loudly when it was time to go in and get cleaned up.

5. Mikey would have been a great hunter if he was allowed to stalk birdies and mousies by himself. Having mom a few feet away all the time cramped his style.

6. Mikey always slept with my mom every single night. Even if no one knew where he was in the house, if mom got in bed...he would appear on the bed within 30 seconds.

7. Mikey figured out a unique way to wash his paws. He would flip his paw upside down, so the top of his paw was pressed on the floor, then he'd wash his pads. Once he did this, all of the other kitties in the house did it too...they copied him. No one else did this before Mikey did.8. And most important...Mikey really understood why squirrels are evil. They would torture him because they knew he would never catch them. They'd get close, chatter...Mikey would chatter back...they'd sneak back up on him from underneath the tree branch while he thought they were still up above him....but he always believed that one day...one day he would catch them and eat them.

We love you always and forever, sweet Mikey.

Fierce Fighter Friday

There have been many a fierce fighter in my family, many are featured on my side bar. I will focus today on those who have crossed the Bridge since last Christmas. Every year my mom and dad hang our stockings by the fire. For those who came before, their stockings are hung on a garland around a window. This year, we will be hanging 4 more stockings on the garland. Colby, Benjamin, Lewis and Michelangelo. I have already written remembrances of my dear Colby, Benjamin and Lewis. I have not yet written about Michelangelo "Mikey"...because it's so hard.

Michelangelo "Mikey" came to the family long before I was born. He was found in late winter of 1992, less than 2 years after Roger Ramjet left us. My dad found him in the most unlikely place...on the freeway median strip. He had been hit by a car and was left for dead. My smart dad thought he didn't really look dead, so he stopped and was stupid (according to my mom) and fetched him off the freeway. Mikey was a mess. He had a fractured pelvis and awful wounds. The Vet said that he likely wouldn't live because his bowels wouldn't move because there was terrible nerve damage. My mom said, no...he will live...she just believed in this little boy that looked so much like Roger Ramjet...the nose spot had to be a sign. When he finally produced that improbable poop, everyone did the happy dance.

Mikey did live. He was called Miracle Mikey for a long long time. It was a tough road to recovery, but my mom and dad worked with Mikey and nursed him back to health...his nerve damage wasn't so severe after all. He was my mom's baby. No one messed with Mikey, or there was hell to pay.

Mom and dad took in a couple of strays, a dog...a cat...and they picked on Mikey. They were placed in other nice homes. If you couldn't get along and play nice in the sandbox with Mikey...forget it. My mom said this was because even though he was a tough cookie...he was frail and any rough play could jeopardize him.

According to my mom, he was the sweetest cat on the planet...she loved him so much it hurt. My mom worked really hard to get the picture above with Mikey in the tulips...she took over 50 pictures to get just the right one.

When he started having trouble with his injuries catching up to him she did everything she could to help him. He needed enemas...and laculose all the time. Finally, things just stopped working at all. He was 17 years old.

I always liked Mikey and Mikey liked me sort of. My momma Ellie tried so hard to win over Mikey but he was not going for either of us. My mom said not to take it personally because Mikey was so in love with Maggie that he couldn't fall in love with us. But he did like us. I'm sure of it.

Thinking Thursday

Why think outside the box, when you can think inside the box instead? I'm thinking that this box will make a great spot to hide so I can jump out and pounce on my family...or it might make a great spot to just curl up and sleep, or it might be a great spot to just watch everything.

Hmmm, I'll have to think about it....

Wednesday Meezer Rules

1. I am fine, just the way I am.

2. I do not need any enhancements or alterations

Hey, where did I go?

Uh oh!

Uh, could you learn to get rid of my red evil eyes?

Talky Tuesday- 8 Random Things Me-Me

Tristan Tabby Cat Longtail and The Island Cats have tagged me for the 8 Random things me-me.
Here are the Tag Rules:

1. Each player starts with eight random fact/habits about themselves.

2. Kitties who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.

3. A the end of your blogpost, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their name.

4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged and to read your blog.

Ok, here I go:

1. All the kitties in my house were homeless/abandoned at some time in their lives, including my momma. The difference with me is that I was only 2 weeks old when it happened so I have no memory of it. My mom says that's why different rules apply to me and that's why I can't go outside...I'm not aware of the outdoor world except looking through the window. I get my world experience surfing the net.

2. In the 2 years since I came to my new home as a teensy kitten, I've experienced seeing 5 kitties off to the Bridge (Jonathan, Noelle, Benjamin, Michelangelo and Lewis) and one very special doggie (Colby). My mom says that has made me sensitive and wise.

3. I nursed until I was 5 months old. I am a bit spoiled. The house rule is no one messes with Cory. I'm the family baby.

