Mike

passed away the other night in Astoria, Queens at his daughter's apartment. We are so sad. He was our friend; we loved him. He gave the BEST hugs! xxoo Patty

Gouty Kissmass Eve

Here is a really cute portrait of Bhu and his furrends Sweet Praline, Ginger Jasper and Romeo that Ann of Zoolatry created. Wish I could work the software like she does! I am having a very gouty day . . . very painful, so I'm a bit distracted.
"What's new. U iz always disturracted."
What do you mean, Bhu? I have the capacity to focus, although much on which I must focus is terminally boring and makes me want to scream.
"Like U said Monday that me needs another dose of Frontline and it's Thursday and no Frontline. These fleas is bitin' me! HALP!"
Okay, okay! I will do that right after we finish up here. I wanna tell people that the vet said you do not have any major health problems, but you are losing weight. We don't know why, so she is gonna do more blood work.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! No more needle sticks!"
Fraid so, Bhu. Oh, and I want to tell everybody about the new treat we found for you: Fancy Feast Appetizers!
"Oh, yes! These R purrity much YUMMMY. Me don' knows wich is mai fafurrite yet. Wish me could eatz them alla time."
Well, you still need to eat your regular Fancy Feast food, too.
"Don't furrget."
Don't furrget what?
"Don't furrget to wish effurryone MERRY KISSMASS AND HAPPY NOOOO YEER!"
XXOO Patty & Bhu

Ho Ho Ho!

Huh?
"How U likez new banner?"
Well, I notice MY name is gone! Are you kicking me off the blog?
"No, U kin stay. Ann of Zoolatry made this fur us and the purrfday card, too!"
I know! She is so talented! I Love Love Love my birthday card.
"Did U has good purrfday?"
Yes, I got to spend all day with my two fluffy boys -- Bhu and Sabryin.
"Me hasta go to Vet today. They put a muzzle on me."
No kidding? You were BAD? Maybe now you can be in the Naughty Kitty Club with Sweet Praline and Ginger Jasper.
"Akshully, it was the VET that was bein' BAD! Stickin' me with needles and pokin' around mai bottom and private parts! SHE was bad, not me! Me was just protecktin maiself!"
Well, I hope everything is okay, Bhu. You've lost a lot of weight lately and seem a bit lethargic. Come here so I can give you a big kiss. smooch, smooch

Happy holidays to all with much love and big hopes for Peace on Earth!
Love, Patty, Bhu, Sabryin

Winter.

My dotter took this photo -- her backyard Monday. We don't have this much snow, but winter is definitely here. What to do on a day when the temp is 14 and the wind is gusting up to 50 mph? Clean your house and give yourself a facial.

"U gonna pet me, too?"
Purrrrrhaps, Bhu. Purrrrhaps.
xxoo Patty

Thanks, or should I say "Gracias?"

This year we were going to have a slightly altered yet traditional turkey dinner: turkey breast instead of a whole turkey. The thing was frozen solid when I bought it, so I followed the directions and let it unfreeze in the fridge for 48 hours. Yesterday, I took it out of the plastic wrap and OMG it was the skankiest looking thing; definitely NOT edible! So, I poked around in the freezer and found these Gorton's fish filets (delish, btw). I also bought pecan tarts and Redi Whip (made with REAL cream!). We shook up the can as directed and pushed on the little white apparatus and out dribbled white stuff. YUK! Next year, I'm making cheeseburgers.
Bhu was happy to have us home. He got lots of pets and generally hung out at his food bowl, hoping a stray biped would treat him up with Temptations. I missed the Macy's parade and tuned in just in time to see the Pomeranian in the dog show. Later in the evening, my dotter called to say she and her friend Amery were on the Parkway driving to Atlantic City for Black Friday. They were going to stay in a hotel and get up at 4 a.m. to be first in line at the Coach outlet. I realize this is the NEW Thanksgiving Holiday, when we are thankful for the discounts. Retailers jerk our chains. I will tell you, though, if a local grocer decided to give 50% discounts on Black Diamond Cheddar starting at 4 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving, I might be there!

NOTE: There has GOT to be a military application for the Deviled Egg Fart, doncha think?

Tell me again it's November 23:

Tomatoes still grow in the garden!
Roses bloom as if it was May!
Black Eyed Susan has n't a care in the world! There is also a huge clematis and a few malva blooms. Long ago I built a cold frame; so clever, I was going to have fresh arugula for a holiday salad. Looks like we don't need cold frames here now! I wanted to tell you I got a flu shot the other day and as I was walking out of the building, there was a car parked in front that had written on it "We Love You Aunt Patti!" Wow! Was that for me? Bhu don't care. He sleeps. I can't even find his head to give him a pet! zzzzzzz

Furrends Furrever!

