A Shamrock Was Born...

two years ago today!

And she loves her green bow more than her present. more...

Caturday

Unfortunately, she is not with me. She is at home and I am here:



and here:



I am eager to return home. For as much as I used to love the road, once you have a child and a kitty baby; being with them is all you want. more...

Caturday in Slow Motion

It was Shabbos and Yom Kippur, no less. I had to draw the line at Facebooking and checking my Twitter account in front of friends at shul and the parents. Oy! Though giving it to my mother hard about how she'll watch a certain someone and fly around the country (and parts of Europe and Asia) for said child, which is great and very much appreciated, but not the kitty baby, is fair game on the high holy days. more...

Not Right

Not right. At all! more...

Fish's Father's Day Gift

No doubt included this.

Snag on the other hand wanted something more like this. more...

She's Baaaack!

Large and in charge with four tan paws and a sassy attitude.

She was all, "Thanks Momma for the search and recovery kidnap routine. Can we have sushi now?" when we were reunited.

I love that little girl!

Also, because I can and you cannot:

more...

Why Was This Doctor Different Than All Others?

I was supposed to be in Manhattan over the weekend in preparation for Passover in the Hamptons this week. Well, my kitty baby suffered some malaise after the Rick Steves event the other night and derailed things. OK, so I know you're all, "What Rick Steves event, AG?" Well, that's a newsworthy story that I'll try to post later this week, but let's keep the rolling stone with the moss going down hill. Too drunk to notice that she puked on Thursday night, I was awoken on Friday by a friendly voice with, "One of the kittens is sick."

Needless to say it was my little one and she continued to vomit on Friday and into Saturday. Compounding things was that she also developed diarrhea. Clearly, Manhattan was out on Friday night and Saturday morning. Instead, I may have scammed a visit to the vet. And when I say 'may', I mean -- AG did! I scammed it because the vet office of interest is rated tops in the Philadelphia burbs and they are not taking new patients. Given that my little one no longer lives full time with me, in emergencies I am at the mercy of the closest vet in the woods who can see her. Being AG, I got her in to the creme de la creme of vet offices. Rules, schmules! My baby was sick.

But what followed was a mystery wrapped in challah. The smoking hot, single, 40 plus (Yeah, I e-stalked him.) Jewish vet was boy vey! Given that I was hung over from Shabbos, I was not on my game when he said to my sick baby doll, "Aren't you the cutest? There are no cuter ones than you."

It occurred to me later that afternoon that any of the following lines are what I should have chased his platitudes with:

"Not as cute as Momma naked in your bed."

"Momma can show you something cuter."

"Well, this is going better than I would have expected. Do you think one of your techs can watch her while we go out tonight?"

"I bet our children will be cuter."

I'm not sure we have much of a future after I mumbled her Hebrew name at her and he looked at me funny. Perhaps I redeemed myself when he noticed me leaving in my Alfa. We'll find out when I take her back and suggest she's just not herself still and he and I should discuss it over dinner and over the shirt action at my country abode. And no, this is not my listing. Just in case you thought it was. more...

Sleeping Beauty

This is how she rolls when you have new furniture! more...

Happy Valentine's Day

I am in a top secret location dealing with the fact that when AG left the East she had more than 25 inches of snow and where she arrived to has less than five. That would not be a problem say if an Olympic Village weren't involved. However, it's Valentine's Day weekend and people have hearts on. I have a snowflake on my new charm bracelet. That's enough for me this year!

Since it's Caturday and two of my Valentine's are not with me:



more...

Happy Caturday

If Snag were a cat:

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Chanukah Caturday

Last night was the kitty's first Chanukah. Here she is celebrating: more...

Caturday Cometh Early

AG will be spending the weekend attending a wedding and destination cooking classes.

Hope y'all have a good weekend.



She's trying to get the mail peanut Momma gave her that got stuck under the cabinet. more...

Ode to a Kitten

My week has been shall we say, interesting. I could pontificate about everything until you run screaming from the computer or I could share with you a moment slice and discuss what was most significant for me. I sobbed aloud. It happened when I learned that a friend’s grandmother had died. As I heard the news, my eyes began to fill-up until they could no longer be both open and full. As salty dew ran down my cheek, I remembered that I lost my bubie two years ago this month.

