Steve And Me (Orion)
Hi Orion here: It’s another day and we’re here in New York. Two weeks ago we spent the weekend in the Berkshires with Uncle Steve. He’s the best! Steve and I have a routine that we share together, just the two of us wherever we are, even in the Berkshires. Every morning Steve gets up and I go with him. It’s just me and Steve, no one else is up at this time of day. My moms are still asleep and my siblings are hanging with them. Steve is fine with this and I think it’s great, because it’s “Steve and me” time. Most of the time I follow behind Steve and wait until he can give me a tummy rub and great pets. His hands are just the right size for fantastic rubs and pets! Steve gets up at the same time almost every morning so I get to have some routine. No one else seems to appreciate the benefits of routine. Sometimes we add playing into the routine. For instance this morning we played with a shoelace. Steve took it out of his shoes and he and I played with it for awhile. e left it with me while he went into the kitchen. I took it and ran upstairs with it. Sounds like fun right? He frequently buys us really fun toys, but I like the Steve and me time best.
A few days ago I went downstairs with Steve and to my surprise and dismay Artemis and Risti were downstairs. They did NOT belong downstairs! This was Steve and Me (Orion) time. I left and let Steve play with the interlopers. They don’t know how to appreciate good tummy rubs and pets like I do. Besides, who was watching our mommies?
When it is time for Steve to go to work I run to the window to watch him leave. This comes way to soon and I wish we had more time together. After he is gone from my view I go to our room (Steve’s and mine) and sit for awhile before I rejoin my sibs and moms for the rest of the day. When Steve returns I have to share him with everyone. The mornings are just for me and Steve. My favorite time of day.
Everybody needs a Steve so they can have Steve and Me time. I LOVE Steve and I LOVE Steve and Me time!
Santa Steve
Hi Artemis here: It’s Christmas and we’re in New York. We usually get nice things for Christmas because we’re always nice and never naughty. Okay, so the boys are sometimes naughty, but I am NEVER naughty. We must have been VERY nice this year because Santa left us wonderful gifts. We had a sack full of new toys. Some had catnip and others are just fun. The best of all was a new brush. We sampled each gift and got to keep about 4 out of the sack on the very first night. WooHoo! I got brushed for at least 30 minutes, OH JOY. I am pretty sure that Santa Steve is responsible for our sack full of gifts. In previous stories Santa Steve has been called Uncle Steve, but he’s really Santa Steve.
We got our best gift at that same night. It was in a big box which was kind of fun to sit on. But the gift got much better when it got out of the box and put together. It’s a new kitty tree. It is the best Christmas tree ever! Orion helped put it together.
Our new tree is almost 5 feet tall and has more places to sit and sleep than there are kitties. It has a built in toy and places to climb, nap, hide, jump, no our nails, and more, everything a kitty could want. A kitty can sneak up on her (I mean one’s) siblings and launch a surprise attack from one platform to another. And I’m just certain as can be Santa Steve brought it to us!!! We LOVE Santa Steve.
If our mommies don’t treat us right we’ve decided to move in with Santa Steve. It will be Christmas all year!
Christmas Carols
Hi Aristocles here: Orion and I went to see our friends at Coleman House today. Along with some of our previous friends there were some new friends to meet as well. Before it was time to leave some people showed up to have a communion service. Instead of cutting our visit short my moms said we could stay and participate, YEAH! I didn’t know what a communion service was, but I was ready. I went with the people who were going to communion and Orion stayed with our friends who weren’t going. This way everyone would have a kitty.
I discovered communion services are great! First you get to snuggle with the very friendly minister. I was the only one she snuggled with. Next you get to sing Christmas carols. Mommy RD and I had been practicing singing at home so I was ready! I like to sing. After the carols the very friendly minister prayed with us and read passages. When she said “make a joyful noise” I knew exactly what to do and spoke up joyfully. I used my very very best Siamese voice. Everybody smiled and laughed so I knew my comments were understood and appropriate. Then we got to sing even more carols. I love singing carols. Everyone should try it. Lastly, we all shook hands and paws in fellowship. Oh yeah, the people had people food, but because they didn’t know I would be there they hadn’t brought any kitty food. I think this was the communion part. In any case it was all over much too soon. My advice is to spend time with friends singing carols and making joyful noises.
