Happy Thanksgiving to Canadians and Scruffy Gray

I talked with Scruffy Gray this morning and he told me he wanted to celebrate a late Canadian Thanksgiving since it's too early to celebrate it here. "Why?" I asked him and here's what he had to say.

Scruffers: "The weather is turning cold and rainy and every time I look outside I remember how miserable I was last year. Living outside in the cold, the pouring rain, fending for myself, with no one to care for me. And here I am, inside a warm, dry house, with a soft fleece bed to nap on, a new kitty friend (that's you, Giuseppe Gattino!), great humans who love me, and two delicious meals served to me every day. I am forever grateful that I was rescued and given another chance at life."

Wow. Sometimes I'm so busy playing, napping, getting petted and making sure I get fed on time that I forget how lucky I am. Thanks for the reminder, Scruffers!

Leave Us Alone

That's right, I don't want to be bugged today. I still feel sub-optimal after yesterday's visit to the vet. What did I get? Two shots, a blood draw and an oral injection? Something like that. All I know is that it was a terrifying experience. Sure, yeah, the vet's a great woman - she even knew that I preferred to ride on her right shoulder! But still, who wants to go to the doc and be treated like a pin cushion?

And afterwards I came home and had the shivers all day and later threw up my dinner. I'm still trying to sleep it off. I hope I feel better soon.

Then, to top it off, Craig left for who knows where so he can't take care of me. AND Scruffy was super stressed out for who-knows-what reason (who really knows what goes on in that odd little head of his?) and he regurgitated his breakfast and his dinner.

What's the difference between regurgitation and vomiting, you ask? Well, for us kitties, the difference lies in whether we can still eat it again. Scruffy ate his mess on the carpet and I just stared at mine with mild interest (though I was far more interested in watching Heather scrub the carpet clean).

Lump

What could the lump be in the couch? Could it be Giuseppe singing a classic song from the Presidents of the United States of America?

Or could it be Giuseppe hiding from the world?

I would guess option B if I were you. Especially 'cause that song is funny only if you hear it once in a blue moon. But afterwards you'll find it in your head for weeks and that always annoys me. Who wants a dumb song like that floating around in their head for weeks on end? Not me. I'd rather find myself singing "Peaches".

Now, where was I? Oh yeah, why I'm hiding. Everybody needs a time out once in a while and today's my day. Today we find out of Virginia stays with us for another week or if she is able to go home. The anticipation is killing me. I think I'll hide till I find out.

There's something about that hat

I don't know what it is but I can't stay away from Craig's Green Trails hat. Craig will come back from a hiking trip and set his hat on top of his backpack and the next thing you know the scent lures me in. I sniff the air and all I can smell is his awesome hat.

I have to check it out. First I walk over to casually inspect his backpack. Then I see the hat, waiting for me. I jump up and stealthily grab the hat! I inhale deeply and the aroma overpowers me. I take the hat with my teeth and drop it on the living room floor. Then I rub my head all over it. And roll around on it. And the next thing you know I've been rolling and sniffing for long enough that Heather and Craig are standing over me, laughing. I gulp and try to regain my composure. How could I look so silly? I try to ignore that hat but there's something about it that tickles my nose.

(Photo: Giuseppe Gattino enjoying the Green Trails hat.)

Don't Bug Me!

You know what I love about fall? OK, besides the fact that Craig and Heather are actually home on weekends...



What I really love about fall is that the bugs are trying to move indoors. And I love tasty bugs! They're almost as good as tuna treats.


That's right, funny-looking, big, flying bug - I'll get you. I'll watch you fly in circles around the light and I'll make make funny little chirping noises at you while I wait for you to tire out. And as soon as you get to my jumping level - smack! I'll bat you around over and over until my stomach growls and then I'll have you as a snack. I can't wait!


(Giuseppe Gattino spots a funny-looking big flying bug in the house.)

Dueling Naps

You've got to love Friday afternoons. They're purrrfect days to nap!

The contest is on - ready, set, nap! Whoever gets up last wins!

