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The Great Escape

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Jean Claude inspects CCL's new backyard security measures.

Jean Claude inspects CCL’s new backyard security measures to keep him and Koko in the yard.

Koko and Jean Claude really enjoy their time outdoors at CCL’s new house. Unfortunately Koko really wants to explore the neighborhood and has found several escape routes. CCL has attempted to block the free spaces in her backyard with plastic containers and has installed a warning system (the orange plastic container at the top of the fence). No matter. Yesterday afternoon, Koko managed to escape to her nextdoor neighbors yard and quietly returned when she was ready.

Pet of the Week

Koko made pet of the week at the Brookland Bridge. My former neighbors do a fantastic blog about life in Brookland. From an objective standpoint it is truly a neighborhood blog. It talks about life, dining, development, happenings, pets, real estate. I wonder how they do it!

Koko at her new digs

Koko at her new digs

 

Check it out if you have the time. I’m sure even if you don’t live in Brookland you can find something that will spark your curiosity!

http://brooklandbridge.com/

http://brooklandbridge.com/5177/brookland-pet-of-the-week-koko/

Ahhh, the joys of sleep.

Today I’m feeling tired. I could use a cat nap. Cats sleep. They sleep up to 20 hours a day. If you have a cat, you’ll notice various forms of their sleeping. They have deep sleep and dreams, light sleep, the I’m sleep but you woke me up and the leave me alone. JC is hilarious when he is in a deep sleep. You will not be able to find him.

However, we humans likely don’t have enough sleep. We could do with more cat naps and more rest overall. Even God rested and if He has to rest, then so should we. Here are a few of my favorite pictures of the cats sleeping. Koko sleeps like a mad woman! As she’s gotten older, she sleeps more like a traditional cat curled up in a ball. But she will just lay splayed out as she is in the pic and just sleep. I love that she is totally relaxed enough to let herself go.

CAM00051

CAM00058

CAM00061

JCWe can’t always sleep like we wants or need to but hopefully at some point we are getting well deserved rest. God rested on the seventh day. Rest is restorative. we cant neglect it.

Please take a moment to support the Washington Humane Society

Please take a moment to support the Washington Humane Society

Simply by purchasing a bag of Ziploc bags or trash bags or detergent, you can help out the Washington Humane Society!

Loving Care – New and Improved

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While visiting my mom this Mother’s Day weekend, I am in awe at the loving care she provides my younger sister. Sis has MS and needs a lot of help these days. As I write this from my parents’ home, MSNBC blares loudly on the television, although there appears to be in this  household,  at least a fondness for the “judge” shows, news and information  program reigns supreme.   Growing up,  there were spirited discussions about politics and world events.   We taught to be open to other people’s feelings, kindness was premium.   While I possess my late father’s temperment to some degree less these days , my mother’s way of thinking and doing balances it– and me – out.  Both parents showed my siblings and I that caring and sharing mattered most.  They also showed us that getting older requires even more the need to learn and engage in new things.  My father pursued his college degree in his late 50s.  My mother is  champion bridge player and “business” consultant.   With embracing the new, I don’t mean just  embracing the new technology, social media or different cultural streams although those things can be part of  one’s personal expansion.  It’s about a desire to learn and to grow internally as well as externally.    Last week I witnessed what it’s like to live for years in the world without the will or desire to grow.    One can become a zombie in life and principle without loving care and a willing to be open to new and different things.  Growing older physically but not mentally and emotionally is  imprisonment.  A lot of people will never be free.

Two Days Before Christmas

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I just finished watering snapdragons. Beautiful, pink, flourishing, it’s December 22. Jean Claude was enjoying the warm weather, nestled in the grass and quietly observing his surroundings. No birds really to chase. My neighbors have not let the dogs out. It’s just quiet. Just two days before Christmas. Two days before Roxie and Jean Claude go to what will now become their primary resident at CCL’s house. But for now we are all now taking a much needed rest. Roxie for her part spends a lot of time watching the Christmas tree and listening with me to TD Jakes.

It’s Back!! The Giant Monster Plant Lives

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Feed Me

I’m at my mom’s house this week, looking after sis and caring for mom’s plants, house etc. Don’t worry Roxie and Jean Claude are guarding my house (with help from CCL and assorted friends, family etc.). You may recall the blog I wrote last summer (Planticide- July 18, 2010). I described a giant plant in my mom’s living room that fell over and its pot broke into hundreds of pieces. And yes mom rescued a piece of the plant and put it in water and then repotted it. Well here it is folks one year later complete with scales and four-foot branches. I’m just waiting for it to say “Feed Me” circa “Little Shop of Horrors,” the 1960 movie which featured Jack Nicholson.

It’s A Guy Thing Right?? I Won’t Try to Understand

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Jean Claude Giving Instructions

When author John Gray pioneered the whole “Men Are from Mars” thing, I’m sure he didn’t have cats in mind. Still Jean Claude, the male Bombay cat, is decidedly male. Going to his chair at night, retreating to his cave – and just in general while a true gentleman acts like a dude, truly. If there is no food in his bowl he is in your face, agressively looking in your eyes. When a stranger comes to the door he growls like a dog. He is very protective of CCL and me. He enjoys his solitude and will sit on the lawn in my backyard quietly watching the birds. Roxie, of course, ( a true [priss puss) just runs wild. Jean Claude doesn’t chase after the birds, he’s too cool for that but he has been known to get really wacky when exposed to large quantitites of catnip – I guess a bourbon won’t do.*

*no we do not give the cats liquor

Hotel Accomodations

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Last week, once again had to deal with Roxie and a certain..hmph, hmph …reoccuring problem. That meant a litter box in my front room upstairs. Naturally Roxie was better in a few days but still felt the need to have an extra bathroom in her house. These cats…they lead a good life. Fancy Feast, outdoor lounge area and filtered water. A dog’s life often refers to the worse. Guess a cat’s life should be a slang term referring to all thing luxurious. At least Roxie thinks so.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you pet owners out there!!

Safety Concerns

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Roxie, the Japanese bobtail, and Jean Claude, the black Bombay, spent part of their morning this morning poised on top of a chair looking through my front living room window. They still are not that comfortable in their usual morning spot at my bedroom window. I think I’ve mentioned I have had some challenges lately with the roof over my bedroom ceiling. A roof blowback, then collapse. A tarp has been placed over the roof and it rained heavily last night. I could hear the splatter and I was afraid. Still as if to comfort me Roxie sat in her spot which is just below the hole in the ceiling where the ceiling caved. By the way before the tarp was placed on the roof, Roxie wouldn’t go near her spot. She would look at me and then look at the hole and look at me and look at the hole and walk away. She senses the tarp and it brings her comfort. There’s been a lot of rain and wind lately. Folks in my neighborhood have seen trees and roofs collapse. Lots of repairs, lots of roofers.

I think about wind, rain and roof issues and the people of Japan. Their bravery, their steadfastness – inspire. Their visible grief – heartbreaking. Prayers of safety and restoration to the people of Japan. May God provide them a tarp of safety, blessings and peace.

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