Category Archives: Those Cats

Contests, Those Cats

So apparently cats don’t react well to being told “No ducklings for you!”

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“I’ll get you, Mom, and your little dog Toto, too!” -Chaos

But… I don’t even have a little dog Toto!

Kmkat is having a captioning contest featuring a picture of Chaos (and 9/10ths of me!). Leave your captions by midnight CDT, March 21, for your chance to win “something fibery and something chocolatey.”

Knitnana is having a contest/vote to select a closure for the new KnitPicks Options case she’s designed (which is the prize in the contest). More details on her blog; the contest closes midnight EDT, March 21.

The Purling Dervish is looking at a possible career change – leave her a comment (by 4 pm PDT, March 22) suggesting a possible new career for her (you can be as off-the-wall as you’d like) and you could win assorted fibery goodies.

Wendy’s giving away a skein of Wollmeise to someone who’s Wollmeiseless. Contest closes 4 pm EDT, March 20.

Reading, Those Cats

In which Chaos goes to the vet

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So what are the major differences between Shelfari, GoodReads, and LibraryThing? I have accounts on all of them, but if I’m going to do a “book thing” like that, I need to pick just one.

This lolcat pic gets me giggling every time. This one leaves me feeling vaguely guilty, even though I’ve never tried washing either cat. Of course, since I took Chaos to the vet last night for his shots… (Click the picture below for a close-up of feline suspicion.)

“Hmm… Mom is acting awfully weird. Something’s up.” -Chaos

His suspicions were confirmed when I put on his collar.

“No good can come of this collar business. I’ll just tell you right now that I don’t approve of whatever you have in mind, Mom.” -Chaos

“Woe! I thought this was a kitty bed!” -Chaos

Chaos’s distressed caterwauling attracted the attention of PJ, the new counter kitten at the vet – he had to hop down and see what was wrong. Chaos growled at him for his troubles… but I don’t think PJ’s holding a grudge (in fact, I’m not sure PJ has more than two or three brain cells, but he sure is cute!).

“I knew no good could come of her putting that collar on me. Sometimes it sucks to always be right.” -Chaos

“Vengeance WILL be mine. Remember that, Mom.” -Chaos

Those Cats

DPNs left unattended will be devoured

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Not suitable for those sensitive to violence against DPNs. You have been warned. What follows isn’t pretty.

A few weeks ago, Jeanne happened to leave a DPN (double-pointed needle) here after she came over to knit. I don’t think she’ll make that mistake a second time… (Yes, that is one of its tips lying near the bottom of the photo. No, I have no idea where the other tip is. Guess I’ll be looking for it in the litterbox…)

“Hey, Mom put this great toy out again!” -Chaos

*mwmph-crunch* -Mayhem

“Don’t hog it, May – I was the one who found it on the end table in the first place!” -Chaos

*mwmph-crunch* -Mayhem

“Hey, big kitty, I was playing with that!” -Mayhem

*mwmph-crunch* -Chaos

“Ha!” *mwmph-crunch* -Mayhem

“Hey! I was chewing on that!” -Chaos

“Maybe I can steal it back…” -Chaos

*mwmph-crunch* -Mayhem

I’m rather unclear what’s happening in this picture, but you could hear scuffling and scurrying and the DPN definitely went with them:

“Mom!! Why did you take it away?!” -Chaos & Mayhem

Anyone know why they don’t make chew toys for cats?!

Contests, Those Cats

Wild evening at Casa de Chaos y Mayhem

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Craftylilly Jennifer is celebrating her third blogiversary with a trivia contest – she posted the first trivia question Monday, will post the second on Wednesday, and then the third on Friday.

Chaos and May hanging out on a typical wild evening around here…

“Dum de dum de dum de dum…” -Chaos

“What? Cat carrier?! What cat carrier?!?? This is a spiffy kitty bed. You and your notions, Mom.” -Mayhem

Here’s a closer look at Mayhem in the, um, “kitty bed.” This photo was taken with a flash, and features May’s speedy squint reflex.

“So bright! Why do you always try to blind me, Mom?” -Mayhem

Without flash… sure, you can’t see her body at all, but you do get a much better idea of how very, very wide her eyes are.

“Much better without the blinding light. Why don’t you always take pictures this way?” -Mayhem

Those Cats

Is it spring yet?

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Not quite? Soon? Maybe? Ah well, here are some spring pictures of Mayhem from last May to help tide us all over…

“What do you want?” -Mayhem

“Oh! Did you see that bird?!” -Mayhem

“And there’s a squirrel! I bet he wouldn’t be so saucy if this screen wasn’t between us…” -Mayhem

P.S. Here are some cute pictures of a kitty in a “cape” – hee hee…

P.P.S. Oh my – the very first lolproposal…

Those Cats

In which Mayhem is revealed to be a sink kitty, part 2

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Maybe we should just declare this National Sink Kitty Week?! Check out Deb’s pictures of Sammy and Tig (at the bathroom sinks this time).

Earlier this week, I revealed Mayhem’s love of the bathroom sink. The sink appeal can’t just be about the sink shape, since she also loves the rectangular kitchen sink.

