We pulled Birdie out the other day. Here's Lenny Boy flying through the air to catch birdie. He's got some good air but he has no idea where he's going or where or how he is going to land.
This is also fun practice for action shots. Still need to hone in the right settings to get nice clear flying through the air shots. But of course, the divas control everything. If they even hear the click of the lens on the camera they pretty much stop doing what they were doing and look at me as if to say, "Uh, yeah, we're not going to cooperate with this bs. So there."
Poor Lucy has had the runs for a few days. I had to take her to the vet today because it was clearly time for intervention. Poor girl.
I try not to stress too much when the cats have issues. Because I know my stress stresses them out. Lucy flips out when you put her in the carrier. Throwing herself against the sides and rolling around trying to get out. And that stresses me out. Thankfully, Shawn was able to go with me and keep Lucy Poo calm. Just a few months ago he wouldn't have been able to for many reasons, but now he can and to know that the strength of our unit and partnership is coming back is a relief on so many levels.
Friday evening when I realized that Lucy was going to need a trip to the vet I was like, man, everything rests on my shoulders. The care of the family comes down to me. I'm the glue holding it all together. It's scary because what if I get sick? What if that glue starts to weaken? Again, thankfully Shawn is at a point where he can start being some of that glue again. When I think back to a few months ago when it really did ALL rest on my shoulders, well, thinking about that freaks me out. Just like thinking about everything that's happened this year, freaks me out more now than it did when it was happening. Whew!
But back to the Poohead because this post was meant to be about her. Sorry to steal the cat's thunder! We call Lucy the Devil's Minion. She's all black and just always has this evil look about her. She's a very sweet kitty when she wants to be.
Anyway, poor girl, it's hard to be all sinister when you've got the runs. She was trying but we knew what was up, so we just weren't buying her devilish looks. But she's got some meds now and special food, so soon enough she'll be all better and can go back being herself.
Today's photo is Lucy and Lenny rough and tumbling. It's just a riot to watch. Every once in a while it gets a little too vicious and I have to break it up, send them to timeout:) But mostly they are having fun. And even though Lenny Boy's wide open mouth makes it look like he was howling, there was no sound. It's all just expressions captured in the moment. It would be fun to caption this though. Any thoughts?
Being cute of course.
Sweet little Lenny BoyDid you know jonesing is in the dictionary? It's basically a fixation or compulsive desire for something. Well, I've been jonesing to be on my blog. I don't know why I'm having so much trouble coming here and posting stuff. It's not like it has to be all deep and full of anything. I guess part of the problem is that I'm pretty busy with a lot of stuff and haven't been managing my time very well. I've learned not only am I a master procrastinator (like right now I'm procrastinating working out but hey I've only been up for 30 minutes!) but I'm also a pro at wasting time. If I would stop wasting time, I would have more time. But often, I find myself overwhelmed with the task(s) at hand and become paralyzed with not knowing where to start or what to do next. So, I waste time instead with my procrastination techniques, i.e. the internet! Anyway, that's where I am right now, in this moment. Present with my procrastination. And at least acknowledging that is worth something, right?
Working from home today. It's kind of hard to stay focused.
Why a photo of a mauled bun? Why not? Really though, it's because I wanted to share what Mr. Leonard T. Kat did today. Lenny Boy is a counter jumper. Ugh. So now I have to be careful of everything, EVERYTHING, I leave on the kitchen counter. Until I can figure out some way of keeping him off the counters. So, food, dirty dishes (yes, I have to at least rinse off dishes, every day now, not just when I feel like it! No more sink full of dirty dishes.) knives, etc... And I have to be aware of when a burner is on or has been on and make sure the brat isn't jumping up there. He's wearing me out.
Anyway, Shawn's mom brought this bun over thinking Shawn might want it with his lunch or something. He mentioned to her that she better make sure it's not sitting out on the counter otherwise it's fair game. Just like the chicken breasts that were thawing the other day. Shawn calls me while I'm out and asks me to guess what he has sitting on the table in the basement. Not knowing where to begin guessing I assumed something to do with Lenny Boy. A frozen chicken breast he says. In the baggie.
Apparently, Leonard T. Kat pulled the chicken breast off the counter and then took it downstairs. That's where Shawn saw him playing with it and took it away. Well there was two. So when I got home, indeed, the other chicken breast was gone. As I walked back into the living room I see Mr. Leonard T. Kat running from under the chaise to the chair with chicken breast in the baggie in his mouth. Then he proceeds to roll around with the chicken breast under the chair. Luckily, neither baggie was punctured and the breasts were still frozen and unscathed.
However, this poor bun sure did get it. After Shawn told his mom about Lenny Boy's antics, she went to put the bun and the bag of other food it was in away and couldn't find it. Looked all over the house for it. No bun to be found. She started thinking maybe she didn't bring it. Until she found it in the bathroom, behind the sink. He had pulled the bun out of the bag with the other food and ran off with his booty. Where he promptly mauled the bun. Bad, bad kitty. If he wasn't so damn cute and if it wasn't so damn funny seeing him run around with a baggie of food in his mouth ...
Lenny Boy engaging Lucy in some playtime. It's been pretty constant. After this moment it turns into rough and tumble, where they roll and grapple with each other. It never really gets vicious. When it does it's time to break it up and take a time out.
