At long last, I’m having a contest! 🙂 This is the belated birthday contest for Mayhem (who was one on May 31) and early birthday contest for Chaos (four years old on September 28). To participate, simply leave a comment with some useful advice for Chaos and/or Mayhem. Leave your comments by Wednesday, September 19, 5 pm CDT. Winners will be selected by random number, and no non-knitters will be forced to take a yarny prize if they really don’t want to (appropriate non-yarny prize to be substituted).
With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month (and with October rushing toward us!), the first prize will be a “Think Pink” prize, featuring a breast cancer awareness travel mug from Caribou Coffee and a skein of luridly pink sock yarn that I dyed.
If you win the mug and yarn, I highly suggest washing the mug again before you use it… On the plus side, it does have the Mayhem Sniff of Approval.
*sniff sniff sniff* -Mayhem
Additional yarny prizes include a ball of Trekking 126 (look familiar?! I bought two!) and a nice aumtumny skein of One Sheep Hill sock yarn, donated by Yarnzilla.
“Dum de dum de dum de dum de dum.” -Mayhem
“Wait, this isn’t the same skein of yarn that was just here, is it?! I’m so confused! Where did that other skein go?” -Mayhem
snuggle with your mom,
give her purrs and licks,
and always remember,
she fills the kitty bowls!
Dear Chaos and Mayhem, Mom really wants prizes, so here’s our bestest advice. Always make sure you can get out of what you get into. Because sneaking out between Mom’s legs in the morning as she leaves for work may be cool at first, but then you’re stuck outside with NO food or a comfy sleeping spot ’til she gets home. Oh, and don’t eat your food or treats too fast, because you may end up ralphing it up. Moms don’t like that too much. Something about it being gross. Whatev.
OK bye.
Love Atticus, Mae and Gandalf
You did a most excellent job dyeing that pink yarn, Chris!
Don’t count me in the contest ::aa-aa-aachoo!::
Chaos and Mayhem, Addi Turbos are expensive. Please stop chewing on Mom’s. She would really appreciate that. You might also give consideration to avoiding eating those tiny toothpick-like things known as sock needles. Um, May? They are NOT for making deep fried kitty treats on a stick – no matter how it looks.
Dear Chaos and Mayhem,
What goes in easily does not always come out so smoothly. In particular, I’m thinking of plastics and metals like Addi Turbos for which you seem to have a special fondness. We all need extra fiber in our diets, so please, just stick to yarn that is not being knit!
Chaos and Mayhem,
Watch out for the day when you’ll have to model socks, not just bibs!
Chaos and Mayhem – please remember to never pee anywhere that is other than your designated litterbox or mom may have to keep you in a more confined area of the house!
Dear Chaos and Mayhem,
You do realize if you hide the yarn you’ll get more attention 🙂 well maybe for a bit till she goes on a hunt for it but it would be funny to watch!
Just try to refrain from snickering in the corner with your paw over your mouth.
Pink yarn! Beautious pink yarn! Okay, advice…listen up now, Chaos and Mayhem. Things Not To Eat: Yarn, needles (particularly expensive ones, like Addis), stitch markers, tape measures, and any pieces of knitting (finished or unfinished). Got that? Happy Birthday!
Dear Chaos and Mayhem,
Above all, remember that Mom’s knitting is never to be the recipient of a recently constructed hairball. Sorry to be disgusting, but it had to be said.
*de-lurking*
Chaos and Mayhem, just a few things to remember.
Cuteness can get you more kitty toys/treats than eating needles.
Snuggles are important.
Hide when you see Mom making another bib!
Happy kitty birthdays!
(Chris, I’m not usually into pink but that skein… wow! Just lovely!)
Dear Chaos and Mayhem:
Happy Birthdays.
Remember, never lay on anything black, it doesn’t show off your lovely coat, and you want those shed hairs to show so that every one knows about you. It’s a cat calling card, you know? White pants are the best, but if unavailable, any white or light surface, clothing, knitted object or yarn is super. Work it!
Yeah-contest! Here’s my advice kitty’s- never drive under the influence and never never pick up stray tom cats.
Happy Birthday Chaos and Mayhem! Remember that looking cute and purring gets you treats. Chewing on Addis and playing with the newly wound yarn gets you cold stares and modeling more bibs. Gotta watch out!
Fibre is good for your digestive system. Purple ones taste best 😉
Yea – like things around here aren’t licked and sniffed by feline and canine snouts all the time!
Advice: If it’s warm, cuddle up in it; if it’s warm and wet – run away and point to the other cat!
Happy B-day to you both! Give your mom hell on your day 😉
Geez…in cat years, Mayhem’s already two.
