Some people believe that black cats are bad luck. You know what my little black cats has to say about that?
This picture says it all. He sticks out his tongue and says those people are dumb.
If you have a black animal just know that you are a lucky pet parent because they are the best. Also keep them indoors and safe tonight. There are cruel people out there who will do terrible things to a black animal or any animal if given the chance. Another reason why I typically like cats better than many people.
Here’s another look at Scout, dressed up a few years ago.
Scout has had a rough time these last six weeks or so. He has an ongoing issue that seems to flare under stress like when I leave for too long at one time. Since this problem is related to litter box performance, I have spent much of the last several weeks hyper focused on his potty habits.
While I always try to keep his box clean, it’s immaculate if I’m awake and present to tend to it. This fall, he has grown accustomed to a certain level of attention where I praise him for going potty and then immediately clean up after his royal highness.
Yesterday morning he evidently was disappointed that I wasn’t awake to tend to his box at 3:30 a.m. I didn’t hear when he scratched at the wall after completing his business. I didn’t hear when he pulled the scooper out from between the box and the wall and heaved it into the middle of the bathroom floor. I also wasn’t conscious when he set to work kicking litter three feet across the floor with the zeal and skill of an Olympian headed for the kitty winter games.
When those things failed to rouse me from my slumber, my house panther jumped up on the bathroom counter and used a well manicured paw to open a cabinet door and then slam said door.
It started slowly, of course.
Then he picked up the pace, opening and then SLAMMING, opening and then SLAMMING, over and over again.
By the time I stumbled into the bathroom and turned on the light, he had abandoned his revelry and was sitting so prim and proper waiting for my prompt attendance to his concerns.
He watched carefully while I swept up the litter, scooped his box, and tied up everything in a TJ Maxx sack before dropping it in the trash can.
He jumped down, sniffed at the box and, evidently satisfied, followed me back to bed. He was snoring in minutes. I was awake for an hour wondering if he’s always been such a little maniac or if he is worse now.
Oh, the things a pet parent will do for their children. It’s a good thing he is cute.
Around here CALM is the name of the game. Scout has been really sick, a malady I’m certain is brought on by anxiety. He went back to the vet yesterday for more tests and I continue to force him to take pills twice a day. Have you ever tried to give a cat pills by yourself? It’s a life skill I seem to have mastered with my boy, at least. Sadly, when we are done, he turns to me (his tormenter) for comfort.
Otherwise, I’ve been trying hard to keep his little world calm and somewhat predictable. By extension, my world has been calmer as well. In fact, I’m home again today. I’ve been home a lot lately with time to do some cleaning and organizing, reading, and kitty cuddling.
I’ll also be listening to authors talk about their books this weekend through something called Roswell Reads Rewind. Basically Roswell, Georgia has a city wide reading project that involves bringing in major fiction authors to speak about their books and to sometimes speak about their writing process. Once a year they post all those videos of past events online for a single weekend. It’s wonderful to go at your own pace and have a front row seat to all these smart people who have given the world books truly worth reading.
Last night I listened to Lisa See talk about her “overnight success” after spending twenty years writing books. Today I’ll revisit some favorites that I watched last year including Ron Rash, Ann Patchett, and Rick Bragg.
Around here, books and reading matter. Not only does reading entertain, it broadens horizons, educates and increases empathy in a world where these things I value seem to have gone out of vogue.
That’s part of the reason it irritates me to say there’s a good chance I’m going to DNF a book today. It sounded great but it has taken the author a full third of nearly 600 pages to get to the actual story of the book and I find that I’m just not that interested.
Do I care what happens next or if the main character is ok? Not especially.
Around here, we call that a bad sign. I’ll give it fifty more pages before deciding that this may just not be the book for me.
Around here, we understand that all things are not for all people and we move on.
I do wish I could be out doing something fun today. There’s probably a car show or a museum exhibit I would like to see. October is my favorite month for activities and time in nature. I know I’m missing out by not being on the hiking trails but there’s an event happening at Lake Hope today so that wouldn’t be peaceful and the Hocking Hills parks will be as busy as Times Square by noon.
Around here, we recognize that lots of people have FOMO or the Fear Of Missing Out but we believe in JOMO.
That’s the Joy of Missing Out.
At this moment, I’m in comfy pjs, still lounging with my little cat who adores me even when I make him take medicine and leave him at the vet to be poked and prodded. It’s a beautiful fall day and I have a quick errand to run so maybe I’ll stop for a few pictures on the way. Otherwise, around here is where I will stay and be glad for the calm of a quiet day mostly at home.
Whether you’re staying in or headed out on adventure, I hope where you are is as happy as this.
I’m on vacation this week. In fact, I’m supposed to be out day tripping a few days but that seems to not be in the cards.
Scout is still sick and continues to be a worry. Honestly, I never thought I would be so intimately familiar with the bathroom habits of a cat but here we are.
I celebrate any time he is able to go potty and worry when hours pass and he won’t go near his litter box.
Since I’m home, I’m trying to clean the house and hope to carve out some hours to do yard work that has been delayed by a summer of prolonged rain/ intense humidity/ heat stroke inducing temps/ a tricky knee/ and the fact that I’m usually at work anytime the weather is decent.
But Scout is especially clingy right now and I have spent a lot of time packing him around while I try to do indoor chores a or just sitting quietly next to him while he sleeps with two paws wrapped around my leg.
It’s hard to see our pets be sick. He can’t tell me what’s going on and I can’t explain why I’m torturing him with all this medicine when he already feels bad. But his issues can be life threatening if allowed to persist so we carry on as best we can and muddle through.
He’s pictured above, cuddled under a blanket and trying hard to understand why I’m taking his picture when he clearly needs a break.
I’ll get back to telling you about my September adventures and live happily through my memories of those good experiences. Maybe one of these days I’ll get to leave home and do some sightseeing or find something interesting to tell you about.
Meanwhile, I’m on paw patrol and grateful to be on vacay when I can take care of my boy.
Dentist, hair and chiropractor appointments early in the week, busy days at work, a blood drive donation, and an excellent concert one night kept me hustling and on the road a lot. I also got a new phone which has caused another layer of complications.
Unfortunately, I had some sleepless nights too.
Around here we value sleep as a means for overall wellness and it just wasn’t coming. In addition to the tired, I have felt dehydrated and off balance.
This is not a great combination.
So I had a chat with Scout last night. As I carried him to bed, I explained how badly I needed to get some rest. Could he please play quietly if he woke up before me?
Would you believe I didn’t hear a peep out of that little cat for fourteen hours? Long story short, I slept till after noon today – something so rare I can’t recall the last time it happened.
And I’m still kind of tired.
So around here today, I’m thinking it’s going to be a hot shower and fresh pjs kind of day. I am going to light a fall scented candle (because if I don’t go outside it can be any season I want) and curl up with books (maybe even something with illustrations) and pretend that feeling rested and reading is my only job.
Have a great Saturday, friends! At least what’s left of it!