I need not tell you that losing her was one of the hardest and most difficult experiences for me. As I was sobbing into the cold air, my kitty baby climbed onto me. As I was staring at her it occurred to me that Tamora has been through far more than me and she has not a single regret. I brought Tamora home in June. The same day I had brunch with a friend in the city, attended an alumni event, and saw Jerry Seinfeld perform. Most pet owners I speak with can recount their first night at home with their beloved. For cat owners, they often recount periods of their feline crying between periods of light napping. There is little sleep to be had and many owners dream of taking their furry friends back to where they came from.

That was not the case for AG. Brandeis and AG went to retrieve shortly after her human momma I sent a photo of her waiting nervously for us at the front door. She bonded with him almost immediately as she crawled up in his arms in front of her siblings and kitty momma and promptly took a nap. So naturally she rode home in his arms. I was distant and distrustful of her at first because I never really wanted her. Rather I longed for the idea of her, but not so much her. We did not emotionally connect during her first few days in her new living arrangement. I woke almost hourly each night begging her to return to her warm, fuzzy, bed. For the cat owners out there – I need not say anymore, you know how that went. What was remarkable was that she cried for about the first five to ten minutes as she walked around the house sniffing and pawing everything. Within an hour, she was settled, ready for playing string, and photos. I’ve never heard her cry since until this week as she waited for Momma at the door upon my return from traveling.

I remember so little of our first night together. Unfortunately in large part because I never knew the power she held to transform my life. Or how much I would embrace it once I gave into her picking Momma and not vice versa. This week as I sobbed while she laid in front of my wet face, I realized something. She has changed all our lives for the better because she loves her Momma and her life with AG. While she loves play dates with her siblings and kitty momma, she honestly loves me. She left the comfort of her peeps and life behind without much fear or loathing. She cried so little and embraced so quickly. She continues to confirm this for me by only wanting to be with me (read: laying on my chest as I type this) and please me whenever I am home. She was born to belong to me, I now sense.

My parents are coming to visit later this month. What prompted their visit is the grandchildren. Sure, I could take it personal but it’s not. It’s about how Tamora and others have come into this family this year and we have embraced the change. Tamora has given our home new life. So, instead of missing my bubie this year, I’m going to turn to my children, especially Tamora. The one who came in and climbed all over an orchid that loss every single one of her flowers within approximately a week of the brown streaks arrival. An orchid that now has four new buds, the most ever, and will be overflowing with flowers by the end of the month. The one who snuggles with Momma every night, no exceptions to the rule. The one who likes to heavy breath when she is most happy and chirp to ensure AG knows she is happy. And the one who gave Momma hope when it felt like so much hope was gone when we buried Bubie two years ago. more...

Belated Caturday

I'm going with Momma! more...

Surgical Caturday

The 3.9lbs kitty had surgery this week. Hence, why I am actually home right now. I'll pick her up in a few hours and we'll spend the day together. I'll check her for dents in case I have to take apart the Vet and she'll spend the day doing her usual: playing with her new BFF, Bert.

In honor of Caturday, a few photos that you should NOT try at home:












At birth. First photo:



No, AG did not deliver her. Her Human Momma I (also a blogger) found her that Sunday morning with her brothers and sisters in the kitty condo. I did not pick her out until a month and a half later when Momma I told me she was perfect for me: A kitty AG monkey who shit disturbed, ruled the roost, and covered her face when she yawned. And ever since, we've been two peas in a pod, as my colleagues have taken to saying. more...

Pre Caturday

AG is outtie for a wedding this weekend. So, here you go early:



-Oh Hai, Momma! Do you have any Grey Poupon? more...

Caturday

A new tradition at the Empire. more...

The Love of My Life

Because ZRM mentioned her and I miss her:

[EDIT from ZRM] Normally I wouldn't mess with an AG post, but since she mentioned hers and it is, after all, Caturday, here's old Toby catching his own damn bliss:

Don't be fooled. He probably just finished eating bunny brains.

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Sunshine Days and Nights

It was a Sunday morning like the rest that promenaded before. The air was lukewarm and light, dark shadows filled the room, and the Sunday Times was spread about the floor as though it had waltzed to the sounds of Fred and Ginger. As I rose to spy the cries of the innocent creature, I spotted something in the living room that made my lip curl. There, perched upon the hope chest that is filled with all my hopes and dreams, amongst Olive the Orchid; the beloved $40 beauty, next to the discounted terrarium filled with the splendors found at sea, artwork lurking above her head presented by friends, she was. Bathing in the sunshine as she laid like lettuce on a plate. All of the favorite things co mingled together left me with a feeling of delight and contentment. Today shall be a triumph day of more abstract writings and legal research. Good times await me for I am fortunate! more...

What?

I just heard my little girl snore.

She's so cute and we're having a blast. more...