Roxie, a female, like most Japanese bobtails is frisky and talkative. She requires constant attention and petting and also doesn’t sleep as much as Jean Claude. Jean Claude lets his actions speak for him. He likes his space and his time apart from his high-maintenance life partner Ms. Roxie. Of course like most males JC likes to venture out when he is ready. This morning I went outside to water the petunias on my front porch. I shut the front porch storm door – figuring that was enough to keep him inside. Jean Claude readily opened the door with a heavy push. He raced down the steps to explore the neighborhood. Eventualy he knocked on the front door and I let him in.
Monthly Archives: May 2010
Teamwork
Recently I had an intense discussion with my mom about Roxie and Jean Claude. She read somewhere where cats were by natural loners and suggested Roxie and Jean Claude just tolerate each other. I think sometime Jean Claude and Roxie can be oblivious to each other but they seem to operate as a team especially on certain projects. For instance Thursday night when their food bowls were empty. There was no sleep to be had ..Roxie at my feed and Jean Claude simply pouncing on me until the feeder human (me) got out of bed and filled their bowls. Often when apart they call out to each other and of coure they comfort each other in times of need. Still they do require their space…Roxie hides under my bed and Jean Claude ..his chair in my home office. Check out this link….
http://purinaanimalallstars.yahoo.com/?v=7490201&l=100000085
Grill On
Bought some chicken legs from the “Yes” market and they were screaming to be barbecued. Ok…it’s not quite summer but I decided to get the grill out of the garage. Of course being a typical male Jean Claude decided to help. He went in the garage to explore so I shut the door and let him stay inside. When I opened the garage door a half hour later I didnt’ see him at first but he saw me as he was perched high atop a set of Queen- sized box springs. He eventually decided to go in the house where he and Roxie stood together behind the screened basement door and watched me get the grill ready. At one point Roxie gave Jean Claude a pat with her paw and then an affectionate lick with her tongue. Then they both turned their attention back to what I was doing.
Martha’s Guide for Grilling Chicken
Earlier today I watched an ON DEMAND episode of Martha Stewart on grilling. She had some guests that are marketing their barbecue sauce. They were preparing chicken and ribs with Martha…and Martha was well Martha…She is fabulous!!
Here are the highlights..
Heat the oven for 350
Prepare the chicken…wash both sides, salt and pepper – set aside or refrigerate.
Line a pan with sauce, use a brush to paint the bottom of necessary with sauce….Martha prefers a real pan…I’ll stick with the throw away dish – foil pan .. like her guests..
Place the chicken side by side in the pan…cover with sauce
Bake one hour and 15 minutes
While the chicken is baking get the grill ready ( I will not disclose my secret here but it does involve ready lit charcoal and a match)
I have two charcoal grills – - a big Weber grill and a Smoky Joe . I use the Smoky Joe when I don’t have guests but the same techniques apply to both. The coals are ready for cooking when they all turn white. Scoot the majority of coals on the right side. Cook the chicken on the left side. Let the chicken cook four to seven minutes on each side or until the chicken has grill marks. I also grilled a tomato which I am serving with brown rice and onions, fresh basil and Italian dressing (thanks Ina) . Yum.
Peaceful State
Roxie and Jean Claude are very satisfied with their lot in life. Who wouldn’t be?? They own two houses, have electric litter boxes, toys of all kinds and several human servants to cater to their wishes. Still, life is not always easy…even for them. However, unlike us complex humans, they are more practical about dilemnas and problems. Yes they obsess but only in play. Problems - boredom, loneliness, abandonment, or being left outside too long are resolved quickly. They both appreciate peace and relaxation and seem to have zero tolerance for chaos or nonsense.
The Ultimate Couple
Spent time with my mother (and my sister, , and nephew brother the last couple of days) . Yesterday mom and I went to Target where we tried on hats. Mom bought a sassy one like one she bought on a Paris trip a couple of years ago. That Paris trip was memorable in that we met several mother-daughter couples. Still my mom and I got on each others nerves – a lot. At La Follit Restaurant on the Champs de Lysee, I was seated next to a lovely woman about my age who later told me she was Japanese. I noticed as she looked heavenward in exasperation during a discussion with her mother who was seated next to my mom facing us. Our moms were dressed alike in chic jersey knit black pants and draped black jackets. We chatted. Our mothers sat and faced us smiling demurly as the younger woman and I talked about our frustrations and how sweet they looked. Later my mom and I boarded a bus near the Eifel Tower. There seated across from us was a mother-daughter couple. I chucked quietly when I saw the daugheter reach out and give her mother’s knee a quick spank in exasperation. The daughter told me they were from Spain and sheand I were the same age. We disccused the U.S. Later that evening my mother and I took and Illumination tour – a night tour of Paris landmarks. Our driver stopped by hotel …joining us was a mother-daughter couple from Nashville. he daughter just finished graduate school and had bright hair. Their joy was infectious and they both laughed readily. Travel, the daugher noted, is best done, with your mom, You can be annoyed, fight and be honest and then laugh. So true.
Affection
My co-workers dog has a sports injury. Yep a wrong catch of the frisbee. Right now the dog, a Labrador, is enjoying Matt’s attention as it requires him putting a pack of ice on the injury and laying down next to him. We both laughed about it as we know the dog, clearly a sports enthusiast, will become bored.
Roxie is like that about the laser toy.
Divas Need Love Too – and Their Laser Toys
Roxie likes to cuddle at night. She sometimes requires constant petting and wants her tummy rubbed continually. Her big thing is her laser toy. CCL purchased the kind that can change it beam to a smiley face or a flying saucer. Roxie doesn’t care, she could play with the beam all night long. Often if I awake during the night I find her awake too and she meows her instructions that I get the toy out and spray the beam against the wall for her enjoyment.
She also meows for me to get the toy out when I’m sitting at my desk in my home office – except when she’s listening to church online or music from my computer.