Goma interviews Bhu on his blog today! They are very good Furrends!

xxoo Patty

The Sunny Spot of Life

Something about the winter light in the house . . . the morning sun pouring in . . . Bhu settling down for a little nap next to the 'puter station. Lovely, sweet moments of life.

Unfortunately, that was yesterday. Today it is raining heartily so it is the perfect Sunday to review applications for a student fiscal assistant position I posted last week. Don't ever let anyone tell you that grammar, punctuation and spelling aren't important -- especially in a resume. Don't start your cover letter thusly: "Hi. My name is Blow MyChance and I saw your ad for an open position." I can see your name there at the bottom of the letter, dude. Don't devote an entire paragraph talking about your years of customer service experience and forget to mention your Excel skills. Oh, and please spell it Excel, not "Exel."

"U R so crit ikal. And U iz makin' too much noize. Me is very good at comunikashun skills and me duz a gurrrate job at house security!" Well, Bhu, the qualifications for the fiscal assistant job are different than for house security jobs. "U should just hire the purrson who is fluffiest." THAT is a VERY good idea!! Thanks, Bhu. You are so adroit and skillful at human relations. "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"

From Wealth to Poverty: The Tale of a Tree

Sweet Gum Tree has lost most of its leaves and will be naked to the winter winds! Bhu is shedding, too. Are we ready for winter? NO! Papa has a chest cold and he is coughing and hacking and convalescing while reading "The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World." I made a big pot of Hot & Sour soup and it seemed to help a bit.

Many things have changed over the past week. The Retirement did not occur. My assistant accepted a different position and is leaving, thereby solving one of my problems but creating two new issues both of which are up to me to solve. So, I am stuck working, not retiring, for another three or four months. Of course, I could always just walk away from it all; unfortunately, I'm too conscientious. "U iz NOT konshee enshus! U iz something else that isn't the same as smart." Well, I've never heard it put quite that way, Bhu, and as usual you just might have a point. "Uh Huh, usually do!"

Ram Dass to the Rescue!

They told us we wouldn't have a colorful Fall because we had such a cool, rainy summer. EHHH! WRONG! Sweet Gum Tree tells no lies (seefururself).

"Did U retirez?" Well, Bhu, sort of. "What's SORT OF retiredz?" Rather than leaving abrubtly, I'm going to work half-time and take four weeks of vacation between now and January. I'm also going to have an apprentice! "Like Mickey Mouse and the Sorcerer?" Something like that, I guess. "How U make this desishun?" I consulted with a few Crones and then I read Ram Dass's book "Still Here." This more gentle transition seems to be righter, but you know I have a talent for making bad decisions. "Zzzzzzzzzzzzz."

Countdown: Day Three

"Me no care about ur report, which IS A DAY LATE AGAIN!" Sorry, Bhu. There is a new rub. "Belleh rub?" No, a new option I should say. "What's dat?" They are trying to get me to stay and work part-time and now I don't know what to do but I have to decide by Monday. So, we are taking a break from the Countdown to Retirement. "U iz so noo-rah-tik! Eithur U wantz to stay home with me or not. Simple choice." Well, I would be able to stay home with you more and sometimes even work in my jammies. See, they will give me more green papers to buy your Fancy Feast and Temptations! "Hmmmmmm. K. Maybe u better think about it morez."

Countdown: Day Four

"U did it again! Ur report for Day Four is one day late!" I know, I'm sorry Bhu. I had a rough day and a worse night. "Too much sinuses?" Yep. "Do U has pig flu?" Hope not! "So what about the countdown?"

I'm kinda bored with the countdown today, mostly 'cause I'm sick and tired from not sleeping. I have a lot of things to think about and I don't think well when I am sick. Today I might just stay home and drink coffee and eat Cream of Wheat. It's a gloomy, grey, wet, cold day.

Countdown: Day Five

"U missed yesterday." I did, Bhu. I mean, not missed it altogether but wasn't able to file a report about Day Five: Countdown to Retire- ment. "U makes it sound so exciting." Well, I thought you might need some help doing "house security" all day, so I would retire from my job at the University. "Me no needz halp furrum you." But wouldn't it be fun to be together all day? I would be able to give you Fancy Feast whenever you got a little hunger pang. "Furrrget it! U makez too much noise, always singin' and dancin' around. Plus sometimes U bringz out the VAKYOOM machine!" Well, if I can't stay here with you, where will I go? "Back to workz! House security is MAI job, not yours." Hmmmmmmm.

