Nothing Much and Royalty, NOT

  Been kinda quiet around here these days (translated: dad's got no imagination). Cabin fever finally got the best of mom, so she pulled the plastic down from all the windows. We actually had a decent day or two this past week, and the sun and fresh air were a joy. Mom's still struggling with a cough that sounds like she's bringing up a hairball, but dad's pretty much back to his healthy self. They went to the No Kings protest in Princeton on Saturday and said there was a good-sized crowd with a fantastic mix of young and old and lots of creative signs. By now I'm sure you've seen photos and footage from the many rallies, and I'll end this post with the signs dad made for the day. Have a great week.

No Apt Title

 Hey all. So, even though the crazy low temps we've endured over the past weeks/months/whatever, have been replaced with warmer days here and there, it's been a crap few weeks 'round here. Obviously, we haven't been posting much lately. Between kidney stones (dad), head & chest colds (mom and dad) and sinus infections (dad again), well, yeah, fun times. I've been doing my best to take care of these two,

Nurse Smudge on Duty

and all I can say is, I'm glad felines can't catch human diseases.

They're lucky to have such an attentive professional

We're also going on more than two years living in a place we can't stand, and I know they miss the western North Carolina mountains more than ever. Dad says his creative juices have been zapped from his brain for a long time, but let's be honest- anything interesting, funny, or worth reading here has been mine and mine alone. Always an excuse with this one, I swear. Anyhoo, spring is on its way, and except for a couple more weeks with a few rain/snow showers here and there, things should be looking up, weather-wise. As with taxes, insurance and everything else, mom's been going bananas researching Medicare since a certain senior she and I know and love will be turning 65 later this year. Mom's always been the brain behind all this stuff since dad isn't capable of grasping or retaining such things (or so he claims), and, unlike the world's top procrastinator, SHE likes to stay ahead of the game. 

My work here is done

On Edge

  No, I'm not nervous or anything, although there's plenty going on to be concerned about. So mom and dad have a Queen-sized bed, which offers plenty of snoozing room for me. Say, why do they call it that, anyway? Dad often refers to mom as Princess. He sometimes calls me the Queen Bee. He dressed partially in drag the first time he saw Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1978. He's been a Queen fan since way before cell phones, the internet, and amazon.com. Wait, where was I? Oh yeah, so they sleep in a Queen bed, and although I've gotten somewhat used to hanging with them in my not-too-cuddly way, my place is generally at the foot of the bed. I will say that it's usually on mom's side, since she typically keeps her feet covered by a massaging heated pad under the blankets. Hey, I'm no dummy. So anyway, with all that open space around them, one would think an ordinary cat would take advantage and sprawl out leisurely. They say I'm not ordinary, so I'm going with that for an explanation for these pictures dad took one recent morning. 

I've heard them say that Cleopatra was a little more cuddly. They've often talked about how much of a snuggler old Orbit was. At my age, I don't think I'll ever be much for cuddling.

You know- old dog/new trick and all. Whatever. We're all different, right? I know they love me for who I am, and I'm still learning the same about them.

Dreaming of Warmer Days to Come

Listen Up, Folks

Yes, this one is about me, and I say it's about time. But  I've chosen to make a ME post about more than just me. Now, before I start, I'd like to acknowledge those who say or feel that a pet blog is not the forum for political discourse. You may have a point, but you know what? We're long past the point of what's appropriate and what's not. It's become obvious that we can't rely on the media to speak up, push back, or fact-check, so anything should be used as a pulpit to speak out about the vile, sickening crap that has been happening in what used to be a free country. Anyone who voted for this candy floss-coiffed, mentally deficient wannabe dictator and his ghoulish squad of severely unqualified boot-licking sycophants should put themselves, their loved ones, or close friends in the position of any of the growing number of human beings who've been detained, beaten, pushed or killed, and see how you'd feel then. Go ahead, I'll give you a minute. Buyer's remorse?  Don't even. Looking for sympathy? Forget about it. "This isn't what I voted for."? Save it. You KNEW what you were voting for. The entire world knew. And now, here we are.  It's going to take an eternity to undo the disastrous effects of this administration's actions if we even can. Under normal circumstances, we would be able to agree, disagree, or agree to disagree. There is nothing normal about what we're seeing daily now. Healthy back and forth is good. That's how it used to work. How can anyone be okay with the images and footage of what's taking place on our streets? Those who have the power to do something are sitting on their hands, are too scared, or have their heads so far up the orange one's butt that they've lost all credibility and trust of their constituents, and should never hold positions of power ever again. And please- this is not red or blue, conservative or liberal, right or left. This is a human issue. These are people. Our neighbors, friends, and coworkers. This is America. 

Dad and I considered apologizing for making this a political post, but we decided that there are enough beings who choose to stick their heads in the sand, get offended by others' opinions, or simply wish to ignore what we're all seeing. People are fed up, angry, frustrated, and scared. 

 

Sharing Happiness... and the Spotlight. I guess.

 In a time of so much hard-to-watch, angering crap going on out there, I thought I'd share some random non-me stuff in hopes of spreading some happiness.

My dad- somewhat reserved, kinda boring, and not always much fun- is the proud owner of some new pajama pants. He and mom did some post-Christmas shopping recently and came home with these. 

Cookie, Anyone?

Mom says they make her so happy. Dad says he just loves how soft and fluffy they are. I'm still trying to work out why a 64-year-old man would want to wear something like this.

As you may remember, dad spent Christmas week babysitting the boss's pooch. Dad often takes pictures of the big ol' lumbering, slobbery goofnut, and he really likes this shot he took during a moment of not galloping through the house like a bull in a china shop. 

  That's about all I got for this week, folks. I've only got so much in me. I'm pushing dad to make our next post about me and only me. I hope you can find and spread some happiness in these trying times.

New Year Hodgepodge

 Well, here we are. 2026. Wonder what the new year will bring? Anyhoo, so as you've seen before with my predecessor, I like helping mom and dad work on puzzles, 

and I'd say I'm doing a damn fine job here. 

Dad had to go to the boss's house after a recent snow/ice storm and saw these hoof prints frozen across the driveway. 

He thought they'd make for a good photo, but can anyone tell me why on God's green earth something like this is interesting enough to photograph, yet they find my litter trail leading away from my box annoying? 

We felines are no strangers to, um, peculiar sleeping positions. Dad wanted to include this shot of me sleeping in, well, anyway-

While mom and dad sipped their morning drinks recently, dad thought he'd be funny (and I use the term loosely) and put his coffee cup insulator sleeve on my head.

What is it with humans and their occasional need to humiliate their pets? Hmm? 

So there you have it. My first mishmash post of the year. I'll end it with a trio of shots of me at, according to mom and dad, my most adorable. 

They think I can't hear them discussing my none-too-sunny disposition when I'm awake (I'm old. What can I say?), and they always fawn over me when I'm asleep.