A Little Maru

Annabelle

Meet the Fuzzykins

Annabelle
Also known as Bella-Belly (due to her penchant for laying belly up), Bella Maru (in honor of the mischievous Batz Maru), Bellatrix (after the wizardress in Harry Potter), and Bellapuff (I shouldn't even have to explain - it's all about the fuzz!).


Thomas
Also known as TomCat (his name is Thomas and he's a cat - 'nuff said), Buddy Kitty (because he follows us around like our best buddy), Tom-Bomb (after the stench that comes from his litter box) and Bombas (see the previous explanation).


Samantha
Also known as Sammy-Girl (obviously based on her name and gender), Samantha-Pantha (because she can be ferocious when she wants), Sam-Bone (due to the fact that her rear half kind of looks like she swallowed a ham bone) and Tasmantha (for her vocalizations... think Tasmanian Devil).

The Greatest Action Figures Ever!

My sister showed up at Christmas with these and needless to say the house was divided on who the better protein really is...

Mr. Bacon vs. Monsieur Tofu
"Only one can remain at the top of the food chain!"

What Cats Do Best

Samantha

toys, toys, toys

I have to admit, I've been seriously slacking in the blogging department lately, but honestly it's allowed me to spend more time in the real world... something I really needed to do. Until I get my typing fingers back, I leave you with these:

Maybe I'll Get A Postcard

My body is ready & able, but I think my brain is on vacation today. So instead of that riveting entry on neuroscience that I had planned, I turn to my favorite subject, something that I don't really need a brain to write about... myself.

I am: industrious; open-minded; sometimes silly; vegetarian; a red headed stepchild; on my second career

I like: cats; card-making; Rockband; smoothies; people-watching; butterflies; catography

I think: at my best while alone in the car & listening to the radio

I have: a half read book on my nightstand; long layers & wispy bangs; a sticker collection

I have no: patience with adults

I wish: the world had a remote control

I hate: Gene Simmons; dirty dishes; the phone

I miss: my furball; being a kid with no responsibilities

I fear: free-falling; public speaking

I hear: a kook call - "Kooooo-kuu!"

I watch: Project Runway; anything on the Science Channel; Bill Maher; Chelsea Lately

I smell: lavender & baby powder, mixed with a little salt in the air

I crave: the fuzz (and by fuzz, I mean that which belongs to my cats); chocolate ice cream; pineapple with cheddar cheese; boiled peanuts; blackberry jam (not all at the same time)

I search: for my house keys at least 3 times a week

I wonder: how each decision I make will affect the rest of my life

I regret: nothing, in theory... except maybe the time I ran out of ice cream & decided to eat the hot fudge anyway

I love: family; cats; true friends; my house; laughter

I ache: after drumming for too long

I believe: humans are unnatural; the date revolves around sleep

I dance: to J.T. while cleaning the house

I sing: slightly off-key & really loudly

I cry: at TV shows and the occasional commercial (I get it from my mom)

I fight: my inclination to yell obscenities at people with McCain/Palin bumper stickers

I lose: hair clips; hair bands; basically anything that goes in hair

I could: eat an entire tray of brownies by myself

I never: go on Tower of Terror

I always: type 'time' when I try to type my husband's name... then backspace the e

I confuse: affect & effect

I am scared: sometimes, I'm leaving it at that

I am happy about: my life

I can usually be found: at home with my kooky husband & our cats

Makes Me Smile

Annabelle

Samantha Pantha'

I found Sam curled up in our closet (on the clean, white towels ~ doh!). She rules the roost in our room these days.

Catography in B&W

Copter Mania

Last year, starting a couple months before his birthday, Tim began hinting around as to what he wanted... in short, a Remote Control Helicopter. While trying to pick this out for him, I became overwhelmed by all the choices (indoor/outdoor, size, color, does he want an Apache? or maybe a Falcon? how about a Spinmaster?). Ultimately I decided it would be best to let him pick it out himself. Days turned into weeks, & weeks into months... still no helicopter. Finally, Tim brought it up to our friend, Adam. Adam got just as excited as Tim ever was, & two days later we had helicopters flying around the garage.