Job Loss and Job Sharing
Risti here: Jobs are funny things. They don’t always go as expected. As you may recall from previous posts I have been donating blood at Angell Animal Medical Center. I give blood; get food as a reward; mom donates it! Well, they decided to cancel their program. Just like that, I am out of a job and now a retiree. Mommy RD found out that Tufts also has a blood donation program – YEAH I figured could come out of retirement! Then it turns out they only allow kitties through their 8th birthday to donate blood. Though I am a spry and young 7 year old they don’t seem to think it’s worth getting me started for a year. So I didn’t actually make it out of retirement. I’M TOO YOUNG TO RETIRE!!! I don’t have any grey fur or anything. According my Mommies I can and do still run around like a kitten. Actually they say “crazy little kitten”
You might be wondering what’s been happening with my second job – volunteering at Coleman House. Well Orion and Artemis got screened and approved to be therapy kitties too. I went with them to show them how to pass the tests. I am the resident expert. I thought this was great when they passed, more people to see, more places to go – YEAH! Instead they come with me to Coleman House and I have to share MY People with them. Oh well.
So that’s my job story. I used to have 2 jobs and now I’m a retired job sharer.
Not fit for anyone
Hi Orion here
I have just one thing to say; I am not designed for summer. I am a big boy with long beautiful fur. Papi told us a myth about a thing called air conditioning. He said when you have it there is no such thing as summer.
We do not have it [air conditioning]. I am hot. Risti and Artie are hot too. I think our Mommies are hot also. We have fans. They don’t make you much cooler and they blow a lot of air on you. Some are in the windows. Those are okay for bringing in interesting smells. But I need cool air not interesting smells.
I think the reason this problem exists is because someone put dogs in charge of these days. I think that is what they mean by the expression “the dog days of summer.” I can assure you if kitties were in charge no way would the days be like this!!!!
Bye for now… you may not hear from me again until the fall, when I recover from this heat.
Birthday Celebration
Hi World, Risti here. It’s my birthday and I say live it up! My brother and sister have some interesting thoughts about birthdays, but I think they spend WAY TOO much time napping and resting. I say host a party, invite everyone you’ve ever met. Spend time with every guest. Share your gifts with others, or better yet make like a Hobbit and give gifts to your guests! Make sure it’s a gift you like, such as “feather tail mice” in case they give it back.
In fact I think Mommy RD bought some new toys for me for my birthday. We went to the store. I had my eyes on her. My eyes are large and I see very well. Besides when we got home she showed them to Mommy BL and then locked them in the closet. I can’t open the closet door by myself. It’s where the good stuff hides.
Start the celebration of your day at 12:01AM and don’t stop for at least a week. I actually started my celebration on Tuesday with a visit to Coleman House. Birthday’s are a big event treat it like one! I only get to turn 7 once. Run, jump and leap your way to turning 7. BTW I do believe in eating ham and getting brushed for your birthday. But most importantly PLAY, PLAY, PLAY and then PLAY some more. In between playing it is important to get snuggles. The best way to get snuggles is to climb into your human’s arms (no matter what they are doing) and look lovingly into their eyes. Starting to purr instantly and loudly is a good idea too. Just remember, on your birthday they probably will refuse you nothing.
Artemis tells me we are going for a photo shoot on Saturday – Yeah, I’m getting my birthday picture professionally done. I plan to run around in the store and have a good time.
Artemis here, we are getting our photos done for July 4th, not his birthday. I won’t spoil his fun and tell my silly brother, but I thought you our readers should know the truth. I saw Mommy RD making red, white and blue ruffs. She has made these abominable things enough times that I know what they look like. They look like hair scrunchies, but they’re not. Orion and I do not want to take this picture. Risti is just looking for an excuse to go out.
A birthday celebration review: PLAY, eat lots of kitty treats, table scraps are just that, scraps and not really for kitties (note ham and bacon and yogurt aren’t scraps). PLAY, Run, Jump, Leap, PLAY. Snuggle in between. Never let the fun stop!
