According to my sister, the products on this page kick ass (especially the cupcake lotion!), but I’m under orders not to order anything for myself, since she’s getting me some stuff for Christmas.
So go forth, order, and smell good! I guess I’ll have to wait for Christmas to smell good!
I noticed before I posted my entry yesterday that in my entry from 9 years ago (!), I actually said But as I see it, more than 2 cats makes you a weird cat person. Am I wrong? Is it three, or some incredible number like ten?
Talk about your foreshadowing!
What’s even better is that my entry from 9 years ago today contains any essay by Fred. It is titled Why we don’t need another cat, by Fred.
And that’s when we had four cats and I was pushing for a fifth! Ha!
So, the story of Kara coming back to live with us is a pretty straightforward one. When I took her to the pet store two weeks ago today, I hated leaving her there, hated it more than I’ve hated leaving any cats there in a long time. I hoped and prayed that someone would take one look at her and fall in love and adopt her, and she’d go off to be pampered and live in luxury for the rest of her life, the end.
Except that I kept waiting to hear that she’d been adopted, and she wasn’t… and she wasn’t… and she wasn’t. And then I went to the pet store last Thursday and she gave me the big dark eyes and when I took her out of her cage she clung to me. She hissed at the other cats and she didn’t want any of them around her, she just wanted me to hold and pet her. It was really hard to leave her there last Thursday, but I just KNEW she’d be adopted over the weekend.
Then on Sunday, Fred and I were talking for the umpteenth time about how we need a dog to watch over the chickens (his opinion, not mine), and he said “We could get goats and a dog, and I’d let you get Kara!”
(For the record, whenever I type in that we called her “Kara”, you should probably know that what we really said was “Upstairs Mama” or “Mama”, but in the interest of not confusing Kara with Maxi (“Outside Mama”), I call them by their proper names.)
I talked him down about the dog and the goats for perhaps the zillionth time (DO NOT WANT A DOG. DO NOT WANT GOATS. PERIOD.), and then later, something clicked in my mind and I said, oh-so-very-casually, “So you’re saying you want to adopt Kara?”
Fred wasn’t fooled. He wanted me to go get her right then and there. He’ll tell you that he “let” me get Kara, but the truth is that he always loves the female cats with the intense eyes and I’d say that he probably wanted her even more than I did.
“She could protect you at night!” he said gleefully. Over the past couple of nights, apparently realizing that Kara was no longer around to rule the upstairs with an iron paw, Miz Poo and Mister Boogers had taken to sleeping with me again, and unlike Kara (who would occasionally check on me, but spend most of the night at my feet, sleeping quietly and not tromping all over me like they do), they were waking me up many times a night with the tromping and the hissing and growling at each other.
I put him off on Sunday, telling him that if she didn’t get adopted by Thursday, my regular stint at the pet store, I’d bring her home with me.
Tuesday, I sent an email to the shelter manager, so very casually asking if anyone had shown any interest in adopting Kara. She said that as far as she knew, no one had, and I told her that if Kara was still there on Thursday, we wanted to adopt her, and she said that sounded good to her.
I made the mistake of calling Fred to tell him that no one had inquired about Kara, and he started up the “Go get her! Go get her! Go get her!” harassment. I was determined, though, that we’d wait until Thursday. And then I allowed that IF she wasn’t adopted Tuesday night and IF it was okay with shelter manager, it’d be okay with me if he stopped and picked Kara up on his way home Wednesday.
The harassment continued, with Fred pointing out that it was dumb to leave her there for another two nights and “She’ll forget us by Thursday! She won’t feel like she’s come home!” and so forth. I held strong and finally told him to hush up, and thought I’d heard the last of that, at least for the time being.
Tuesday afternoon, I was upstairs in the kitten room hanging out with the kittens, which is where I usually am when Fred gets home from work. I heard him come upstairs, and then he called to me.
“Are you coming in?” I asked, because he usually comes in to greet the kittens.
“No,” he said.
“What?” I said. “Why not?”
“Well… okay…” he said, and opened the door. And Kara leapt out of his arms, ran into the room, and saw the kittens. They hissed at her, she hissed at them, and then she ran back out.
It wasn’t until that moment that I realized just how much I’d missed having her around. Fred and I sat and talked to her, and she checked out the upstairs, and then we led her downstairs. I fully expected the other cats to hiss and growl at her, but every one of them looked at her as if to say “Oh, you’re back? I wondered where you were!” and went about their business.
She obviously remembers being here before, because she immediately took up hanging out in her favorite places – my bed, the window in the computer room, atop the washer in the laundry room – and the best part was that at night she settles down at the end of the bed, and I sleep like a charm.
We’re planning to rename her. Kara is a pretty name, but now that I know her, I want something a little more fitting. Fred has suggested Serendipity, with the nickname Sara, and I kind of like that. He’s suggested Annie, too, which I like too. At night we lay in bed and throw out names, even though we know in the end, chances are good we’ll keep on calling her Mama.