Countdown: Day Six

Only an hour and 30 minutes to go on Day Six: Countdown to Retirement! Last night I worried about if I was doing the "right" thing and, of course, I NEVER do the right thing, so what's the diff? But I thought [out loud, by the way] "If I go to work on the 28th, nothing good will happen to me. If I don't go to work on the 28th, something good might happen." It's the old bird-in-the-hand dilemma.
"Boidz in teh hand? Where iz the boids? Me missed them! That looks like fish to me!"
Yes, you are astute, Bhu! That is, indeed, a fish and that is your nephew Walker and the photo commemorates the first fish he ever caught. Now, do you think he would have caught that fish if he'd gone to school that day?
"Maybe, if his school is on oshun or lake or river. That's where the fish R."
Well, most schools are NOT on the water, so there is not a very good chance of catching a fish in school.
"But doesn't fishes travel in schools?"
Hmmmm. So this is what I get for all my good work: a kitteh that seems to be the reincarnation of Gracie Allen!
"U iz loopy. Wut number comes next in countdown?"
Tune in tomorrow and see!
"Tuna tomorrow!?! YAY."
mrrrrffff

Lookz What Sweet P Sent:

Sweet Praline did not forget mai purrfday and sent me this purrity card!  Thanks to effurryone who wishes me a good day.  Me hopes ur purrfdays are good, too!  Papa gave me lotsa Temptations!  xxoo Bhu

Happy 12th Purrfday!

Another wonderful year with Bhu has begun!  He is still my sweet, purry little kitteh, though.  He loves to play with his Papa (aka, the human claw cushion) and gallop through the house like a 6 month old, but his naps are longer and always on schedule.

BhuMOBoy

"How U like mai license plate?" Very distinguished! Actually, I found this cute depiction of Bhu somewhere in the Cat Blogosophere, but I can't remember where. If you know who is responsible, leave a comment with the blog addy so we can all enjoy it.

We missed effurryone this weekend because our DSL went out. Everytime I called to ask for repairs, I got a voice message telling me to get online and chat live with a tech. Well, duh, I can't do that cuz I can't get online. Drive me crazy! We have been without internet connection since Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and this morning I got an e-mail at work asking me to get online and take their customer service survey. When I clicked on the link, I got a screen that said "Oops! This link appears to be broken." Am I laughin'? NO NO NO NO! CenturyTel, you do not amuse.

We LOVE OKTOBRRRRR!

It's cool. We turned on the furnace today, but I don't think it's cold enough for that. Luckily, we have plenty of wonderful, warm quilts . . . piles and piles of them. Why do I always wait until the last minute to think about planting bulbs? Tomorrow I will submit my intent to retire. Time for changes. I will be very poor. I will wake up in the morning and think, "Oh, I will go to the rec center and work out," or "Oh, I will go to the garden center and buy some bulbs to plant," but I won't be able to because I won't have any money. I am going to have to become an entrepreneur (like Apple Annie???). I can do that. I can have a street corner and peddle snacks like apples and bananas to college students as they rush by to get to class. Why should Campus Dining Service make all the big bucks?

Anyway, maybe once I'm retired I'll be able to take some really cool photos of Bhu. Maybe I'll even start drawing like Sachie.

We had cheezeburgers for dinner . . . homemade cheezeburgers with Black Diamond Cheddar ($19/lb.). YUM! Better than bagged burgers, that's fur shur! xxxoo Patty

I'm not even sore!

"Where U been?" Well, I just had the first session with my personal trainer, Thomas! "How was it?" It was GREAT! I am not as decrepit as I thought! I actually survived one whole hour of exercising without becoming overly moist and breathless AND I'm not even sore! I enjoyed it. I'm going back tomorrow! I'm really hungry for a cheeseburger, though. "That defeetZ the purrrrpose." As usual, you are correct, Bhu.

Ekwinox? What?

It's the autumnal equinox . . . the coming of Fall on Tuesday! "Me no wants to fall. Kin I just stay here and sleepz?" Truly, I don't think anyone expects anything else from you, Bhu. By the way, are you ready for Sweet Praline's birthday pajama party? "Oh YAH! How U like THIS pose? Think the ladies will go fur this?? Me wants to show my best feetshurs." Oh, you are gonna be a BIG HIT, Bhu! Just remember to be a gentleman, okay? "K."

