Category Archives: Those Cats

Contests, Randonymity, Those Cats

Cat scratcher fever

45 Comments

Cathy’s celebrating her November birthday with a contest. Share your favorite poem or quotation with her and you could win some yarn – there’s a twist to this one, so make sure you read the details as it’s a fun twist! Leave your comments by noon CST, November 27.

Have you heard about the One Laptop One Child program? The New York Times has a particularly nice overview article about it. Between now and November 26, there’s a cool program called Give One, Get One – for a $399 donation, you give a laptop to a child in a developing country, receive one of the same children’s laptops (and they are very, very cool), and get a $200 tax deduction on top of it. This is the technology that could make all those cyberpunk novels come true.

A few weeks ago, Jeanne finally guilted me into getting a new cardboard scratcher for Chaos. Ok, it was definitely past time to do so (um, he’d had the old one for nearly four years and had worn out both sides of it), and I’d been meaning to, but… Anyway, you can definitely see the difference between the two:

I hung on to the old scratcher for a few days, just to make sure that the new scratcher was acceptable – last thing I wanted was a feline meltdown about not having the right scratcher. It turned out to be no problem whatsoever.

“New scratcher. Mmmmmm…” -Chaos

“New scratcher. Mine. All mine!” -Chaos

“Mine mine mine mine mine mine mine.” -Chaos

“I totally don’t get it. Are you ok, big kitty?” -Mayhem

“Happy happy mine mine.” -Chaos

“Back off, Mayhem, unless you want to lose that paw. This is my scratcher. Mine.” -Chaos

“Mine… zzzzzzzzzzzzz…” -Chaos

“I really don’t get it.” -Mayhem

“…zzzzzzzminezzzzzzzzz…” -Chaos

“Hmph. Well, who wants to scratch on cardboard anyway?!” -Mayhem

Knitting, Those Cats

*yawn*

34 Comments

I survived my first day back at work! I was pretty tired by the end of the day – but I must admit that it was one of those mornings when I woke up feeling tired. I’m blaming the aggressive kitty snuggling I was subjected to overnight! And curses, does work ever cut into reading blogs or what? Dang. I’m already way behind in bloglines. Woe.

Back before I had Mayhem, RheLynn of KnitOwl made me a wonderful mini-Chaos. She just sent me an adorable mini-Mayhem, too. Aw, thank you so much, RheLynn!

“It is very cute. But I am the real Mayhem! Me! And I am still the cutest!” -Mayhem

I finally sewed buttons on to the last of the bibs I knitted. Whew!

For some reason, Mayhem felt the need to show those bibs who was the boss.

“Ha! Take that, you wicked bibs!” -Mayhem

Contests, Reading, Those Cats

This and that Friday (with exceptionally cute Mayhem photo)

59 Comments

I know a few of you are suddenly unable to read my blog due to a filter marking it as “Hate Speech.” Remember when I mentioned the problems with my site being slow? My hosting provider moved my site to a different server last week, and apparently someone else in my new IP space is getting filtered for “Hate Speech.” My site is getting blocked vicariously, alas. I put in another ticket and my site has been moved again. Hopefully by the time this is posted, those of you who haven’t been able to read over the past week will be able to do so. Sorry for any frustration or inconvenience this has caused you!

Rebekah’s having a contest to help raise money for the medical bills of a dog that was left alone in a house for six weeks. Yikes! 🙁 Deadline to contribute is December 1.

ETA: It’s snowing right now. True, true, it isn’t heavy snow or anything. But still – my brain might explode.

Reading Update
Manhunting by Jennifer Crusie. No, CarrieK, you didn’t miss a new Jennifer Crusie book, really – it’s a rerelease of her first published romance (1993). Either she polished it up a bit, or she’s always been a great writer.
Kiss of Death: A Daytime Mystery by Linda Palmer. The Daytime (Television) Mysteries are exceptionally well-written and enjoyable. Recommended, but read them in order – this is the fourth book. (There’s a black kitty in the series, too!)
UltraViolet: A Jane Kelly Mystery by Nancy Bush. One of the reviewers compares Jane Kelly to Stephanie Plum and Kinsey Milhone. I’m not sure I would go that far, but I do enjoy the series and will definitely continue to read it.

Life Update
Later this morning, I go in for my recheck and work release appointment. I’ll be going back to work on Wednesday, November 14. At today’s appointment, I’ll find out whether I go back full-time right away, or ease back. I’m hoping for easing back! Especially since things are completely weird at work right now. Take a mental note, folks – if you need to take medical leave, make sure you do it while your company is being acquired. This adds exciting stresses to your leave. At least I know I made it through the first cut – whew!

“What?” -Mayhem

Contests, Knitting, Those Cats

The return of the bibs: Mayhem

39 Comments

Miss T is celebrating her first blogiversary with a contest. Leave her a comment (through November 11) about what blogging’s done for you, and you could win some mysterious yarn.

Susan’s having a “Wayback Machine” contest – post what you were knitting a year ago and you could win some “knitterly goodness.” Contest ends midnight PST, November 11.

Same bibs, different model today. Chaos and Mayhem deal with bibs so very, very differently. Chaos actively works to remove the bib. Mayhem… not so much.

Step 1: Assume guilt-inducing look

“How could you do this to me, Mom?!” -Mayhem

Step 2: Ask the expert

“Um, big kitty? Could you get this off me, please?” -Mayhem

Step 3: Look for divine intervention

“Please… someone? Anyone?” -Mayhem

Step 4: Revert back to guilt

“I trusted you, Mom… *sniff*” -Mayhem

Contests, Knitting, Those Cats

The return of the bibs: Chaos

35 Comments

Kristi has posted some more sock yarn reviews.

