The Cat Lady

Yes, the cat lady. That is what people coming into my office call me because of the cat pictures, cat figures, cat calendars, cat everything. I have always been a cat person, from my earliest cat that I can remember (a black cat named Nancy - when I was a very young child living on a dairy in California) to my latest JazzPurr.

In between there have been many others - all with special places yet in my heart. Ming Toy, Thomas Cat, KikiKat, Moedi, Ollie, Bow Wow, Mausli, Izi, Zowie, and now Jazz. Most lived very long lives (Kiki was 19, Ollie was 18, Bow Wow 17 and Zowie 15). Each had a personality to be remembered.

Ming moped profusely when I left for college. Thomas Cat loved to roam. Kiki was my cat and alway slept between my legs. Moedi just came and stayed - he was well fed. Ollie was the black cat Heidi had to have, the one with the softest fur ever who lived his last years with FIV. Bow Wow - well, one minute he could be purring in my lap and the next minute my hand was toast. Mausli loved to look out the front window - or in the front window when he wanted in. The best Mausli story is the time he followed Dale Higgins to the grocery store, let Dale pick him up and carry him through the store because as Dale said 'he came along to pick out his own food.' What a puss!

Izi was the wanderer. We never knew what prize she would bring in the door in the middle of the night. She would waltz down the hallway and we could hear her 'mrrrrrttt' and we knew she had something to show for her night stalkings. Zowie became 'my' cat. She slept on the bed with me - always! Her 4am alarm clock mode was a very strong head-butt aimed at shoving me out of bed and feeding her. It was a very sad day when she had to go to the big mousefield in the sky (she had necrotizing pancreatitis and it sure took her quickly).

Jazz is just a huge furball. He leaves fur on every piece of furniture in the house! He has a good personality. Sometimes he is a lap cat. Sometimes not. He is one of the few cats we have had who has attempted to be a lap cat to Vern.

For now we'll fondly remember our wonderful feline friends and hope they have found many mice in that big mousefield in the sky.

Holidays

Quiet holidays. That is what I really love. Nothing to do except cook, eat, read, sleep, and enjoy my own home.

We have enjoyed getting together with the kids this fall. A wonderful trip to San Francisco and spending time with the little granddaughters was the best. Walking to school with Ute and pushing Athena around the museum - it doesn't get much better.


The train trip to Chicago was uneventful and the time spent with Zane and Cael was very special. Walking with Zane through the mall holding his hand and watching the delight in his eyes at all of the sights and sounds of the holiday season was wonderful. Cuddling with Cael was the best. Life doesn't seem to get any easier for that little one. At this point we pray that something in his digestive system will start working normally - soon.


Weight...well...still OK, but we have to get serious again after New Year. Holidays are really difficult as there is so much good stuff around and I just can't leave it alone. So as long as the new wardrobe still fits we will not get too discouraged - but we will definitely get back on the proverbial wagon *after* the holidays!