Many of you know that Jean Claude pats the windows blind when he wants us to raise them so he can look out at the world. We had some snow recently and it’s still pretty cold so JC doesn’t exercise his option to go outside. JC can go out because he stays in the yard and comes back inside in a reasonable amount of time. Roxie is a bit of tart and once let outdoors feels its her prerogative to hang out all night so she’s pretty much on lockdown.
Category Archives: animals
Master of My Fate
The last two lines of the poem “Invictus” by William Henley are:
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.I have a copy of this poem in my house since I’m a Delta. But the last two lines are lines that everyone knows. I thought of this because Azeena has me addicted to a game called Harbor Master. The point of the game (which is played on a touchscreen device) is to guide ships in and out of the harbor safely after they have docked and unloaded their cargo. In the beginning it’s easy with few ships, but as you get further into the game, ships come at varying speeds and you need much better navigational skills. As harbor master, you’ll have a lot going on.
With cats, there’s always craziness at the house. Anyone with more than two cats will always have some story about something turned over, broken, peed on, scratched, chewed and the list goes on. But while you can’t control the cats, you can control your response. You are the master of your fate. To often we feel like we are trapped by circumstance, when we are trapped by our own inability to feel like we can act. You can’t guarantee the outcome, but you can have the choice. For example, if you don’t like your job you can quit. You might not be able to find another job, but at least you won’t be in the old one. If you are in a relationship that isn’t working out, you have the choice to leave or change your behavior. The other person may not respond the way you want them to, but you have a choice.
In fact, the only area of my life where I am NOT the captain of my fate is trying to keep Roxie out of trouble and Jean-Claude inside. Cats are animals that you can’t master. I have mastered responding to their signals for “feed me now” “play time” and “change the litterbox” so maybe they are truly the masters of my fate.
Solo Act
Roxie At Rest
Roxie is at my house. Jean Claude is with his mom, CCL. Roxie got sick again and this time the veterinarian prescribed three different types of medications for her. In fact Roxie now has a profile at the CVS pharmacy and her name is on one of her prescriptions. She seems to be coming around but clearly she misses her pal J.C. She’s a little less noisy and fussy than she was when CCL brought her by the other day. Also Roxie has made it clear she wants her laser toy …and she is not a big fan of wet food. Diva.
Moving Beyond Shallow Aspirations
I found myself in a pretty deep conversation with a friend about people’s motivations, fears and sense of self. We are both good at promoting products, people and issues. We agreed that a spiritual foundation is necessary for personal growth. Now my friend and a lot of my friends have pretty fabulous lives filled with yachts, riches, celebrities etc but they still find time for church, God and self reflection. Roxie, the Japanese bobtail and Jean Claude, the black bombay who share residences with my daughter CCL and me, have pretty fabulous lives too. Yet they find time for deep thought and are always ready to move to another level of understanding.
Tat a Tat As the Holiday Season Goes
Tomorrow we are two days from a new year. For some folks and critters a new year symbolizes a new beginning, a clean start ,an empty slate. For others the new year brings a chance to purge the memories of the past. For Roxie and Jean Claude this year has been quite something and they have had an adverturous and rather splendid holiday season, spending time at my house and at CCL’s house. Although they escaped twice from CCL’s during Christmas dinner – sorry CCL but it was small bag of trash that had to be taken outside. They really seemed to enjoy Christmas dinner with family at CCL’s. Roxie and Jean Claude are a favorite of my aunt Fran who doesn’t like cats but is very entertained by this duo. Yes they performed for her and showed her love and attention, rubbing her leg and jumping on the back of her chair and running across. Animals entertain and love and nuture us. We should show our furry friends love and attention too. Do your part to support the Washington Animal Rescue League – www.warl.org or the Animal Rescue league in your town.
Cats & All That ™ 