Pragmatist
Pragmatist

I suppose it's time to update, since my previous entry was 11 January.  

What has happened?  Not much.  Life is pretty dull in Pragmatist's manor, and I think I'll keep it that way.

Missy is all the excitement I can handle.  She's bound and determined to be an outdoors kitty, at least on her terms.  She'll come back in to eat and sleep. But with a very busy street out there, and fleas in the grass, I have other ideas about that.

That cat is sneaky and fast!  I took apart a sturdy cardboard box and made a gate across the entryway, which worked until this morning.  I've been waiting for her to figure out that she could jump the gate, easily, and I've tried to be extra careful, even with the gate barring her way.  Well, she figured it out this morning.  I went to get the paper, very carefully closing the door after me as I bent down to pick up the bundle.  But I heard something that sounded suspiciously like a cat going over the cardboard, so I cautiously opened the door, and sure enough, she was on the wrong side of the barrier.  Of course, I had to open the door some more to get me inside, and she was just waiting for that move.  But I was onto her.  As she made the dash for the door, I caught her very firmly with both hands, pushed her to the floor so she couldn't get traction, then picked her up and held her very firmly while I kicked the door shut.  You should have heard the names she called me.  If it weren't for those sharp teeth, I would have washed her mouth out with soap!

Later in the day I went out grocery shopping and put the fence on the outside of the door.  I figured she give the door a rush when I opened it, and run smack dab into the cardboard.  Ha!Ha!!!  You know what the brat did?  Stayed on the cat condo.  Nice as you please.  All interested in my return home, but didn't twitch a muscle toward the door.

From now on, though, that cat gets thrown into the bedroom and the door closed until I can get back in the house with my paper.

The last time she got out, I left the door open a bit, hoping she'd wander back in, but Banshee took that opportunity to do a little outdoors investigating himself.  Now he knows better than that!  All I had to do was loudly Ah-Ah, or clap my hands and he scurried back indoors.  But he kept trying.  So I finally closed the door, and managed to lure Missy back to where I could grab her.  She's a slippery one, she is, but I got a good grip on her, threw her back in the house and slammed the door shut.  

I cannot let my guard down with that cat. 

Another thing we disagree on is playtime.  I wake up about 5:00am and go to the bathroom.  No way am I ready to start my day.  I want to sleep another 3 hours.  But Missy?  She thinks my toes under the covers are wonderful targets for her teeth and claws.  I definitely take exception to that.  But the only way I'm going to get those 3 hours it to throw her out of the bedroom and close the door.  And be sure it's firmly latched.  She is such a sweet and loving little girl when I finally get up and open the door.  Why, she's just all over me purring and kissing.  And biting my nose.

*sigh*

Why didn't I leave well enough alone and keep Banshee as an only child?

On the long distance family front, Megan finally has internet hookup again.  That will keep the phone bills reasonable again.  I wish she'd get Messenger, though, because on one subject, we've e-mailed back and forth eight times.  Would be much quicker with Mess.  Oh, well, at least the hour-long phone calls once a week are in the past.  My  last phone bill was ghastly!

KK (remember KrazyKat?) and Psycho (his littermate) are very happy in Washington.  KK loves the snow, but not when it's falling on him.  Psycho doesn't want anything to do with it at any time.  KK also knocks on the door when he wants to come in.  He started doing that with me when he wanted in the bedroom or out of it.  I forgot to ask if he still plays fetch.  He used to bring a toy to me and drop it at my feet, and look up as if to say "Well?"  So, I'd throw it and he's gallop after it and bring it back to me.  The game ended when I got tired.

Missy loves anything that looks like string or ribbon.  I've quit buying toys.  

Megan had to buy chains for her car.  She wanted snow tires, but they got to be more expensive than she wanted to go.  There are a couple places that can be treacherous on the road to work, curves, ice, and the like, so she had to get some safety for her drive.  She says the chains bite nicely into the snow and ice.  I suppose I can quit worrying now about snow and ice.

Rowena was out of school for a whole week, the last I talked to her, because of snow.  She has to ride the bus to school, and I think the school districts are extra cautious with transporting children in hazardous weather.  Rena's not happy with the prospect of the district's adding the week at the end of the school year.  They're required to give a certain number of hours to instruction, so there's no other way.  I sincerely doubt that my granddaughter took any extra pains to include any academic reading, or suchlike during her enforced days away from school.  Well, would any kid?  She and her mom had fun with snowballs, though.

The litterbox needs attention, but I think I'll wait until morning.  My eyes are drooping, and if I don't shut this down pretty soon, I'll be typing with my face.

Shalom