Post 360: No! Snow!

“March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb“.

Or comes in like a lamb and leaves like a lion.

Or comes in like a lion, is a lion off and on during the month, and leaves like a lion: Today is another snow day in Western Nebraska!

Andy isn’t sure if he wants to get closer to see the snow out the front door.

Um…! No thanks, says Andy. Dougy’s on the cat tree trying to decide if he wants to look outside or not.

Andy looks out his favorite window roost…snow there, too!

What Andy saw.

Dougy (front) beckons Andy to come see the snow out the back door. (Neither moves from his warm spot in this photo, though.)

It’s blowing hard, but not at blizzard speeds…yet!

Either they’ve seen it before or they don’t want to see it again: The snow continues to accumulate!

Post 359: Bow to your master!

This weekend, multi-billionaire Sheldon Adelson called in the Republican Presidential hopefuls for a look-see. Which candidate looks like a winner? Which candidate will get the benefits of the millions of dollars he will spend to elect the “Anointed One”?

Multi-billionaire Sheldon Adelson

It’s all legal. Both parties do it. This is who decides the candidate-to-be to win the Presidency of the United States of America for you, the unwashed masses who can’t be that clever or you’d be multi-billionaires, too. Besides, you can’t buy what isn’t for sale: They aren’t victims, they are willing participants.

If invited, they came. If they came, they sucked up to the money bags arrayed before them. The more they smelled the money, the more they were Sheldon’s best buddy. Mr. Adelson? No, Sheldon! Bosom buddies, apologetic for transgressions– referring to the West Bank as being occupied in front of a gathering of Jewish folk…! Smelling those millions, and swooning effusively in front of the wonderful benefactor. Grovel! Bow before your master!

Did “Sheldon” secretly laugh at these seeming obsequious tools? Or did he honestly feel his money bags contribute to a lively and thriving democratic process in America? Does he feel his interests are best for this country? Or does he give a damn as long as he, the Gamblin’ Man, gets the House return of mega-millions for his millions bet on putting the “right” fellow– his fellow!– in the White House?

The process the Republicans used to “thin the herd” the last time, the entertaining and illuminating debates of the Republican hopefuls, was degrading to the participants by the end, though a credible possibility on the stage ultimately rose to the top. Of the lot, I personally liked best former Utah Governor and former Ambassador Jon Huntsman, Jr., for the depth of his experience in government and foreign affairs. He didn’t come off as conservative and anti-government enough for the Republican base. Too bad. I couldn’t related to the patrician Romney or his wife and her dancing horse. Must be my 47%-er mentality as a retiree who gets Social Security and Medicare benefits, who could apply for VA benefits. Yeah, the dancing horse isn’t the only one eating at the rich man’s trough, to believe the 2012 candidate and his running mate, Paul Ryan.

Gadsden flag

And you thought the Miss America and Miss Universe parades of young women in swimsuits and high heels were degrading to the participants! The “Adelson Primary”, as this command performance of the potential Republican candidates for the Presidency of the United States of America is characterized on the conservative “Morning Joe” program, makes me cringe.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Sheldon Adelson photo credit:

adselson

Post 358: 11:05 and I haven’t stopped for breakfast…

The day’s out of sync. I not only slept till 4 AM, it’s 11:05 and I haven’t stopped for breakfast.

Dougy woke me up, growly, whining because of the time. That’s Dougy, not me who was growly, whining because of the time! I was content to stay in bed even after I realized it was, by Dougy’s reckoning, “late”!

Andy’d hopped up on the bookcase by my bed at some time in the night, and was content to continue his doze. I pet him a little, rubbed his ears, but he was conked out, not interested in getting up.

2011-01-01 Andy in window and on desk 004

Dougy persisted with me, though. Damn those opposable thumbs! If only Dougy had a set, he could open that cat food can for himself! (And would!) But since he doesn’t, he prowled by my bed making unhappy cat sounds and scratching my bed.

I got up and put wet cat food out for the boys.

Then what? After catching Andy, I gave him his medicine. “Catch” as in “pick up a sleepy cat off the bookcase and carry him into the kitchen where I had a towel to wrap him in and his medicine waiting”. I’ll stick with “catching”. Sounds more athletic and adventuresome than the sad little kidnapping this morning! Even I felt cheated out of something, it was so easy!