The garden has wound down except for the Sweet Potatoes and the Grape Tomatoes. I LOVE Sweet Potato blossoms! So do the bees! Can't wait for the harvest! The weather has been ideal. I always dream of this kind of weather, so cool and clear! For family and furrends who are interested in my health, here is a report. I have yet another script for HBP. So far, so good. I signed up for a personal trainer and water aerobics! The other ladies in the class all have black bathing suits. My suit is bright yellow with big tropical flowers and I have the cutest yellow water shoes. "Well, mom, U iz the wierd one, we all know." So, Bhu, you wanna come with me to water aerobics Monday? "Uh, no thanks." Oh, come on Bhu! The ladies will all love you up and kiss and pet you. "No wants to get wetz." Such a fraidy cat!! xxoo Patty

Too Hurty for Shopping

"Me wants to go to store to getz Fancy Feast, but mom is having another painful gout attack. Come on, Mom! Buckle up!" Sorry, Bhu. I can't work the clutch and the brakes and the gas. "Hmpf! She always haz eksuse!"

Well, otherwise, it is a beautiful Saturday, cool and clear, with a home football game set for 6 p.m. There is a new sound system at the stadium, so I expect we will be treated to all sorts of noise pollution this evening. I'm sorta cranky 'cause of no sleep last night. "SORTA cranky? Me sez U is VERY cranky!" Sorry, Bhu. I'm just in pain. "When the doctor gonna take care of that?" Hmmmmm, apparently never. They don't seem to know what to do, Bhu. I hope you will still love me in my decrepitude. "Ur WHAT?" Nevermind. xxoo Patty

Sanguine

"K. So mai mom wants to illustrate wai she thinks me looks like George Clooney. Waddya thinks? Me no thinks his face is furry enough and he gotz no tail or wings on his toes." No, no, see Bhu, it's in the EYES! You have that sweet, sophisticated look that makes people trust you will do them no harm and then you POUNCE on them or bite their nose or scratch their hand. Well, maybe I shouldn't get into that right now.

Rotten Meg remembered I am trying to make life decisions right now. I have made the primary decision and now there are a lot of other little decisions that must follow. I'm an optimizer and I have an elevated capacity for caution. I can't say always but mostly I'm remorseful after being impulsive. Not that I enjoy planning -- I don't! I'm usually in the moment. So, if your head is spinning (What the heck is she talking about????), well, so is mine.

"See what me hasta put ups with? Freaky!"

Who's Dat?

It's all your friends in the blogosphere! They're here to see you, Bhu. "Me been gone so long, they not furrget me?" How could anyone forget YOU, Bhu? "K, Hai! We been busy but now we iz back! Hey, mom! When U gonna get a new cell phone? This one must be ten years old!" In due time, Bhu.
The garden is doing well and we are very proud of our sunflowers and BEES! Yay! It is so good to see bees everywhere but I have seen very few butterflies this year, so I'm a bit sad about that. Just a few tomatoes left at this point.
Most sad to report the death of black bunny, murdered by a motor vehicle last weekend. RIP, Mr. B! It's been a wild summer and an even wilder August. I can't believe September is two days away! I am not ready for Fall and in two weeks I have to make a major decision about my life and I am not prepared and I don't have time to GET prepared! It is really rough being a wage slave, when finding green papers becomes your priority. Please, please give me more time because I am not ready for winter yet!! xxoo Patty

As the Paw Turns: Celebration!

After a very short nap and a frantic housecleaning event, the Mayor's humble abode is ready for the dinner guests. Always one for oratory, Gingie clears his throat. "I've called you all here this evening at the request of Sweet Praline, the village Diva. She truly believes that we can all get along, without hissing and swatting and the rivalry among us. In fact, perhaps we can teach the humans a lesson about that (they do need it now don't they?). Take your seats at table, please, so the 'beans can start serving the delicious morsels! Hey, Bhu, get out of your bag and come to the table and on your way get Melvin away from that nip. He just doesn't know when to stop! Doc Romeo, can you just wake up for a minute and stop sleeping on the table? We need room for the morsels!" "Stop complaining GJ, I did one-hundred-and-one surgeries today! I worked far harder than any old civil servant like you, and I am tired! But, out of deference to your position, I'll be seated."

"Goma, get off the sidebar and come join us. "K, but I can getz bettur photos furrum over here, an' I gotsta publish tomorrow in political and social pages!
I worriez about it being "furreeee advertising" for your mayoral campaign next year. Does this meanz I hasta give equal space to other candidates? Hmmmm."

While everyone gathers at table, GJ invites Khyra to join the floofsters. "After all... wouldn't you all agree that's a very good way to begin getting along?" In unison, effuryone responds, "Yes, oh yes it is. That's how the paw turns . . . towards you with friendship!