Mr. Leonard T. Kat. You are quite a character. Of course, he is living up to his full potential as a kitten. And something happened the weekend that I was out of town. Since I returned he and Lucy have been play buddies. No more dramatic hissing from Lucy. Perhaps there was some kind of bonding due to my absence. So, there's been lots of wrestlemania, cat style. Including on the bed at 5:44 am! It's fun to watch for sure, although I'd prefer to already be awake for it.Lenny Boy has learned how to jump on the kitchen counters. Bad kitty! I haven't had a counter jumping cat in almost 20 years. Nellie, Tiki, Mr. and Lucy never jumped on the counters. I definitely need to figure something out about that.
His favorite spot to nap is in the butt gel part of Shawn's wheelchair. He found that spot pretty much right away and still snuggles up on it. Wonder if we will have to keep the seat of the wheelchair as a bed for him once Shawn is done with the wheelchair.
And in spite of his badness, which in the big scheme of things isn't really all that bad, he is such a sweet, sweet little fella. He likes to get love and pets and he likes to snuggle. Lucy had to learn that pets are a good thing. He is very well socialized and isn't scared of people. He'll come right up to you to say hey. So, little Lenny, thank you for brightening our lives.
I'm taking the month of August to get back to my roots here ... just being present by taking a photo every day. I was inspired by the August Break at this blog.
So starting off with Mr. Leonard T. Kat hanging out in the ficus tree.
So we've just been all wrapped up with Mr. Leonard T. Kat. Aka ... Lenny Boy, Booger Face and Stink Butt. Hey, if the name fits ...
I had forgotten how much work little animals are. He clearly doesn't understand No. And yes, cats can understand No. He will think his name is No, since I am forever saying, No, No, No. It's a good thing he's got that extreme cuteness. And he likes to snuggle and he loves pets.
I love the photo above of his cute little paws. You just want to kiss those little paws, until he steps in poo. And then you're just completely grossed out. Don't worry, I would never kiss a cats paws, no matter how cute. I'm not that crazy cat lady. 
Here he is sitting across my yoga mat from Tiki. He's also an ankle biter. Literally. While I was trying to work out the other morning he was biting my ankles!
Lucy is still on the fence. I think she realizes this thing is not going away and perhaps there could be some fun with him. But she is still hissing at him. She's a rather nervous kitty and very sensitive. 
Tiki is all, jees people, I'm geriatric for god's sake. Why do you keep doing this to me?
And finally, Miss Lucy Poohead. I love this pic of her. You can see her face and she doesn't look like a devil's minion but rather the sweet girl that she can be when thinks you're not paying attention.
... our new little fella. We're still trying figure out the right name for him, although George is in the lead. George ... who names their cat George? Us, maybe? Because George would lead to Georgie Boy, which I like. My friend Leslie told me a while ago that she liked people names for her pets. And when I thought about it I like that too. No boots, or sox, or smoky ... but a person's name. Since then my kitties have/will get people names. Hence Lucy, although her nickname is Poohead. But that's a nickname:)
Anyway, we'll continue to hash out names while the other cats go through their natural drama. Hissing, growling, complete disgust. Don't they realize that this little guy is completely harmless? Funny how cats are so dramatic. Wish they could just sniff each other's butts and be done with it, like a dog would.
Looking for that special toy.
Poor Lucy ... wore out from playing so hard! Seriously, after about 20 minutes or so of playing with her with the new toy, I had to make her rest and put the toy away. She was panting! And there's nothing more pathetic than a panting cat. Or worrisome. This happens to her if she plays or runs around too much, too fast. Here she is splayed out under her tree after a tough play session.
It's the day after Christmas, so now what? It's like there's this manic race to do everything and get everything done. Parties, food to make, food to eat, go here, rush there, buy, ship, sugar, booze, late nights, etc .... And we had a blizzard thrown into the mix, so then there was shoveling and unprecedented traffic the week leading up to Christmas. And, I turned down several invitations to events trying to keep in mind I don't have to do everything. But still, this day after Christmas I was worn out. I had just enough energy to sit and watch Lucy play with her new toy. There's got to be a better way to enjoy this season at a slower pace. I thought I was doing pretty good with it but my lack of energy and motivation tells me a lot. Time to get grounded, centered and restored.
Some of my Christmas presents from hubby. Gotta love some Cat Butt! And the Crazy Cat Lady action figure. In case you can't tell, she's got a cat hanging out of a pocket and another on her shoulder. And the random cats look pretty crazy themselves. Speaking of crazy cats ... here's Lucy with one of her xmas presents from grandma. 
Here's Lucy ready for pets. Just before I leave in the morning she gets Goodbye pets at her favorite spot, the tree. I'll say "you want some Goodbye pets??" and she'll jump up to her spot and get her pets. Sometimes if she's preoccupied with a toy, a bug or food, she won't listen and loses out on the pets, but most of the time she's on top of it. Sometimes, if I've got my gloves and coat on already she'll take that as a sign that it's ok to get vicious, as in attack and bite. So then I have to tell her "NO VICIOUS!" She knows that it's wrong. Regardless, it's a good dose of cuteness for the day. 