Vacation, Power Failures and Unsightly Behavior
Hi Everyone, Artemis here,
Vacations are great things. We LOVE the Berkshires. The drive to get there isn’t too long and then you get to rest, relax and have special food everyday, and naught behavior. One day I had chicken, Orion had turkey and Risti had ham, so everyone got their favorites. We even brought a new toy which the “Rough Boys” aka Orion and Aristocles managed to disfigure. It was a peacock feather which is currently mangled. Next time my Mommies will have to get one for me and one for “Them.”
While on vacation we went out for several walks. During our walks we had different encounters with adoring fans. I have to admit it was Risti who thought of going out and begged Mommy RD to take us. Orion missed the first walk. But after Risti and I told him how much fun it was he decided to come on the next ones.
- We stopped traffic – at least five cars. They literally stopped driving just to look at us. The boys accent my beauty so well!!!
- We befriended several young people, age five or less.
- We befriended a small dog – Abby who was looking for playmates. We did not have a good controlled area to play in so we had to limit our interactions to sniffing noses and chatting. (Risti was our spokesperson). Abby wanted to get in our stroller to play. We did not let her in. Really kitties MUST draw the line somewhere.
- We had our picture taken by a stranger.
Ahhh, the joy of adoring fans.
While we were in the Berkshires there were several storms which caused us to lose power. I did not mind too much as my Mommies had flashlights so it wasn’t too dark. Orion cried a little. I told him there was no cause to fear the dark. Aristocles decided that if the lights were out our Mommies could not see him and it was a fine time to break all the rules. Even more than we normally break on vacation. He walked across
tables – food tables, a definite rule breaking event. Then he preceded to jump on the counter and try to get into the kitchen cabinets (food again). Our Mommies told him that they could see him just fine and to cut it out!!!! As I mentioned, I remained calm and well behaved throughout.
Under normal circumstances I would end my blog entry here, but I MUST tell you about Risti’s last and most foolish act. My Mommies were packing up to go home – where we don’t get daily treats by the way. Mommy RD had loaded up with several bags to put into the car. She opened the door and bent down to pick up the final bags. Risti, crazy little boy darted out of the door. Mommy RD dropped the bags and went chasing after him. Apparently, when he realized there was nowhere to go and no car to hop into he turned around and came back – unsightly behavior. Orion and I took this as an opportunity to hide under the bed. Despite Risti’s attempts to get lost we all arrived back home safely.
Risti here, Being Naughty is FUN!!
Orion here, I must agree with everything Artemis said, except for the part about me crying (you know she made that up for dramatic effect right?). Anyway I would normally suggest she should be more diplocatic and not tell on Risti. But really what was he thinking running out an open door into the world all by himself. I’ve been told there are bears in the Berkshires. No matter how fast Risti thinks he is he is NOT actually faster than a bear!!!!
Risti here, I am certain I am faster than the average bear. Besides I think my Mommies made up those bear stories just to scare us.
Bye for now and thanks for reading — All of us.
Proper Birthday Fun
Hi, Empress here. Okay it is really me, Artemis.
I know just a few weeks ago Orion provided some steps to follow for a fun birthday. I’m not certain he adequately covered everything. So since yesterday was my birthday (hooray for me) I figured I could supplement his instructions. My tips have all been tried and tested.
It is important to start the day out properly. This should include making certain that everyone knows it is your special day. I choose to make my point by playing with and chewing things that the rules say I am not allowed to play with and chew. Mommy RD is pretty observant so I had to be very subtle while I was gathering in the cord for her computer power supply to chew. It didn’t work, but it was my birthday so I didn’t get in trouble. So you can see why it is important to establish it as YOUR day.
Now back to Orion and his celebration. First, his steps called for TOO little brushing. On your birthday you need to make sure you get brushed at least once every 4 hours for a duration of no less than 20 minutes. Make sure your groomer pays attetion to your head and cheeks. This serves 2 purposes. First it is ooooh soooo enjoyable and second it is important that you look your best at all times, especially on your birthday. I believe I mentioned that my lineage includes television stars. So I have a responsibility to always be prepared for photos. I have always known this. In fact here is a picture from when I was 7 weeks old.