“…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…” -Mayhem

“Wha….?” -Mayhem

“Kitty in the kitchen sink? I don’t see any kitty in the kitchen sink! That would be very naughty, since you don’t allow kitties in the kitchen sink, Mom.” -Mayhem

We here at SoC are not acknowledging today to be a holiday in any way, shape, or form. Nothing good can come from Valentine’s Day. Bah humbug! 😉

Contests, Reading, Those Cats, Viewing

In which Mayhem is revealed to be a sink kitty, part 1

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Deb’s celebrating her second blogiversary with a contest! Leave her a comment by February 15 and you could win some goodies – she promises it won’t be anything that’s been in the secret kitty lair.

Kmkat has a photo that sums up the weekend experience in our part of the Upper Midwest. Is it any wonder that I stayed in and hibernated yesterday?!

Remember my experiment with responding to comments in the comments, triggered by Chappysmom’s post? One of the authors of the article that inspired Chappysmom has written about his experience participating in our conversations.

Over the weekend, I had a lot of trouble with the email address that my comments are sent to – no idea if things will be better today. I will respond to comment emails when they arrive… whenever that may be. Don’t worry if it isn’t in as timely a fashion as usual. Thanks!

Reading Update
The Royal Treatment, The Royal Pain, and The Royal Mess by Mary Janice Davidson. The premise is that the US never purchased Alaska; instead, it’s an independent monarchy. The result is more trashy fun from Minneapolis author Davidson.
The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby. (“A hilarious and true account of one man’s struggle with the monthly tide of the books he’s bought and the books he’s been meaning to read.”) This line from one of Hornby’s essays about his reading really summarizes an important aspect of my own reading: “A couple of months ago, I became depressed by the realization that I’d forgotten pretty much everything I’ve ever read. I have, however, bounced back: I am now cheered by the realization that if I’ve forgotten everything I’ve ever read, then I can read some of my favorite books again as if for the first time.” Exactly my strategy!
Songbook by Nick Hornby (with included 11-song cd). The short essays in this book all revolve around songs that have been important to Hornby, ranging from Led Zeppelin to Rufus Wainwright.

Viewing Update
24-Hour Party People. This film is about the Manchester music scene from the mid-1970s through the late 1990s, focusing on Tony Wilson and Factory Records and featuring Joy Division/New Order, the Happy Mondays, and more.

“What? Lots of kitties like to hang out in sinks.” -Mayhem

“The wet sweater that I found draining in here just makes the sink extra comfy!” -Mayhem

“…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…” -Mayhem

Contests, Those Cats

In which Mayhem gets very, very excited

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Wendy’s giving away a copy of Twelve Months of Knitting by Joanne Yordanou. Send her an email by 4 pm EST, February 7, to be included in the random drawing.

Is it usual for there to be hundreds and hundreds of people at a caucus?! Wow. I’m glad I had a book with me last night, because that was one slow line.

“Ohmigosh! Big kitty! It’s a bird! It’s a bird!” – Mayhem

“Mwmph! Mwmph! I got it, big kitty! No kitty food for us tonight!” – Mayhem

Those Cats

Chaising around

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Aw, thanks to those who’ve included SoC in their lists of blogs that make their day – Karen, kmkat, and Chris, I’m blushing! 🙂

About a month ago, Jeanne sent me a link to something she thought Chaos, with his deep and abiding passion for cardboard scratchers, would really like – a SmartyKat CatChaise cardboard scratcher. (As Crazy Aunt Purl notes, you can’t find this $15 product on either the Target website, even though we each found this product at Target, or the company’s website.) (Of course, this small “chaise” scratcher turns out to be nothing compared to others I saw online… but Chaos and Mayhem will just have to live with the disappointment of not having a chaise that costs ten times as much as theirs!) Anyway…

*sniff sniff sniff* -Chaos

*sniff sniff sniff* – Mayhem

*sniff sniff sniff* -Chaos

“Mmm, it’s got nip on it, big kitty. You don’t mind if I stand on your head, do you?” -Mayhem

“Well, now that you mention it, May…” -Chaos

“…I do mind. This is my kitty chais scratcher doohickey! Mine!” -Chaos

“So you just keep on moving on there, missy, or I’ll take you out with my laser eye!” -Chaos

“Hmph.” -Mayhem

Contests, Those Cats

Shouldn’t she be weaned by now?!?

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Holly’s having a destashing contest –leave her a comment about your favorite fictional or autobiographical book and you could win some lovely laceweight mohair. Contest closes midnight PST, January 27.

Sallee’s having a contest to celebrate her blogiversary – leave her a comment explaining why you think she should select a particular color combination for a fair isle hat and you could win. Contest closes 5 pm EST, January 27.

Emily’s having her first baby and you can participate in the baby pool! Send your guess by February 8, 2008. Do not despair, you non-knitters out there – prizes will be “Regular” (for non-knitters) or “Extra Fiber” (for knitters). (And thanks to Emily for the link that proves there really is a kids’ book for everything!)

Maryse sent up the bat signal because Elisa needs our help. Her dad’s recuperating from a stroke in a VA hospital, with very little support from his family. Maryse is collecting 8″ afghan squares for an afghan to let Elisa’s dad know he hasn’t been forgotten.

Mayhem will be two years old at the end of May. Shouldn’t she be weaned by now?!

*purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr* -Mayhem

Let’s not even get into the biological impediments here…

“Let’s not. I love my kitten! Well, usually at least. Her teeth can be awfully sharp sometimes.” -Chaos