Be careful what you wish for

What can I say? Perhaps Be careful what you wish for would be a good place to start. I spent the past two months waiting for the weather to get decent. I have been moping like the rest of you in Washington, done with the rain, the gray, the never ending 60-degree days.

Then suddenly the temperature shot up from 60 to 92 last week. Whoa! I said I wanted nice weather, not heat stroke. And for those of you who may not understand: no one in their right mind would purchase A/C in this part of the country. Why waste your money? For what, one week a a year? So last week we suffered. Scruffy Gray hid under the guest bed all day for 3 days in a row and was so stressed from the heat, the frightening overhead fans whirling overtime and the open windows letting in the sounds of barking dogs that he threw up his dinner all three days.

And me? Come on, I'm a long-haired kitty. Half Maine Coon. Do you think for a second that I enjoy baking in my fur? So we suffered.

But there are many positives that have come from the heat wave:

1. Summer's finally here! Believe me, everyone's mood improved.

2. Now I am happy that it's 60 degrees and gray outside today. I could use a little sun break.

3. The garden is finally taking off! And biggest bonus of them all: I got to go outside and play!!!

With the leash on, dang it.

Sweet Dreams!

Sleep tight, little Scruffers! I have noticed that in this super cold weather you've been spending all your free time curled up on one of the down comforters in the house. I'll let you have them 'cause as a Maine Coon, I'm pretty toasty all the time. In fact, I keep begging Heather and Craig to take me outside on the leash but they seem to think it's too cold to go outside.

Gee whiz! Hello! I'm made for this weather! Well, except for the frosted grass. I didn't like how that felt on my little indoor paws. I kept trying to pick one up and shake it off but then I'd have to set it down to do the next one and it seemed, well, never ending. But I did get an awfully tasty tuna treat for letting Heather rub my paws down when we got back inside. And that's what it's all about now, isn't it?

Where can we go where it will be cooler?

I'm ready for a vacation from summer. Yes, I realize the warm weather has only been back for a few days, but you must understand - I'm a Maine Coon. We don't do so well in the heat.

Today it registered 86 at my house, even though the local paper said it was only going to hit 79 degrees. Hmm, someone must not being doing his job... Maybe the meteorologist is on vacation too!

And tomorrow it may be as warm as 86 degrees. So what will that mean at my house? 90? And it's not as though the thermometer is in the sun. No sirree, it is in the shade all day. So no, as a matter of fact, I am not looking forward to tomorrow.

Wish me luck! And pray Heather doesn't try to wrap me in another stupid wet towel again.

I Love a Rainy Night

Remember that song? Eddie Rabbit. I know, it was produced a few decades before I was born (I am only one year old) but I must have been listening to "kafe 104.3" too much in my spare time.

Anyway, after the miserable heat spell we had now we're below average temperature. It's 64 degrees outside right now. And raining. And you know what? I love it. It's so refreshing to see the tree frogs bounce along in the grass and to spend the day inside hanging out with Heather and Craig. 'Cause it's not like they're outside playing in this weather.

So yeah, I like this weather. It makes everyone stay at home and I like that. I can't wait till winter. (I am a Maine Coon, you know! We like the cold!) We can snuggle around the fireplace and I can sniff everyone's hot chocolate. Just the four of us. That's right. I've accepted that you're here to stay, Scruffers.

Happy Birthday Sis!

Did I mention it was also my sister's birthday too? That's Pixie - the one who doesn't know (yet) that she's going to get it. She's celebrating her first birthday just like me. Of course, she has to celebrate her birthday outside now that she's an outside kitty.

I would be jealous but she's a short-hair and can handle the heat we've had over Memorial Day weekend. Me - just sitting out in the sun for a minute makes me swelter in my long Maine Coon coat.

Happy birthday, sis! I hope you caught lots of bugs and got a fresh catnip toy!

(Photo courtesy of my wonderful caretaker, Cynthia.)

A Kitty Conversation - a little one-sided if you ask me

That's right, I've been trying to chat with Scruffy Gray through the door. I know he's nervous still and I can't meet him but at least I can try to calm him down.

Last night Craig didn't really go for it. Come on, Craig we're night kitties. So what if I was talking to Scruffy at 1:30 this morning? That's when everything is quiet and we can talk without any interruptions.

What do kitties talk about? Well, I have been trying to convince Scruffers that I just want to play. You know, run around, play chase, bat at him a little playing tag -but not fight. I am a Maine Coon. We don't like to fight. It's not in our genes. I'd rather have a belly rub any day!

And I've been trying to get Scruffy to tell me his story. You know, how he became a homeless kitty and how he learned to survive on the streets. So far he's been mum. Hopefully I'll be able to get it out of him. I can't imagine living outside and fending for myself. I mean, I've never been out there without a freakin' leash on and I've never had a meal that Heather or Craig didn't prepare for me. I wouldn't stand a chance alone. And really, how could I live without my early morning belly rubs or my snuggle bed?

My - He's so Big!

Everywhere I go all I hear is "My! Look how big he is!", "Wow, he's sure grown!" or "He's bigger than my dog!" Well, that's because you own a rat and not a dog, lady.

But, quite frankly, all this talk about my size is getting a little tiring. So what? I've grown. I'm no longer the 8 week old kitten I was when Heather brought me home. I'm a 12-pound eleven month old cat. And, I must add, I am part Maine Coon. Do you know how big I could still get?

And what if every time I saw you I commented on your size? That's what I thought. So let's can the size comments and talk about what a wonderful, brilliant kitty I am instead.

Oh, and Craig - no more comments on my "belly drop", capisce? I'd rather you talk about giving me more 4 a.m. belly rubs, hint, hint...

(Photo: Giuseppe Gattino at 3 months of age.)