So my advice to both Chaos and Mayhem is–don’t wait for Mom to celebrate your birthday! Get the party started! (Get it? Get it? The song by Pink? Get it? I can go for miles, if you know what I mean)
Remember that dental hygiene is important — always brush and floss after eating mom’s needles and yarn. Consider yourself fortunate that mom doesn’t knit too many sweaters, or the kitty-modeling gigs would get harder and harder (a bib on a cat is one thing, but an aran weight cabled sweater would be a whole ‘nother story).
Dear Chaos and Mayhem, the best way to drive mommie crazy is to follow her around and meow piteously until she turns around to check on you. Then, sit down and stare at each other. She will be very puzzled. Won’t that be fun?
Dear Mayhem and Chaos;
No matter what you convince yourself, if the pattern doesn’t seem right it isn’t. Frog back and do it again you will never like the finished object otherwise.
Happy Birthday, Kitties…
Remember that lots of purring and a good head butt to the Mama will help forgive a lot of fiber nuzzling/Addi chewing sins…
Having just knit a pair of socks with Trekking 126 I’d be sure to win it! LOL
My advice? Chaos and Mayhem…please, please, please live up to your names!! ;-D
OK, you guys are really lucky that you have each other. I play by myself all the time. Sometimes, I get lucky as Mom leaves some yarn out and boy does she get ticked off when I roll around with it! Sometimes I even get to string it all out, well you know like under the table and round the chairs and stuff. So just remember to be nice to each other,…I keep thinking that a kitty pal would be nice, not sure if Mom is ready for two of us though..mmmm, maybe I should show her more pictures of you two together…
Dear Chaos and Mayhem
I don’t know if I have any advice for you because most of the best advice I’ve received came from kittys. But i’ll do my best
Try not to lose your toys. Even though it seems momma can fix anything, she’s not psychic. Don’t meow at nothing in the corner of a dark room late at night. it’s not as funny as you think it is. Sleep in funny positions, because momma still needs to be entertained even when your “off the clock”. And make sure you giver her ample head butts as if to say “I love for no reason in particular”.
Happy birthday!
My advice is for if a toddler comes to visit — run and hide! They’re still learning the meaning of the word “gentle”, and trust me, you don’t want to be the one they practise on!
Dear Chaos and Mayhem,
As black kitties, you are already ‘practically perfect in every way’, so any advice that could be given to you by a mere human is, of course, just us operating under the delusion that we have anything to offer you cats other than food, toys, and snuggles. Please do, however, try to be kind to us people by allowing us our little idiosyncrasies (like believing we ‘own’ you, or wishing to keep such infinitely chewable items like knitting needles out from your sharp kitty jaws), and having the patience to continue to allow us to photograph you at inopportune moments of feline indignity. TO do so will ensure many more years of smooth human-kitty relations, and perhaps ensure the dispensation of more treats.
yr. ob. serv.,
Emily
person of Arddu, another in the Tribe of Black Kitties.
Hey C and M –
When your Mom doesn’t feel good, give her lots of snuggling and then she’ll give you treats and chin rubs. She really likes it when I make bread on her tummy.
Oh, and then bite her from time to time so she knows that you’re the boss(es)!
Your friend, Boo.
Always remember no matter what you do, if you cry just a little bit and snuggle
up(so what if you accidently tangled that yarn all up) Mommy will just giveyou hugs and forgive you.
Chaos, your eyes are the only nightlight your mom needs.
Mayhem, it’s really easy to jump up and open that door for the fishy toy 🙂
To: Chaos and Mayhem
From: Gizmo and Duncan
Gizmo – Sigh. It’s too late. You’ve already permitted the little cat to be a part of your household, so…
Duncan – Wanna play?
Gizmo – As I was saying, you will have to make the best of it now. Sometimes…
Duncan – Wanna play?
Gizmo – Sometimes the little cat comes in handy. He (or she) will occasionally give good head-washes, and….
Duncan – Wanna play?
Gizmo – Sigh.
Duncan – Huh? Do you?
Gizmo – And sometimes, when it’s cold, it’s nice to have another furry body to curl up with…
Duncan – Wanna play?
Gizmo – I give up.
Mamochka seems to rilly want the trekking 126. Something about oooooooo ahhhhhhhh.
Chaos, Mayhem, be sure to bonk your mama often and to bat at her at random times of the day. Sleep on yarn, don’t chew it, and she’ll love you even more and make goofy noises at you. And try to select contrasting colors to recline against, the better to showcase your glory.
And sleep right next to her and make purring noises. Mamas seem to like that.
Love,
Picasso
My advice, kids, is to make sure when you get a favorite toy that you don’t kill it as Mom may not be able to replace it. (SRM comes to mind)
The Meezer: “Where’s the fun in that, Mom? Just eat lots of tuna on your birthday! That’s MY advice!”