Let’s see. Watched the news. Said things at the television since I live with two cats and they never repeat what I say. Played with Dougy because he was pumped. Andy and I were still sleepy, but Dougy kicked into high gear, tore through the house, stopped by Andy and me, crouched in a low pouncing posture to alert Andy and me he wanted interaction from one of us, either one, he didn’t care which!

Andy joined the chase. I dug out some toys. Andy came back to rest, I took over. Dougy was still pumped! Next thing, it was 11:05. I think I’ll stop for breakfast. The boys, in the meantime, have gone back to sleep.

Post 357: two views

Anyone with a black pet of any species knows how hard it is to get a decent photo of their baby. Andy and Dougy are no different, and the challenge of capturing the subtleties of their coats as well as a recognizable image is daunting.

Yesterday afternoon, when I took the photos in post 356, I wasn’t totally satisfied with Andy’s photo. Sure, it captures his quiet side, but I wasn’t satisfied with the color of his coat: Too dark!

So, I went back to work. Here’s a first effort, which apparently was in a darker spot because the flash triggered:

Umm. OK enough, if not an improvement over the one of Andy in yesterday’s Post 356.

I’d like to blame the point-and-shoot camera for any technical issues or lack of art, but knowing one’s tool, a simple pinhole camera can make fantastic, beautiful photos. The more technology one has behind a photo, the less one has to think about what one’s doing. Even so, that $3000 Nikon just takes snapshots if one doesn’t know the tool and trusts all the decisions to the camera.

My little Nikon Coolpix S100 is adequate technology for my amateur use, yet it, too, can create interesting and beautiful photos! Then again, many times the “best” shot with a point-and-shoot camera is more accidental than planned, and the effect achieved – if only one could duplicate it – transcends the simple technology used to make it. It approaches art!

Andy as ethereal being.

It’s not a literal rendering of Andy’s beautiful coat, but it is a pleasing image to me, easily my favorite photo yet of Andy.

Post 356: Andy’s and Dougy’s teddy bear cuts revealed!

Andy and Dougy succumbed to hunger and revealed themselves. I took some photos to show you their groomer’s art.

Andy: What a pretty boy!

I started to take another photo of Andy, and Dougy walked into the scene. Oops! Flashed! Dougy hates flash cameras, and this little accident made the photo after this one very difficult to take.

Dougy (in front) and Andy: Dougy got flashed!

Now, this is more like it.

Dougy: Isn't he pretty, too? The teddy bear look is much kinder to the cat thaqn a lion cut, which makes the cat look cartoonish.

Dougy: Isn’t he pretty, too? The teddy bear look is much kinder to the cat than a lion cut, which makes the cat look cartoonish.

…from the Persian Rescue of Johannesburg blogsite, here’s a Persian with a lion cut. This particular cat was a rescue and was severely matted.

Cat grass for the boys is something I need to cultivate more regularly. After the stuff I put them through this week – a spa day for cats… – they deserve something extra and special.

Also, the cat grass is coming up., Andy is especially appreciative of grass.

Post 355: Partial evidence of a trip to the groomers

I haven’t had much cooperation from the boys today. I’ll post photos of them with their new teddy bear cuts as soon as I can get something decent. Till then, here are a couple so-so photos of Andy, one blurred beyond recognition. Nothing but the best for readers of this blog! Too bad you aren’t getting it today, however.

When I came home from my haircut, Andy’d taken over my computer chair. He was not happy to move…!

Scat, kitty! That’s MY chair!

The seat was nice and warm, thanks to Andy. Thanks, boy! You are a “goodish” kitty!

Post 354: Sox’s new toy

This is a lazy day post because I have several things to take care of outside the house today.

The boys have their semi-monthly day at the “cat spa”, where they’ll be washed, trimmed, and turned into pretty boys for a short time before their normal cat activities muss up the froufrou their groomers work so hard to do. Yes, they will look like normal cats minutes after I bring them home!

I talk with my financial advisor a bit later this morning. I’m doing OK in this matter, so don’t have to fight my cats for food yet. 😉

Then, I’ll spend the afternoon at the military museum.

What I have to give you today, though, is a photo of my boys’ cat-cousin Sox (my Seattle sister’s boy) with his cat lounger and a new favorite toy, a toilet paper tube cut on the ends to… well, you can see it in the photo! Sox is one handsome boy, eh?!

