Sunday, January 20, 2008

Miss Annie

A more accurate title for this post would be I Miss Annie. Nicky died on November 9 of 2006 and Annie just five weeks later on December 16. Annie was twelve years old when I got her in 2000 and her previous owner described her as "a very dog-like cat." To a person of my particular sensibilities, there can scarcely be a higher compliment. Or in Annie's case, a more accurate one. She was friendly, outgoing, cheerful, loved to be around people and was just a joy to spend time with. I've got a few better pictures of her; I'll put one up when I find it. There's one I particularly enjoy that I call "Fire Worshiper." Annie would just park herself in front of the woodstove and stare at the flames. When I find that, I'll put it up. For now, there's this one. Annie was one-of-a-kind. But they all are. Here she is, all six purring pounds of her:

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Since I left their names off before...

...here are more pictures of my new feline companions, Handsome and Dashing. Dash, for short, although he'll answer to nearly anything, and purr about it too. Handsome is the big tabby and Dash is the little Creamsicle colored guy. Incredibly, or incredibly to me, anyway, they're entirely unrelated - Handsome is almost a year older than Dash and they came from different homes. I always like the animals in my house to be compatible, but these guys set the new standard:

Snoozing together










Little cat, big yawn









Back to sleep









Little cat, big stretch

Friday, January 4, 2008

Triathlon 2008

My next triathlon will be the Beach 2 Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon in Wilmington, NC on November 1, 2008:

What we seek is balance

According to the Buddha. My house is most balanced when I have two dogs and two cats and as of about 2:00 this afternoon, thanks to Betty Baugh's Animal Clinic, it's back in balance. I went down there this afternoon on the advice of my old friend and mentor Barbara and picked up these two handsome young guys:













The darker one is a little bigger in the vicinity of eighteen months. He's moderately wary, although more of the dogs than he is of me. Mackey finds him a little bit intimidating. He's lying on my lap while I type, with his chin resting on the keyboard. The lighter one is close to six months and purrs deafeningly and is all kitten. More later. More writing, not more cats and/or dogs.