Paws Over Head in Love with Sam

Sam, being the youngest of our cats,
definitely has a few of those kitten-esque qualities.

For example, she's infamous for attacking her own back paws which often results in a rolling ball of cat that bumps into anything in sight. It also seems her back paws win sometimes. She'll freak out, jump up & run away!

She's a cutie!

Look at that crinkled nose!!! :o)

I feel I should mention that despite these tough-girl shots,
she really is harmless...

A Favorite...

Annabelle reminds me so much of Sebastian here.
I think it's the round, fuzzball head!

Prince Sebastian Feral Cat

It's taken a while to muster the words for this post. It is, by far, the hardest I've ever had to write, but it's needs to be done & I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be...

Early Sunday morning, Sebastian passed away.

Saturday night I went to bed with my cuddle-bug-kitty nestled closely (as I did every night). He was his happy/normal self even minutes before, but in the middle of the night he let us know something was wrong... we got him to the VetER quickly, there weren't really options, but we had time to be with him, say goodbye & tell him everything we wanted. He was calm, dignified and surrounded by love the entire time!

Tim & I have been utterly devasted. Blindsided. Since then we've been taking time to collect ourselves & trying to keep busy. Everything seemed to harmonize in the time before... I am SO THANKFUL that I was able to spend the past year working from home. Having that freedom brought all of us such joy & allowed me and Tim to make the most of our time with each other and all the cats, but particularly our special guy... It seems so many things happened for a reason, and the best way possible, so we are extremely thankful and humbled. We were able to experience so much because of Sebastian & he's taught us so much along the way. We are hugely grateful that we were able to share his life & be there for him when he needed us!!

Sebastian let me take these pictures of him in the sun Saturday afternoon. Such an angel. The other kitties have been a wonderful comfort... Sam has taken to our room like Sebastian, Annabelle is our couch-cuddler, & Thomas has a permanent chair in the office with us. In all honesty, this post was very difficult to even consider confronting (hence the leave of absence), but we're in the process of healing & having a place to celebrate Sebastian fills my heart with complete bliss!

~ Timily and the Cat Crew
(who we always know is +1 Angel)

Slot Cars

I often wonder who has more fun in the hobby room.

The video below answers that question...

Annabelle does.

Family Fun

Tim's parents & our nephew, Will,
arrived last Thursday for a visit.

Friday was perfect springtime weather,

so we spent part of the afternoon at Fernandina Beach!

I learned about the strong magnetic
forces that radiate from the ocean...

They attract 4 year olds instantaneously.

For those of us with double-digit ages,
it was a great chance to enjoy the weather & chat!

Sissy

I watched the movie Affliction yesterday. It was made in 1997 and stars Nick Nolte and Sissy Spacek. The movie is actually based on a book by Russell Banks, an author I've enjoyed reading in the past, so I thought ~ why not?

To preface what I'm about to say, I must explain.... growing up I was always told that I resemble Sissy Spacek, not so much by family or friends, but more by strangers (particularly ones from my parents' generation). I cannot even count the number of people who have told me this... from the saleslady in Talbots to a waitress to multiple customers at the Toy Store where I used to work. Usually I would get the comment when my bangs were a little on the longer side.

Over the course of the last 8 years, Tim & I have discussed this resemblance quite a few times, however he never actually knew what she looked like. As he walked through the living room yesterday, I called him over to see. After looking at the TV, he requested a 'close-up', to which he replied with a sudden gasp, "WHOA... I totally see it!!!"

Sissy Spacek, Photograph by Timothy White

Me (& Sebastian) in Feb. 2004

Oh My Gosh!

I love this wallet!!

My Manimal

He may not be able to open doors,
but Sebastian knows how to sleep on a bed!

Here my lovely manimal lays on his back...
with his head rested on the pillow.
Is he under the blanket too?


Notice the paws on the tummy.

Just in case you thought it was staged...

Afternoon Catography