Cat-cousin Sox stalks the toilet paper tube critter…

He’s a tuxedo cat, something you can’t tell in the photo, and is a particularly beautiful example of that type of cat. I don’t say that because he’s my cat-nephew. It’s just the truth! Hey, here’s a second photo of Sox:

Cat-cousin Sox, a real fox!

I especially like his white whiskers!

Post 353: true colors

Andy and Dougy have amazing coats of many colors! You see them in one light, and they are black cats. In another, they seem reddish with black and gray tones. In yet other light, they look like Siamese cats with longish hair, but much darker.

Andy’s a bit lighter in color than Dougy, and this is what he looks like in bright light.

This is pretty much what Dougy looks like in bright light.

It’s not a great photo (fuzzy focus from camera movement), but it shows his colors well.

I thought I’d show you these color variations today because tomorrow they go in for their semi-monthly grooming appointment, and will come out of the shop looking different in color again!

I don’t look forward to catching two cats tomorrow and putting them in their carrier, especially since Andy is easy to catch once a day, but rarely twice! It’s shedding season, though. Both boys need grooming going into the warmer months.

“Dang cat hair! It gets in and on everything!”

Dougy has a mat under his left arm, but that’s about the only “bad hair” issue they have, unless it’s shedding hair all over the place. Even Andy gets cat hair on him! Take a look at his face, between his eyes and by his right ear in this photo. Poor kitty!

Post 352: …so it continues!

If yesterday was busy, so’s today.

I took a veteran down to a doctor’s appointment in Scottsbluff, came home, shared CDs of Good-Friday-appropriate plainsong with the church for Good Friday meditations, and supervised yet another Andrew-Douglas boxing match over which very cute cat gets to have the new plastic tub.

The first two don’t need elaboration. The third one is old hat but with a new new photo or two of Andy doing his best to not let Dougy take his tub away.

andy guards the fort 3-24-14

Andy’s just chased off Dougy. Dougy is unrepentant, believe me! Lurking in the shadows, as soon as Andy’s preoccupied elsewhere, Dougy will be back. Will. Be. Back!

andy on guard

What I thought was a second photo actually is a cropped version of the one above. When you see what a mess the background is, you can appreciate why I cropped it out of the full version! 😉 Actually, it shows Andy’s determined look better, too. Be nice to Andy, Dougy!

But wait! I shot a video, all of 1.94 seconds long, showing Andy shooing his brother off the tub! Not worth the trouble to process, believe me, but there is another photo, a screen shot, that shows the pregnant moment Dougy hops down, Andy in pursuit!

andy shoos dougy 2

…so it continues!

Post 351: Why!? Why!? Why!? An eventful day…!

I misjudged the roasted coffee bean level in my coffee grinder yesterday. I thought I had enough for one more day, today, but actually had enough for about a quarter cup! Why!? Why!? Why!?

After I had my moment of horror, I realized life goes on without coffee. In fact, I should enjoy the next batch all the more for having suffered this terrible deprivation!

Stirred with something like a rotating Archimedes screw turning in the center of the glass cylinder, the beans are subjected to hot air and agitation till they are roasted to perfection! The aroma is heaven!

[This is what my roaster looks like.]

Yes, I finished a batch of beans in my little roaster. You can use a hot air popcorn popper, too, but this little roaster I use gives you more control over the roast.

Yum! Done! Let them rest till tomorrow morning, and they will be perfect for grinding.

While I had the roast on, Andy drew my attention to something happening in the other room.

Mischief is afoot. Spelled D-O-U-G-Y!

Andy didn’t point his tail in the direction of the mischief, but I could trace a line from his eyes to…trouble!

Dougy sees me watching, watching. What ‘s up, pussycat? Eh!?

Yes, once again, Dougy had his eye on the tub Andy and I know is ANDY’S TUB! Dougy knows we know he knows we know he knows we know he knows we know he knows…um…yeah! It’s Andy’s tub, folks!

Andy gave Dougy “The Eye”. Dougy left to take Andy’s favorite sleeping spot in the bathroom, by the shower. Dougy will be naughty one way or other! It’s his day!

Dougy just walked by to tell me “Mrow-mrow-mrow!” which is as close to an apology as Andy and I will get from him! Yes, it’s been an eventful day here today. 😉