I suggested Mother McGee, which Fred didn’t like. He suggested Cat Sass, and I countered with Momma Sass. Mother Abigail? Maybe. Last night I suggested Miss Jingles (the mouse in The Green Mile was called Mr. Jingles), and when Fred and I went through our political names phase (“Hilary?” “No.” “Kara-boo Barbie?” “No.” “John McCain?” “I THINK NOT.”) I came up with Omama, and Fred countered with O’Mama.
Other names that have been suggested and discarded:
Cornbread (I don’t know why Fred thinks this is so funny, but he laughs himself into a coughing fit when he talks about it)
Weezy
Ouisa Boudreau
Delilah Magoo
Dierdre the Mad
Annie Wilkes
Stormy Llewellyn
Ma Kent
Moll Flanders
Octavia
Livia
Delilah
Sassy McGee is in the running. We both kind of like Ellie-Belly (which is what we called the last sweet brown tabby we had, back at the end of last year, beginning of this). I suggested names that shows she’s the cat in charge of making sure everyone behaves – Officer McGee, for one (yes, the last name “McGee” for a cat makes me laugh for some reason). Sheriff McGee. This morning I said “We should just call her “The Law”, since she’s the law ’round these parts.”
I don’t know. I’m sure we’ll come up with something that strikes us as just right and when we do, I’ll be sure to let you know!
The monkeys are going to be spayed and neutered next Tuesday. I’m hoping that they don’t freak out too much (I’m sure they will, though, ’cause that’s just the way it is with skittish little monkeys) and that they forgive me for carting them off to the scary place.
Delmar is just the sweetest little lovebug. When his sister and brother have gotten enough love and go off to play (or nap), he flops down across my arm and purrs and falls asleep while I lay there and read. Yesterday he climbed up on my stomach and rolled around while I rubbed his tummy, and he got so happy he rolled right off me, and I swear he grinned up at me.
I know I say this about all our foster cats, but these guys? SO SWEET. They have the softest, silkiest fur and are so healthy looking. So many fosters have to have goop put in their eyes or be treated for one ailment or another from living outside that when we have a set of fosters who are in such good shape, it’s really kind of nice!
Claudette in the sun. I love that little white blotch by her mouth. LOVE IT.
I know this is so crass and rude, but I can’t help it, it makes me laugh. Newt doesn’t stand on ceremony – if his butt needs to be licked, he plops down any ol’ place and gets the job done!
Previously
2007: Bless his fluffy little head, he’s not the brains of the outfit, for sure.
2006: “I don’t know, babe,” I said finally, hoping he wouldn’t go through another four or five possibilities. “It’s a fascinating mystery.”
2005: No entry.
2004: No entry.
2003: I believe that might be a personal record, right there.
2002: My poor baby.
2001: it’s MY journal and I’ll exaggerate if I want to.
2000: No entry.
1999: Why we don’t need another cat, by Fred
I’m sooooo glad you kept Kara! I had fallen in love with her, to the point that I was getting a little obsessive. I have a 17 year old cat and she’s not really in any condition to introduce another cat into the house. If that wasn’t the case though, I’d have driven down from Michigan for Kara and run over anyone in my way.
Welcome home Kara Sheriff Mayorette McGee Cornbread Wheezy Okra Ellie-Bellie Stormy Sass And3rson. There needs to be some order in that house. Let the smackdown begin. Congrats on new kitty by the way.
Am I the only one who really didn’t see this coming? I was (am) fully expecting one of the current group to be staying though. Which one will it be?
Cornbread??? where did that come from? So Robyn, how many goats are y’all going to get? *snicker*
I laughed and choked at ‘cornbread’ too, but I DO have a cat named Pickle, so it makes sense.
My cousin had a Siamese named Serendipity, Seren for short.
We took our hamster to the vet last night to be put to sleep. My 9 year old was devastated, but we tried to explain to her that we were doing the right thing. The hamster was almost 3 (ancient as far as hamsters are concerned) and had pneumonia. She was laying in her box not moving at all but when my daughter put her hand in, Stewie was able to muster up enough strength to give her a sniff and climb up. So heartbreaking!
Why is Deirdre mad?! Have I somehow offended you?! 😀
I am so glad you’ve got Kara back – lucky kitty.
Ah-WOO-woo! Robyn has a girlfriend!
Well, get her moved out of the fosters section in the side bar into the permanent residents!!! I’m verrrry sorrrrrrry, but you are officially a crazy cat lady.
Altho, from all I can tell (unless you lie about your daily life), your house smells fine!
How about “Lawsie Mercy”?
You said Mama Sass… which is an obvious derivative of Mama Cass (which would suit her well!)… whose real name was Ellen, thus Ellie-Bellie would fit too…
My friend Susan used to call that pose of Newt’s “party tricks” since he used to mostly do it when there was a gathering of people around.
My sister had a cat named Crouton and a dog named Chicklet . I thought those names were adorable.
I was HOPING you’d keep her:)
Freds old essay is hilarious. Look on the bright side …you guys aren’t that young anymore. he he.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that Fred just went and got her and brought her home. The old softie! I’m a little confused as to why there is so much cemeremony over the official name….we all know you guys will call her something totally different anyway. 😛
I am glad you are keeping Kara! But I like her name just as it is already!
I have to say…”Cornbread” also made me laugh out loud. That’s hilarious.