4. I love cheese! But even more than cheese I love chicken. Even more than chicken I love Cornish game hens because they look so much like little birdies. I love them so much that once when my mom and dad were eating them I started twitching...I jumped up on the table, they screamed...I chomped my mom's finger and when she pulled away, I stole her 1/2 hen and ran off down the hall and under the bed with my stash. When my dad pulled me out I had the hen hanging from my mouth and all I could say was "gggrrrrrr"....mom and dad were mad but they were laughing.

5. I'm the family spokescat. Everyone likes me and I like everyone. I lived in foster care when I was a baby kitten so I'm used to lots of kitties coming and going.

6. When I am interested in something new, my eyes get REAL BIG while I take it all in.

7. I don't like to be picked up and fussed over. It happens to me anyway.

8. If you google Cory Cat....you get all sorts of hits about tropical fishies! I'm not a fishie, I'm a cat. I was not named after the fishies either. I'm named after Coretta Scott King. Sometimes other kitties goof and refer to me as a boy kitty, but I'm a girl.

Ok, here are the kitties I'd like to tag...apologies to those kitties that have recently been tagged...it's hard to keep it all straight:

Prince from Whimpurrs Whim
Poppy Q
Goldie from Sumac Stories
Abby from Manx Mnews
Fui & Suey from Forever Foster
Sabrina, Sam and Simon The St. Louis Meezers
The Real Cats

I know, it's only 7 bloggies, but it's lots of kitties...I never said I could count!

Meezer Monday- Guilty!

The mystery of the Saturday spilled cereal has been solved. My own momma. Oh the shame of it all!

Confession:

Ellie: Well, I was just trying to help out. I jumped up to see what mom was doing all by herself...since my little Cory wandered off and left her alone...how would I know my paws would land in a cereal bowl!? I'm so sorry.

My momma was sentenced to wash the soy milk off all by herself.

Sunday Morning Sunshine

We are very very happy that after days and days of miserable rain, we finally have some sunshine to enjoy this weekend. Jonesie and Ginger are determined not to miss a second of it!Hey, would someone please clean up these leaves?

Happy Sunday!

Ruined

I took a break from writing my blog for just a moment. I left my mom to read other kitties blogs while I took care of some things. I thought she'd be ok. Next thing I knew, I heard a scream!

I came back quickly to investigate. The evidence was clear. Spilled cereal and milk everywhere. Spoon on the floor. Adan's Everyday blog was up on the computer. But, why? Who did it? I had to get to the bottom of it.
Hmmmm....soy milk...so I knew that the motive wasn't hunger...and no kitty was going to come along to help clean it up. I started questioning the suspects.

Mom: I didn't see it coming, all of a sudden I was looking at Adan and the next thing I knew there was cereal everywhere!

Momma Ellie: You'd question your own mother? Let me wash you.

Bennette: You can't pin this on me, squirt!

Grete: I'm innocent, I was in my kennel, ask dad!

Dad: zzzzzzz, what?

Jonesie: You've got to be kidding, right?

Ginger: zzzzzz

Cecilia and Madison: Hey we weren't even in the house!

So now it's up to me to figure it out. Whodunnit?

Stay tuned....

Floofy Friday

Ginger Belly
Have a Great Friday!

Thankful Thursday

Today Grete is giving thanks for all that she has. My Grete dog hates getting her picture taken more than just about anything. Point a camera at her and she runs. This past weekend Grete had an opportunity to help out other doggies that are still homeless and wanting to find their furrever families.

When Grete found out that there was a fund raiser for Family Dogs New Life she was all excited and wanted to know what she could do to help. Uh oh, turns out she had to pose for a picture. Mom's cycling buddy Bob, was taking pictures as a fund raiser for this nice shelter. Grete was unsure, but her generosity was greater than her fear, so she agreed.

Yes, she was a bit stressed, but Bob worked his magic to get a nice shot of Grete before she bolted! We promised her that we won't point the flashy box at her for awhile! She hopes to give back again when ever she can, because she knows that not all dogs have a place to call home.

Meezer Rules and Whapping Wednesday

Meezer rule for today: There are somethings better left to the pros, like teaching your daughter how to whap.

"Cory, it's time you learned how to whap like a pro. That's a girl, whap me on the head".

"Oh no, when I whap you back, don't lick me! My tongue can't help but come out too!'

"See, do it like this! Just whap, it's ok, I can take it."
"Yes, good girl, give momma a good whap on the head!"
"Oh no, now you have me doing it!"
"No, no, no. No licking while I'm whapping you!"
"Oh Cory, you aren't understanding the point of this!"
"I give up! Maybe the Meezers or Gandalf and Grayson can help you learn how to whap properly."