When in doubt, or mom is ready to shave you bald, curl up, act cute, and purr like there’s no tomorrow.
Happy Birthday Chaos and Mayhem!! It’s our birthday this month, too and we’re both four years old, too!!
Our advise: Just because mom goes into the kitchen does NOT mean you’re going to get fed, so save your energy for other important things… Like jumping to catch those pieces of yarn hanging from the thing mom’s making with her sticks and yarn.
Love, Zack and Sophie
Dear Chaos and Mayhem…You have such lovely names. Have wonderful birthdays and try to avoid eating things that are not good for you and could possibly add the pounds.
Purrs and nips on your birthdays, Chaos & Mayhem!
You probably already know my best advice, but I’ll give it to you anyway. The best times to get attention from your mom is when she is a ‘captive audience.’ Take advantage of the times she uses the litter box: sneak in with her and purr. Chances are you will get lots of pets. Also, figure out when the annoying black box on her bedside table yowls in the morning. Just before that, jump up on her and stick your wet nose in her face. That’s guaranteed to get attention.
Purrs,
Suzy
Chris- This message is from Kitten-Chow:
Mayhem and Chaos- if you see your Mom with a bib, run like stink!
To: Chaos and Mayhem
From: Spook and Zoot, owners of human Jessi
When you want attention, it is best to poke your head under your human’s knitting, because it is cute, and she will generally sigh and put down here knitting because it hurts her arms to keep raising it higher and higher.
If that doesn’t work, just lie on her lap, making sure to cover the yarn feed.
Just saying.
After all, they are here for *our* comfort and scratches, *not* to knit. GEEZ. Happy Birthday – Ours is on Oct. 15.
Mayhem and Chaos… always remember, if you get into trouble you can leave me a comment here on my mom’s blog and I’ll see what I can do…we black kitties need to stick together.
— Carmen
Here’s my advice to Chaos and Mayhem: keep posing for those photos and your mom will keep you around.
😉
Mayhem & Chaos, don’t overdo it on the catnip. If you get too much of a good thing it always gets you into trouble! Happy Birthdays!!
Java wants to remind Chaos and Mayhem that not all dogs are bad, some even like cats and want to play tag with them. But stay away from the barking ones, they are usually annoying and high maintenance.
Oh, and napping on Mom’s yarn is a great way to keep her at home.
Chaos and Mayhem : my “advice” is this – in your infinite patience, realize that although we humans are sometimes deluded and persuaded by our height and our thumbs that we have some kind of ‘superiority’ over cats, we do realize in our saner moments that we are your devoted underlings, and that without you our lives would be empty and meaningless. In that spirit, please realize that by “advice” what we all actually mean is “humble supplication”, and try to greet our petitions with the generosity that we all hope for but do not deserve. Thank you.
To the reigning king and queen of chaos and mayhem, to assert your authority within your kingdom, you would be served fastest by your human servant if you place your butt in the human servant’s face. the closer to his/her nose and mouth, the better and faster he/she will serve you.
– Danger and Cosmo
Happy Birthday kitties!
As black cats you need to be aware of human vision limitations in low light situations. Two-leggers do not see as well as you! While we will step around or over you when we know you’re there, if we can’t see you, everyone’s unhappy!
(I have tripped over my young black Oscar too many times! His older kitty brother, Deuce, has white patches and is easier to spot.)
Kona says:
Don’t be afraid of us puppies – we really just want to lick you – a lot.
Happy birthday catz.
Chaos and May I have two pieces of advice for you
#1: Chewing on your Mom’s addis could be detrimental to your health. Please refrain.
#2: Your mom has recently confessed that she acquired the both of you to match her wardrobe, so feel free to shed on said wardrobe, it’s ok, it won’t show.
Happy Birfday!
NEVER eat all the catnip in one sitting. Save a little for later, to ease the hangover.
Dear May and Chaos,
Here are some useful tips for my favorite twin city kitties…
1. Don’t stare directly into the sun, if you actually get any sunshine in Minnesota that is.
2. Every morning pray to the five Twin City Deitys – Paul Westerberg, Kirby Puckett, Prince, Jesse Ventura, and Ahmad Rashad.
3. SNIFF EVERYTHING!!!
4. If it’s on the floor, bite it or play with it – that’s why Mommy put it there.
Dear Chaos and Mayhem,
Happy Birthdays! You are such handsome black cats; I enjoy seeing your pictures and reading about all your adventures. My only advice (other than NOT trying to eat the Addi Turbos) is the advice my mother used to give our cats when I was growing up: Don’t bite the hand that feeds you!