We finally managed to get down to Tricities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland) on the Columbia and visit Patty, who breeds (besides books) show horses. She has 8 babies. And they’re wonderful. Hand-tamed, so they’re willing to be petted, if a little shy.
And so tempting I walked more than I should on a newly PT’d leg, and gave myself problems which meant I didn’t get to go to Spocon this weekend.
Mostly we’re just writing and prepping the house (basement) for the next round of remodeling. Looking forward to getting Scott back.
We promised to have this next Alliance book ready by November, and we’re trucking. By turns.
Anyway, that’s what we’re doing.
Weather was brutally hot during the horse adventure, but has turned off chill and rainy, unusual for August in the PNW.
Hanneke, hearing that Amsterdam had a tornado, of all things! Hope all is well with you.
Walt, that pun reminded me of a song played on Dr. Demento when I was in college. Lots of undersea puns, but the title is not quite family friendly: “W## Dreams.” The song is very funny and the title is misleading. It’s worth a listen for a good laugh.
Many moons ago, I was on LLBean’s and Land’s End’s mailing lists. I’ll have to give them a look-see again.
Aha! I may order that book again, just because. I don’t think it was in ebook, last time I checked. The story was a very good read for an elementary age kid, old enough to read a longer story. My impression is, it would still hold up fine today, though it might be. little dated. (I don’t recall if it was fans here or at Kansas / Terra Firma for Farscape fans, who got me the reference last time. Chondrite, thanks.)
Another favorite from 6th grade was “The Forgotten Door,” by Alexander Key, the same man who wrote the book turned into Escape From Witch Mountain and Return To Witch Mountain, the Disney 70’s movies.
LOL, at the Laurel and Hardy reference. Gosh, how long since I’ve seen any of those? Goober might do with a top hat, definitely a bow tie, given he’s always in his tuxedo. The new guy…I’m thinking more of a newsboy cap than a bowler hat, but hmm, he could do the very fine bowler hat look. Goober en beret? I need to get pictures of the new cat and Goober.
Still undecided among Rudyard, Rufus, or Curry. He’s bound to let his name be know soon. It usually doesn’t take this long. I’m overthinking or something.
I’m about to crash for the night. The vet appt. is Tuesday, so we have the weekend to get more used to everything.
Darn, little guy. I think someone’s got cabin fever. Or is feeling better, after days of good food and water and a good place to sleep, safety and a home base, a sort of family.
Really going to have to work on that tendency to grab ahold. He’s wanting to play, I think, and happy and enthusiastic. But that means he also doesn’t know to keep his claws in. He’s been a bit too rambunctious nearly each time I’ve tried to give him attention today. Got to work on this.
He reminds me in some ways of Smokey, which surprises me. And oh, I’m aware that setting up a second litterbox, having to clean up messes…are things I got upset and impatient with Smokey about, along with some aggression and pushiness. — The universe or God or whatever it is has a sense of humor and a sense of payback, karma, kismet, I think. (Smokey didn’t have litterbox issues. Goober does it outside the box on the floor at times and I haven’t gotten him out of that bad habit yet.) The new kitty, since he was an outside cat, a stray, is just learning that a litterbox is where you do it. (He’s found Goober’s litterbox in the bathroom…but very interestingly, as far as I know, he hasn’t used it. He _has_ pooped just outside it in the corner by the toilet, though. — But he’s using “his” litterbox by the living room door without further problems that I’ve seen, only the bit about near Goober’s box. — Which seems unlike an alpha male in that aspect, to me. Am I missing something, behavior-wise, there? — So, there’s improvement, but we still don’t quite have this down as to what we’re supposed to do inside, about litterboxes. Really, really hoping to get that solved soon. — It’s odd: with nearly every cat I’ve had took to the litterbox after demonstrating it and didn’t have problems.
This was interrupted by the new kitty going over to lie down by Goober and then try to get Goober to play by the same tactics he’s been using with me. Goober objected with that tone of voice of, “Hey, watch it, why are you doing that, that’s too rough, quit that, kid.” And then moving off to avoid further entanglement. — But he (Goober) didn’t then hide or stay in another room to avoid the new kitty. Hmm, so he’s not entirely averse to this. So they are still getting used to each other, not quite there yet, but an overture to play, rough and bad mannered as it was, didn’t make Goober fight him or leave altogether. OK, not so good, but not really bad either. So Goober’s willing to work at this too. Interesting. (I would not have objected if Goober showed him who’s boss for acting so rough. But it takes a lot to get Goober to fight back, and even then, it’s usually, Goober’s just fed up, doesn’t want to take it anymore, but stops fighting once he’s got his point across. I have seen him lose his patience with Smokey and pursue it, only rarely.)
Well, so they resolved it (the new kitty and Goober) without really escalating. Now if he’ll just get the idea that if he plays too rough, no one likes it, and therefore to play more nicely, without claws or teeth, he’ll have fun with us.
I’ve ordered a few toys (wand/fishing pole with streamer or feather, toy mice, a cheap grab-bag assortment of cat toys, another toy mouse so Goober can play too) in self-defense and for a distraction onto better behavior.
Today’s fun and exploring has included tipping over a three-way floor lamp (wow, that is way less stable than it should be, but it was the best one I’d found at the time, but yeah, may need to see if there’s a better one) as the lightbulbs are the new plastic and LED kind, nothing shattered, just unnerved cats and human alike.
The kitty discovered he could get behind the window blinds to see what was outside. Oh, hey, that’s where I used to be! And hmm, curiosity, but no begging and pawing to get back out either. Someone knows he’s got it good here, methinks. — At least for those two windows, the blinds are, for now, unharmed. (Both were already bent in one spot, sigh.)
All minor stuff. Trainable. I’m OK at training, but wow, I am out of practice and not used to dealing with an adolescent stray cat’s habits to unlearn and modify them.
The new kitty is a perpetual member of the Clean Plate Club. However, at breakfast, he did not insist on finishing off Goober’s uneaten portion. Not sure if the little guy was just full or if we’re making progress yet. He’s a growing cat and has the same street kitty need to eat whenever food is available as Smokey had, that same sort of worry that if he doesn’t, he might go hungry. — But this new kitty isn’t as severe about it. He doesn’t overeat and make himself sick. Good job, kitty. — Knowing that he can refrain from always stealing Goober’s food, or eating all the rest once Goober’s full for now, that’s a sign he (new kitty) can find a good compromise. Looks like he can learn better, so maybe less stress for Goober, if we can get things worked out.
Kinda rough putting up with the new kitty’s rough manners, but maybe this is good for me too.
I’m seeing enough that makes me think they might make friends, once they really get to know each other. Being on the bed with me, though not curled up together, was progress.
Not bad for 3 or 4 days. (I’ve got to double check, I think I’ve gotten off count.)
When you take Himself to the vet for a checkup, see if the vet will trim his claws for you as well. It may last long enough for Senor don Nuevo Gato to get out of the habit of shredding anything grabbed, and save your hands.