Tuxie Tuesday

What's Bennette up to now? Oh, I really mean UP! Bennette believes in examining every inch of the house, whether she's supposed to be there or not.

Cory: "Hey Bennette, what the heck are you doing up there on the fridge?

Bennette: "I was watching Design on a Dime on HGTV and I was getting ideas."

Bennette: "I've decided to re-purpose this cheese board into a bed"

Cory: "Oh no, not my cheese board!"

Bennette: "Too late!"

Monday Mancat Memories- Roger Ramjet

Last week I talked about the legacy of Meezers in my family. There's more to the story than Meezers. To really understand my family you have to know about Roger Ramjet. My mom and dad entered the world of kitty rescue when this larger than life man-cat came into their lives in 1985.

It was just another day in the summer of 1985. The front door was open, the screen door closed. Then there was a cat there....paws on the screen, looking in and checking out the house. The screen door opened, and he walked in. He was not neutered and he had the scars that you'd expect to see. Asking around the neighborhood, everyone seemed to know him, but no one knew where he lived. My mom and dad got him neutered, vaccinated, got him a collar and a tag and let him go about his business figuring out that if he went "home", the humans would see the phone number and call. Never happened. He was extremely proud of his collar and tag.

He was named Roger Ramjet. Our hero. He was a friend to all, meaning he seemed to know everyone, including the possums and the raccoons, cats and dogs...you name it. It didn't take long to figure out that he must have been President of the local cat union. My mom and dad didn't know at the time where the meeting place was located, but they were certain he was leading the meetings. It was only a couple of years ago that we figured out that the local cat union meetings were being held at a local auto body shop the kitties could access down a cul-de-sac and through a fence. The kind man who owned the shop was feeding homeless and feral kitties for years. The kind man passed away recently and the shop is no more.

Roger hunted and brought back his bounty for the family. He would eat exactly half of a mouse and leave the other half on the doorstep. He always shared what he had. He loved milk more than anything in the world. Instead of calling him to come in at night, all mom would have to do is get the plastic milk jug and scratch her fingers on it. He'd come running. He'd join cereal time with the neighbor kids and walk into their houses to get in on the milk.

He loved playing in fall leaves.

Roger left us in the summer of 1990 after a battle with kidney disease. He was only with us 5 years, but his legacy has lasted forever. It was 4 months after Roger left that Maxfield showed up. We asked, did Roger send you? Yes, he did. Roger has been sending us lost, scared, starving and alone kitties ever since.

Forever Autumn

The summer sun is fading as the year grows old, and darker days are drawing near, the winter winds will be much colder, now you're not here.

I watch the birds fly south across the autumn sky, and one by one they disappear. I wish that I was flying with them, now you're not here

Like the sun through the trees you came to love me, like a leaf on a breeze you blew away

Through autumns golden gown we used to kick our way, you always loved this time of year, those fallen leaves lie undisturbed now, 'cause you're not here

Like the sun through the trees you came to love me, like a leaf on a breeze you blew away

A gentle rain falls softly on my weary eyes, as if to hide a lonely tear. My life will be forever autumn, 'cause you're not here

~Justin Hayward

Sunday Brunch

After my post on Friday about realizing that my mom and dad were sneaking wet food out to Cecilia and Madison, I was so sad. Then I read my furriends comments in support of me. Yes, you confirmed that indeed my mom and dad were being unfair...sneaky...dare I say it...wrong.

I showed my mom and dad the comments and they reconsidered their actions.

Yummy!

THANK YOU!
Yes that is me finishing my plate before my momma gets started!

Together

Happy Together

Me and you

And you and me

No matter how they tossed the dice

It had to be

The only one for me is you

And you for me

So happy together
~The Turtles

Formerly Feral Friday

I was a bit suspicious about what was happening with Cecilia and Madison. First Cecilia moves out of the house and "in" with Madison. That was actually ok, because we all seem to like her a whole lot better when we are looking at her on the other side of a window or the other side of the door.

Turns out Madison thinks she's ok...Cecilia thinks Madison is ok. She headbutts him. What concerns me is that we've seen mom and dad sneaking out of the house with little plates and what looks to be wet food.

Wha???

Turns out the dynamic duo have been given special treats behind our backs. When I confronted mom and dad on the injustice, they were unimpressed. They said "do you want to live in the shop too?" Uh oh...well no, I don't.

Hmmm..what's a kitty to do?

Thursday Truth About Cory

Cory's not talking today. Cory doesn't like to talk about her special talent as an opera singer. When the lights are low, when she thinks no one is watching, she sings. She sings to her boot socks. Sometimes she sings to gloves. Mostly she sings in private.

Her song is soulful, forceful, sensitive, beautiful, mournful, musical....and private. We think she should be a star on stage so the whole world can hear her, but even we can't really watch her do it. Yes we see her out of the corner of our eyes, but when she sees that we see her...she drops the sock and gets very quiet.

