Solitary Sunday; Melancholy Monday

Sunday that girl came over.

I only see her about once a year.

Even so, I get the feeling she and Mom are very close.

This is me trying to figure her out:

She doesn't talk like most humans.

I'm beginning to understand that she uses her hands to communicate.

She's very nice, so I think if she were around more I'd come 

to like her very much.

Then, she, Mom and Daddy all left for hours.

When they came back, she wasn't with them, but Mom and Daddy

smelled like Nice Boy's house.

Mom finally picked up on the fact that I was bored out of my mind

after being left alone most of the day.

She picked up a string and played with me.

I had a lot of fun.

Then, when Mom was trying to drink her water,

I licked the condensation from the bottom of her glass.

I absolutely LOVE the condensation on drinking glasses!

Monday was pretty normal.

Except that I've developed a new quirk.

I've taken to burrowing between the sheets and blankets 

on the bed to sleep at night.

Then, after I get up to eat, I curl up on the window sill

and sleep some more.

Monday was cold.

It only got into the low 50's (F°) and there was a 

really cold wind coming off the mountains.

Then it rained for a bit in the afternoon.

I thought June was supposed to be warmer than this.

It made me a bit melancholy.

Monday Aunt and Uncle came over.

When they left, Mom even gave me a nighttime walk.

But it wasn't enough.

I wanted to stay out longer.

Special Post: Concerning Harnesses

This is a special blog post for Kat-Renee Kittel 

and anyone else who has the same questions.

Regarding my harnesses:

The one on the left is my normal everyday harness.

Mom got it many years ago as it used to belong to Keaton.

I never knew Keaton, but Mom says he rarely used the harness.

(Buster) Keaton: 16 July 1994 - 15 May 2012

Normal harness with leash attachment

She bought it at a time when there weren't many cat harnesses available,

so she's certain there are better ones on the market now.

The Harness on the right is my car harness.

It was designed with dogs in mind.

Pfft.

However, it is sized x-small and Mom made me try it on 

in the store before she purchased it.  She had to make sure 

I couldn't squirm out of it.

She's added some carabiners on the sides so she can secure me more

efficiently.  If the harness is solely attached to the seatbelt, I tend to get 

tossed around a bit.  So she fastens my leash to it, loops it behind her back and 

attaches it again to the other side of the harness.  She also adds an extra safety loop 

that connects to the seatbelt.  It all seems very complicated to me, but it keeps me stable.

Now, about leash training.

Mom began by letting me wear the normal harness around the house to get used to it.

Then she added the leash and patiently taught me to walk up and down the hallway.

Finally we went outside!

She generally lets me lead, except that she clicks her tongue or 

snaps her fingers simultaneously with a tug on the leash to stop me from 

going a direction she doesn't want me to go.

If she wants to go a completely different direction than I do,

she has her way and picks me up.

I hope this has been helpful.

Any more questions on the subject may be posted in the comment box.

Pilot Butte Adventure

Yesterday Mom and Daddy took me on a Caturday Adventure.

We went to a side of town I don't normally go.

We drove past Pilot Butte.

We stopped at a store, so I got into my traveling bag.

Despite being a bit chilly it was a nice day.

Then we drove up to the top of Pilot Butte.

I was reluctant to get out of the car.

Eventually, however, I gave in.

We wandered around for a bit.

This is the sign at the top:

And then there's the marker in the middle:

"Let's see... Mt. Jefferson is that direction...

...and Smith Rock is over in that direction."

There were quite a few people taking in the view,

so I kept close to the wall for security.

"I think I can see my house from here."

I do live in a beautiful town!

Even after a big adventurous day

Mom still took me for a nighttime walk!

What a great Caturday!

Two Days

Thursday was lazy and uneventful.

I enjoyed a bit of time on the patio.

Mom spent some time talking to Computer Aunt 

while I sat in the window for hours.

Friday was different.

It was chilly and rainy.

Auntie and Uncle visited.

So that was nice.

Later, as I was enjoying some time outside,

I began to stalk a bird.

I was slow and patient.

I didn't even notice how far from home I was getting.

Then Loud Boy rode up on his bike and startled me.

It was then that I turned to run home and realized how far I had to go.

I also realized that Mom was keeping a close watch on me.

So that's a relief.

As soon as Loud Boy arrived, so did the other teenagers.

They mostly ignored me while they were here.

After they had gone, I tried to get Mom to take me on a nighttime walk.

She said she had a headache and wasn't going to take me.

I couldn't argue with that, so I settled onto the back of the couch

near the door.

Eventually I moved to Mom's lap.

I'm sort of hoping for more playtime.

Completely Normal

Yesterday was completely normal.

No ladders, no carpet cleaners.

NORMAL!

I slept on the window sill well into the day.

When Mom and I visited Nice Lady in the office,

I was on my best behavior.

Afterward, I enjoyed some time on the patio.

Then Wednesday Guy came and took Mom away.

I've gotten very attached to Mom,

so while she was gone I put Mimzy in my food bowl for comfort.

I was eager to do something with Mom when she came home.

Anything would do.  Some play, a nighttime walk...

...but she was hungry and tired.

Eventually I gave up trying to tempt her.

Then, to my surprise, she tried to entice me to play.

I put little effort into it.

If Mom was going to do something with

me, I wanted it to be my choice.

So I sat near the door and waited.

Until finally!

"Yes!  Harness on, please!"

The most wonderful of all things Mom could do with me!

I got a nighttime walk!

Ordinary Day

Yesterday the strange men were still around 

moving ladders around.

Then the ceiling people were noisy.

Then the carpet cleaners came and made more noise.

So Mom and I went to visit the Nice Ladies in the office

where it was a bit more quiet.

I wandered.

I hid.

I meowed.

I was cute.

When we went home,

Mom did let me enjoy a bit of outside time.

It was a pretty nice day.

Even though people were enjoying the swimming pool nearby,

Mom stayed home.

When Daddy came home and Mom settled into the recliner,

I curled up on her lap as usual.

I'm trying something new in my blog.

So, just as a test, I'm adding the video 

that I used to make my GIF.

Let me know if it works and if you like it.

Lingering Insecurities

Yesterday I could still hear the ladders outside.

I guess the strange men weren't quite gone for good yet.

Mom left for a few hours.

When she finally came home, she took me right

past that man on the ladder.

We managed to make our usual rounds,

ending with a visit to the Nice Ladies in the office.

We stayed longer than I liked.

I have to admit that I took shelter under the couch 

while Mom busied herself with some new project.

When we got home, she left the door open for me 

while she went to quickly wash her hands.

I've been a bit insecure since she left for the weekend,

so I lost track of her and began to panic.

I went outside and meowed desperately for her, thinking she had gone.

She quickly poked her head out of the bathroom and called to me.

I felt a bit silly.

I kept track of her for the rest of the day.

Which, as it turns out, wasn't bad.

Uncle came over and the smoke wasn't overhead anymore.

Then Monday Aunt and Uncle came over. (On the right day!)

Daddy also came home around the same time.

I wandered around the house feeling a bit bored

 while the humans did their thing.

I spent a good amount of time on Mom's lap.

After all our guests had gone,

Mom took some time to play with me.

Now, if I could just convince her to take me on a nighttime walk.

One must keep track of the smells around One's territory after all.