Well, Fred really is a big softie isn’t he? You may be a Crazy Cat Lady, but he is a Crazy Cat Daddy too 😉
An that post from Newt? I get treated to that every single morning in my bedroom. Apparently both cats are inspired by hearing me in the shower and decide that it is grooming time so while I am getting dressed for work, they fling their legs in the air and I giggle every time.
I really had a feeling Kara would be staying and it makes me sooooo happy. She stole my heart the minute I saw her first picture. Those eyes and expressions are priceless. She’ll be living the great life she deserves. You guys are saints! Cornbread makes me laugh too! I have a cat named Gumbo aka Gummy Bear so why not Cornbread?
Maybe if you name her “Ma Barker” Fred will think she’s really a dog, and you won’t have to go there ever again.
No?
Robyn,
When you decide to get a kitty – go get him or her. Why make her wait in a sad, tiny space. I agree with Fred. Good to see he did not wait.
OBTW: Mom and Dad FINALLY got a kitty. Ole Tinker passed about 10 years ago, and they said no more pets because they travel. Well – Louie come home on Tuesday. No pictures yet – Mom doesn’t have a digital camera so she has to take pictures, get the film developed and scan them. So I figure Louie will be full grown before I get to see a picture. Mom said he’s about 4 months, just over 3 pounds and gray tiger striped like River. So I will just look at 4 month old River pictures for now. Dad won’t let Mom get 2 kitties, so one will do. Dad will probably come back in a few months and say that she got him when he was down. Dad had hip-replacement surgery 4 weeks ago yesterday. The kitty came from his physical therapist. He was one of eight. They had to take him to the visit because he was full of fleas and worms. He’s already settled in – lays on my Mom’s lap and sleeps with her in bed.
“The monkeys are going to be spayed and neutered next Tuesday.”
I read this and thought, “When did they get donkeys?”
We have a dog named Penny, who is nicknamed Beans, and if we ever get a light colored dog, like a yellow lab, I have always fully intended to name it Cornbread. Ha. Beans and Cornbread.
I read that line about the monkeys, and for a split second thought, “Fred and Robyn have monkeys now? Man, these people are crazy!”
Welcome home, Kara!
I had a Bitchypoo dream! Except you weren’t in it, only your cats. I dreamt I was at my father’s house, and my friend came over with her cat, and the cat looked very different from the last time I’d seen her. The next day, in the drema, I found out my friend had had to leave because she got a migraine, but the cat had been left behind, and could I find her for her? Only now it’s your house, and I’m going from room to room picking sleepy kitties off of cat beds to see if they are the missing cat. They were all very mellow about it. I remember finding Spanky in a room on the top floor (your house was a multi-story haunted-house victorian) and guessing that it was Fred’s room because Spanky was sleeping there. Then when I finally left the house, I took a wrong turn and ended up at a dog shelter, where a mushy doberman followed me around giving me puppy eyes.
I think my subconscious is teling me it’s time to adopt another pet.
Well, the whole Serendipity/Sara works out well. I just watched the movie Serendipity for the umpteenth time the other day and the main chicks name is Sara. It’s the first thing I thought of when I read the name.
Good grief! Cornbread made me laugh all weezy too! Now why is that??
Hi Robyn! So excited about the newish addition to the fam!
Now I’ve got a question for you about kittens/cats. I have a 4 month old kitten that seems to have allergies or a cold or something. He sneezes and one of his eyes has a clear discharge sometimes. It’s always the same eye that is leaky and it’s never gunky or anything. But he doesn’t seem affected by it at all. He’s been looked at by three vets and they all said he’s fine, but that just seems weird to me. Have you ever had a sneezy, snotty cat that was just naturally sneezy and snotty? (Seriously, when he sneezes and gets a little snot smeared under his nose, it’s just about the cutest thing ever. I know…I’m weird). He’s been this way since he was first brought in to the shelter, according to his previous foster mom. Any ideas?
Kim,
It could be allergies, or I have a kitty who has the worst sneezing and runny eyes. Nothing I can do for him. When I got him, he had a URI for several months that went untreated (I’m still mad about that). The doctor said the sometimes if a URI goes untreated, they get scars in their sinus cavity and they are stuck with permanent sinus problems. As long as the goop isn’t yellow or green, you are OK. Gus could care less – he’s still the boss of my 3 cats. I’m always cleaning the goop from his eyes and the sneeze remenents from the walls. He also has the dirtiest ears I’ve seen in a cat. Poor baby.
I always feel so bad for the adult cats because they tend to languish in the cages for a long time. I’m really, really, really glad you guys decided to adopt her.
I like Sara.
I didn’t get Cornbread, until I hollered “Com’mer Co’nbread!” and I promptly cracked my shit up.
I am trying to find a home for an abandoned cat who looks just like Kara!
I know you will come up with the perfect name, but I can’t resist telling you that I named this little girl Smudge because she has those adorable smudges of orange in her brown tabby-ness, just as it looks like Kara does.
You had a Spot. You should have a Smudge. 🙂
Hooray for Kara! I’m so happy for the sweet little girl … aaaah, you just made my weekend.