She is a lot like Michigan J. Frog:



So enjoy the video clip and know that we are working hard to capture the true Cory, singing her heart out. We have video cameras set up, microphones at the ready, but she's coy, so very very coy.

Wordy Wednesday update

It's been 5 weeks since Grete had her elbow surgery. She had fluid building up on her elbow because she was too active. I felt guilty about it because I thought it was because I was trying to get her to chase me. Turns out it's Grete's own fault because she is 2 years old and wants to rumble. Grete saw the doctor after 4 weeks on house arrest and now she is released to 2 small "controlled" walkies a day. There's nothing "controlled" about my Grete. She can hardly wait until she can mix it up with her boyfriends Calvin and Trek at the dog park. I can hardly wait until she's out of the house.

Grete is a whiner. She whines so much because she's getting bored. She feels better but she's still not ready to cut loose. She doesn't understand. So she whines. She whistles when she whines. My ears hurt.

Grete and Bennette eat out of the same dish at the same time. If my mom tries to get a picture of it, Grete runs. My Grete hates the flashy box so much, she'll leave her dinner to Bennette. Bennette thinks this is great.

Bennette says, "thank you for the food Grete"!

PeeEss...did you hear Obama's speech? A puppy moving into the White House? Did I hear that right? Uh oh...time to start e-mailing the Prez elect now...we want to see a first kitten!

Tuesday- Election Day

Don't neglect your demo-cattic duty! Get out and vote!

Meezer Monday- Memories and History

My mom spent some time with me this weekend looking at the scrapbooks and telling me about the meezers who came before me and my momma. Mom has always had a meezer in her life, starting when she was just a little kid, in the last century! I may not look like a meezer, but if my momma is a meezer, then I'm one too.

Kimi and Junior were the mother/son duo who grew up with my mom. They were indoor kitties who only went outside on a leash.

When mom moved out on her own, she wanted to adopt a kitty, so she went to the Humane Society. She was thinking that she wanted a grey kitty (what was she thinking?). While she was looking at a grey kitten, another kitten came up and swatted her "hey take me". That smart little swatting kitten was Morgan. Love at first sight, soul mates forever.

Morgan was ruler of the house and a force to be reckoned with. Our vet said he'd rather wrestle a tiger. Once when Morgan had to stay at the vet, the technicians refused to get her out of her cage. Mom had to go back and get her. When mom went face first into the cage, the techs let out an audible gasp. They were certain that mom would be disfigured, but no....just a "mew" came out of her and the techs knew they had been manipulated by the master.

Morgan was adopted by my mom and dad when they didn't have much money. She developed a love for ramen noodles and peanut butter on graham crackers that stayed with her for her whole life. She lived to be 18 years old. Liver disease took her from us. Mom said she knew the end was near when Morgan refused to eat ramen.

Morgan aka: Queen of All, The Queen Mother, Munchkin

Morgan up a tree

Nimue was the kitten mom and dad adopted when Morgan was about a year old. Morgan treated Nimue like her very own kitten and they loved each other. Nimue's favorite thing to do was sit under light bulbs and bask in the warmth.

Nimue passed away suddenly when she was just shy of 10 years old. She had cardiomyopathy and prior to her sudden fatal episode, there were no signs of trouble.

After Morgan passed away in January of 1998, Mom and dad were without a meezer AND without any girl kitties. It was man-cat central with Jonathan, Maxfield, Madison and Michelangelo.

In April 1998, Maggie appeared at a local amusement park. Hungry, alone and very bewildered at why she was on her own, she was scooped up by my mom and dad. They too were bewildered at why such a girl was on her own. They searched and searched for her owners but came up with nothing. Soon after Maggie came home (meaning immediately), she went into heat. That sent Michelangelo and Madison into a swoon. They loved her more than anything or anyone, but they could do nothing about it. They loved her anyway and worshipped her for her whole life. She was a total southern belle and EVERYONE worshipped her. Everyone hoped she would take over the Queen role that Morgan left open, but she was destined to be a princess and dumpster diva.

Maggie passed away in the fall of 2005 after a tough battle with aggressive bile duct cancer. My mom and dad would have done anything to save her, but with that kind of disease there is nothing you can do.

Mom and dad were once again left Meezerless. That's where Petfinder.com came into our lives. Mom searched and found my momma and me up for adoption by United Paws. My momma's name was Libby at the time, because she had been liberated from her terrible situation. When my momma and I came home we were given new names. My mom had her co-workers help out and they thought we should be named after 2 great women in history. That's how we were named after Eleanor Roosevelt and Coretta Scott King....Ellie and Cory. We hope to do great things too and make the meezers who came before us very proud.