(Photo: Giuseppe Gattino and Scruffy Gray take over the living room.)

the Virginia Saga

Where do I begin? Craig and Heather disappeared for the week and left Heather's mom, Virginia, in their place. She was supposed to stay at the house, feed us and play with us. But a few hours after they left, Virginia fell in the neighborhood and broke her arm.

She ended up in the ER and then had to have surgery on her arm yesterday. So here we are taking care of Virginia. Scruffy's been cleaning the house and I've been running around trying to entertain her and keep her spirits up.

Of course, we are counting down the minutes till Heather and Craig return... Get better soon, Virginia! And Craig and Heather - come back soon!!!

(Photo: Virginia enjoying her tour at the Aplets and Coplets factory in Cashmere.)

Mutts Turns 15!

Can you believe it? Fifteen years of Mutts! Of course, I, Giuseppe Gattino, have only been around for one year so fifteen sounds super old to a young, spry kitty like me.

I love wintertime when Heather and I curl up on the couch and we read Mutts comic books. I love Shtinky Puddin' the best but Crabby is pretty funny too. Check out Mutts Comics and the cast of characters at www.muttscomics.com

Congratulations, Patrick McDowell! And thank you for your help in finding me my home! The strip above is what started it all.

The Banana Bread Caper

I've returned, which means, of course, that Craig has left for another trip. On the bad side, I always miss Craig desperately when he's away. He gives me the best 4 a.m. belly rubs a kitty could ever wish for.

But, on the up side, I get to use my computer again! For those of you who didn't hear, Craig's computer passed away last week and Craig has been borrowing mine (OK, Heather's), which has left me without a means to post.

(Photo: The evidence, just waiting to be eaten.)

So where do I start? well, really, Friday was the most exciting day so I'll start there. Oh, did Heather ever get into trouble that day! Someone gave Heather a slice of homemade banana bread and Heather left it on the dining room table. Come on, you can't leave food on the table and think that a curious kitty (or two) won't check it out. So Heather was upstairs in her office, hard at work, when Craig came upstairs to yell at her. "Why did you leave plastic wrap on the living rooms floor? I can't believe you were eating in the living room!" (A big no-no in this house.) I hid quietly, hoping no one would notice me. He then went on about how there was a piece of half eaten banana bread lying on the table. At some point, they realized that it was me, but Heather still took the brunt of the blame. I would have finished the bread, but it was right after breakfast and I was still full.

Then, Heather was quietly eating lunch and Craig came into the kitchen to chastise her for leaving raspberry stains all over the counter. (A local farmer had just dropped by a bunch of raspberries and they were still sitting in a cardboard box on the counter.) But the stains continued onto the windowsill - and they were in the shape of paw prints! And there were a few smashed berries in the box. Heather and Craig both got a good laugh out of that, at least once Craig realized that Scruffers had not tracked raspberries onto the carpet. (Don't forget Scruffers - no food in the living room!)

So Friday was a lively day at my house! OK, I'd catch you up more, but it's time for my midday nap.

Giuseppe Gets his Groove Back

Darn it. I just can't get any work done today. In case you were wondering why I haven't been writing, well, I'll explain. Sigh.

Craig was gone for most of last week and that always puts Scruffers and I in a funk. We get worried. We're kitties. We need stability, routine. We kitties thrive on routine. And then on top of that Heather suddenly disappeared on Saturday with packed bags. And we didn't know what was going to happen. (Remember how we love routine?) So we were too depressed to do much of anything Saturday and Sunday. We just slept and waited for them to come home. And waited...

And then they finally returned late Sunday night and that's when we got our groove back: "Yay! They didn't abandon us!" And Monday morning I was full of piss and vinegar and ready to write and that's when Craig announced that his computer crashed. And he needed to use mine. So I've got my groove back and I'm all raring to write and now I have no computer. (Right now I'm using Heather's work computer while she's away at lunch.) So I guess I'll have to spend the day playing with Scruffers.

It's a tough life - forced to play. Well, shoot. Someone's gotta do it! Watch out Scruffers - ready or not, here I come!

(Photo: Yay! Craig's home! - Shot by kitty lover Karen Sykes.)