Clare is having a contest to celebrate her 100th post. Leave her a comment with a yarn substitution story, and you could win yarn, a shawl pin, or a book.

I should just knit up a pile of bibs to have on hand for those unexpected babies… Here are the first three bibs – I have a few more that still need buttons.

“Oh no, not bibs again. Well, at least this one will look nice with my eyes…” -Chaos

“Curses! These are easy to get off… unless your foot gets caught in the neck opening.” -Chaos

“Um, a little help here, Mom?!” -Chaos

Randonymity, Those Cats

Thank you post the second

33 Comments

Hard to believe it’s been nearly five weeks since my surgery! I’m feeling pretty good and continuing to go for walks most days. On Friday, I go in for a recheck and work release appointment. Where did the time go?!

Continuing on with the thank yous – MrsPao sent me two wonderful boxes! The first contained the book Twilight (excellent!), the Mountain Goats’ Nine Black Poppies cd, and a refillable catnip mouse that Mayhem is busily removing from the photo…

“Well, duh, this obviously isn’t for you, Mom.” -Mayhem

MrsPao also sent me some of those wonderful dark chocolate-covered rice cakes I love (um, there may have been three boxes), another book, and some lovely yarn – thank you so much!

“Hmph, where’s the cat toy this time?!” -Mayhem

Mind your manners there, Miss Mayhem!

TB sent wonderful tea, honey (with honeycomb), soap, a gluten-free spice cake mix, and kitty treats. Sorry I didn’t get a picture… thank you, TB!

Michaele sent me some much-needed pajama bottoms (when you’re convalescing and hanging out at home for weeks on end, you need lots of pjs!), black cat thank you cards, stunning sock yarn, and really tasty dried cherries. Thanks, Michaele!

“Dried cherries sound kind of tasty, Mom! Will you share? Do they taste like tuna?” -Mayhem

WendyG sent me more gorgeous sock yarn, a cute sock knitting bag, knitting coasters, knitting gift tags, kitty post-it notes, a little coffee notebook, and assorted kitty toys. In fact, Mayhem’s leaving the photo below with one of those little mice in her mouth… Thank you, Wendy!

“Dum de dum de dum…” -Mayhem

Amy gave me skein of Hollyhock Malabrigo laceweight and Miss T gave me two skeins of purple Panda Cotton. Hmm, do you think they figured out what colors I like?? Thanks to you both!

“Are hollyhocks like catnip?” -Chaos

Elspeth sent me some mix cds, some hand lotion, a cute black cat notepad, and a warm scarf that she made for me! Aw, thank you, E! Now, the big question is – will I be able to get the scarf away from Mayhem?!

“I feel pretty!” -Mayhem

“Oh, so pretty!” -Mayhem

“And so crazy!” -Mayhem

“Whew! I’m tired now.” -Mayhem

Contests, Reading, Those Cats

Wireless woes

33 Comments

Argh – my wireless connection hasn’t been very stable for the past few days. Consequently, I’m behind on bloglines again and am a little frustrated at how many attempts it took me to get this post (such as it is) together. Fortunately, after an hour on the phone with tech support last night (aka “Dad”), things should be a lot better now. Just too many wireless networks in my little corner of the metropolis, apparently, all of us fighting for the same few channels.

Contest Update
Lisa has a lot of patterns from her LYS closing – leave a comment at Lisa’s blog for Libby (owner of the LYS), and you could receive a pattern or patterns.

Karrie’s having Fake Rhinebeck Post contest – if you didn’t go to Rhinebeck, go stashdiving and get excited again about yarn you already own! Post a picture and blog about it before midnight (PDT), October 27, and you could win a fibery prize.

Reading Update
Gone with the Nerd, Nerd in Shining Armor, and My Nerdy Valentine by Vicki Lee Thompson. Formulaic and trashy – but I’m enjoying these silly books anyway… although My Nerdy Valentine was my least favorite so far.
The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires by Katie MacAlister. I got the giggles when I saw this title at the library. It was a “meh” read, which was pretty much what I expected. 🙂
Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley by M.C. Beaton. Finished this one and started the next… and put that one down after 20 pages. I just can’t get sufficiently engaged in Agatha Raisin…
Seize the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Ok, I admit it – I’m completely addicted to the Dark Hunter books now and wish I’d been reading them in the correct order instead of skipping a few here and there.
D.A. by Connie Willis. This young adult science fiction book was ok (the moral of the story wasn’t subtle at all!), but so short that it seems far better suited for a short story collection than as a standalone novel.
Lost in Austen by Emma Campbell Webster. Ever wondered what it would be like if Jane Austen has written her novels as “Choose Your Own Adventure” books? Wonder no more! 😉 A cute premise that seems to owe some inspiration to Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next novels, I’m glad I got this from the library and didn’t purchase it.

“Why, yes, I did gobble down the big kitty. You won’t be hearing any whining from him anymore.” *burp* -Mayhem

Those Cats

In which Mayhem plays with the Magic Goldfish Wand Toy (MGWT)

45 Comments

Since many of you seemed so interested in the Magic Goldfish Wand Toy (MGWT), allow me to present (with Jeanne’s expert assistance as MGWT operator) Mayhem in action. Blurry action, even using my camera’s sport mode – be warned! (Note that the dirt in the background was from a little plant tipping incident and was cleaned up as soon as my dad arrived with the wee vacuum cleaner.)

*twitch twitch twitch* -Mayhem

*lunge* -Mayhem

“Hmph. It keeps getting away from me!” -Mayhem

“Drat!” -Mayhem

“I’m sure I can get it this time!” -Mayhem

“Whew!” *pant pant pant* -Mayhem

“Noooooo! Please don’t put it back in the closet! Please!” -Mayhem