As Melvin jumps under the table to retrieve his little mousie, he sees Sweet Praline reach for both the Mayor's and Bhu's paws. Maggy whispers to Khyra "She's such a diva!" Hmmmmmm.

As the Paw Turns: The Realization!

At the exclusive Furrsville Salon & Spa, Praline has her highlights brightened and gets her coat floofed while Maggy gets her weekly nail trim. Out of the corner of her eye, Sweet Praline realizes what a really purrity kitteh Maggy is. "Hmmmm," she thinks, "I can see this rivalry will get us nowhere." She turns to Maggy: "Let's be furriends, Maggy!" Maggy agrees and exclaims "Let's have a party!" Sweet Praline quickly texts Mayor GJ to call efurryone together for a lovely dinner at his home.
The Furrsville mancats are not slackers when it comes to grooming, so they all meet Melvin at the MANCATS Salon. Goma has his camera so he can take photos of all the hansome kittehs in their finery! Melvin, always "the kid" decides to joke around for the camera. Bhu sez "What if ur face freezes like that, kid?" They all laugh!
The Mayor is tired after confirming the guest list and checking Goma's news coverage. He purrs while enjoying his fafurrite screensaver featuring Sweet P and Maggy! "Purrrrrrrrrrrfect," he sighs.

As the Paw Turns: Deception!

It's a beautiful morning and the telephone rings at Sweet Praline's cottage. It's Bhu! "One of mai clientz iz in jail and me gotta getz him out!" "Take your time, Bhu," Sweet Praline purred. "Melvin has stopped by for a little visit." Bhu knew she would be entertained: Praline has a special spot in her heart for dear little Melvin and likes to smother him with motherly advice and love. You see, Sweet Praline was not able to have little kitties of her own, a sadness that she hides away where no one can see. As they lounged in the summer sunshine on Praline's front lawn, she took the opportunity to give some "counsel" herself -- advising and teaching "little Mouchois" on all the peccadillos of Fursville society, and how he must learn and grow to be a proper mancat.Little did Praline know, while she and Melvin conversed on the front lawn, that behind the house, waiting for their "golden moment" were Goma, Romeo and Jasper. They would never tell, but the call to Bhu was little more than a ploy, a trick, by this "threesome". They wanted Bhu out of the way, so they could come courting Praline themselves! Oh, horrors!Goma was bringing a bottle of expensive nip champage, and wearing his best tie. Romeo had his box of chocolates, his hope renewed. Only he knew that inside the box were "caramel pralines," her favorite. Caramel pralines are the only thing Romeo knew were sweeter than Miss Praline. And Jasper brought a very special sunflower, grown in his own garden -- special with it's heart-shaped leaves; and of course, he brought Kong, something the two of them had enjoyed playing with together on past dates. The three were anticipating good things, good times.
Across town, Maggy decided to accompany town's "daring devil dog" on a country ride and a lakeside picnic. It had been an invitation impossible to turn down... for she did have great affection for Khyra... and he even brought helmets, how considerate. She held tight to him as they rode off out of town all the while wondering if Bhu was thinking about her. Would he call this evening? Hmmmmm . . .

As the Paw Turns: The Competition

It's a bright, sunny day in Fursville and Bhu BigFurs, Esq. is spotted leaving his office for a secret meeting with the glamorous Sweet Praline. He knows her fafurrit color is pink. Around the corner, Mayor G. Jasper worries "I have no flowers, no wine, no nip and no time to court Miss Sweet P today." Ahead of them all Dr. Romeo realizes he won't get to Sweet Praline first to give her a yummy box of chocolates! There is an emergency at his clinic and he must tend to his patient. Bhu doesn't worry about the mayor or the doc; he knows how to please the lovely Sweet P, even though she does have a roving eye! But as he strolls onward to his meeting with Sweet Praline, he wonders about the fascinating Maggy: "Why didn't she answer last night when me called?" Hmmmmm.

As the Paw Turns

Me is so excited about mai acting role! Me hopes U will tune in efurry day this week for a new epussode featuring my gorjuss co-stars Sweet Praline and Maggy and hansom co-actors GJ, Romeo, Goma and that "new kid."

This week featuring: "As the Paw Turns"

Stay tuned!

As the Fur Flies

A little something we picked up on this past Monday -- Mancat Monday, as it were. Bhu, are you ready for this? "Why U think me is hiding in the bag?" Are you looking for purresents for your girlfriends? "Uh, sure, yeah that's it! That's the ticket! Yes, me iz lookin' fur purresents fur Maggy and Sweet Praline."