As you can see I was versed in working the camera even as an infant.
Back to the birthday festivities. I next elected to replace the somewhat boring choice of turkey with CHICKEN! I enjoy tender chunks of chicken, freshly cooked without any additives or seasoning. You can share the chicken with all of your birthday guests, humans and other kitties. As a nice dessert I recommend some blueberry ice cream or yogurt, cream, or tapioca pudding. Again, these can be shared with all your guests. Here I must provide a cautionary note. The human celebrants may try to take over controlling the food. Because they have those useful opposable thumbs they can sometimes get carried away. Don’t fear, you can give them your most charming look and dutifully and diligently explain (lecture) to them how it really works. By the way, you may have to repeat yourself several times. Don’t give up, keep talking to them, eventually they will catch on.
Here is a summary of the birthday celebration advice. Most importantly, live unrestricted! Kick the rules to the curb! Chew what you want to chew, play with anything that strikes your fancy, go where you want to go and sit where you want to sit. Make certain those around you know their roles as groomers, cooks, pillows, etc. After all it’s your birthday and it only happens once a year. Please remember to try out my and Orion’s tips and let us know how they work for you.
Volunteering, errands and conserving gas
Hi, Risti here: today was another busy day. We stayed up late last night working on a project. My mommies and I decided we should share the photos we’ve been taking at Coleman House with all my friends who live there. So last night my mommies printed some pictures, which I helped select, and some I didn’t. There were some technical issues and Orion was not around to assist. I think he was still recovering from his all day birthday celebration.
We combined our visitation with giving the picture book. We will bring more pictures every month or so. The folks liked to see the pictures of themselves with me. Mommy BL snuck that picture of me dressed in that St. Patrick’s Day onto the cover of the book. Of course all the people at Coleman House liked it. Now I am worried that my mommies might be encouraged by this.
When we arrived Mommy RD opened my cage and left me unattended for a few seconds. I took this as an opportunity to exit my carrier and play the “you can’t catch me” game. You can’t play this game while in your harness and leash so I had to move quickly. Brenda joined in with the game while Mommy RD got my leash. After a few spins under and around the desk and couches I stretched out for a tummy rub. I got a harness and leash instead.
After our visit we ran some errands again. My mommies say with the price of gas these days we need to combine our out of the house activities. I just know I am spending more time in the car. We went to the post office – not very interesting I stayed in the car with Mommy BL. Then we went to the car dealer. While Mommy RD spoke with some people I went with Sean and met all the people who worked at the dealership. We went upstairs, to the showroom floor, everywhere. This was great fun and it was over WAY too soon. I can go visiting without my mommies with any human because I don’t scratch or anything. I LOVE making new friends.
Celebration
Hi World,
This is Orion. I turned 7 years young today. It used to be that 7 was considered to be a senior cat, but I am definitely not a senior kitty. I had a near perfect birthday celebration. If you follow the steps below you too could have a near perfect celebration!
- Get a full body massage. Have your massseur or masseuse concentrate on your tummy and spine. I have found that hand size matters.
- Take a nap in the sun.
- Have a sampling of turkey with your friends and family (Boar’s Head is best) Be the first to the dish so you can get an extra “birthday boy” serving.
- Get another massage.
- Have someone assist with your grooming by providing a nice brushing. This can be combined with a massage.
- Take another nap, in the sun if possible.
- Get another massage.
- Play a little.
- Have another sampling of turkey or ice cream (mine comes in a purple can and is made by Solid Gold).
- Relax with your friends and family.
- Have a final massage and go to sleep for the evening.
You can change the order of these activities, but my advice is to make sure you get them all in, particularly the massages and turkey. You can
substitute sun naps with naps on fleece covered pillows. Or you can add extra naps. Also, if you have a spot where you can nap while being strategically located for tummy rubs you should spend some time there. My mommies did not get a birthday picture of me so I had to use an older picture to demonstrate my technique. This is the napping in a strategic location for tummy rubs technique. My Uncle Steve was not able to attend my celebration, so my birthday could not be perfect, but I was still happy all day.
