"Thou art the Great Cat, the avenger of the Gods, and the judge of words, and the president of the sovereign chiefs and the governor of the holy Circle; thou art indeed...the Great Cat." - Inscription on the Royal Tombs at Thebes

Well I just joined this AARP site tonight.  So just getting things set up.  I have been busy today getting things ready for the weekend, I have a cat show in South Bend IN. so had to wash w cats this morning and get them ready. and pack their stuff and my stuff.  I worked on a friends afghan that am crocheting. it is turning out nice.  Well that is all for tonight.

3/22/09

Just got home from South Bend IN, got the cats settled in now am checking out things online before bed.  One of my cats Rocky made his Championship today, and the kitten I was showing took a best kitten, and a 3rd & 5th place.  So the weekend was good.  The weather was nice in South Bend in the 60's both days, I hit a couple of book stores and one of the bars, and someone at the bar reconized me from one of the chat sites I use.

3/23/09

Well here it is Monday and in Wisconsin it is raining, cold and windy, make for a very blue day.  Pluse checking my im's on bear411 my x sent me he now has a new BF which tells me he had him before we split up in Dec 08, which makes me mad, angry and depressed.  I never loved someone like I loved him. Well I will survive I have to.

3/29/09

Well have not been on in a few days, been in a depressed mood, still trying to get over the break-up with my lover. He is finely sending my stuff and it it home it is over.  I have been crocheting trying to not to think about him and how he hurt me.  He needs help with his alcoholism and mental status.  But he is to stubborn to get help.  It snowed here last night and this morning now this afternoon it is melting. I had planned on going to Chicago yesterday to a bear event but was afraid I would get stuck there do to the snow.  So I stayed home.  So now am bored.

 Okay, maybe this is quite self-indulgent, but I'm so proud I could burst!  And to be clear, I came in 2nd, not 1st. But, hey my little Nellie-Belle was chosen out of all those entries nationwide--I knew she looked cute, but not prize-worthy. Who am I to disagree with the judges?! I've already gotten 630 hits on her picture and it's still climbing....

  Now, most kitties are stubborn and down right ornery when it comes to this sort of thing, but not Nellie. She never tries to take a hat or costume off. I've been dressing her up for photos to use as my holiday cards since she was a pup--er--kitten. When I put one on her now she sort of looks a bit humiliated, stares at me and then bares one tooth (her signature smile) and sighs as if to say "Take yer dang picture!"  So I do!  Some of the best shots I've taken were when she moves out of a position I think would make a great photo, and poses herself.

    Nellie isn't a lap cat to be sure, but she's a self-assured, sweet, and very friendly little girl. She greets everyone who comes to my door, then leads them into the livingroom constantly looking back several times to make sure she's being followed! If not, she'll round you up and set you straight.

     Everyone is also amazed that she not only lets me cut her claws she'll actually put her paw out when I grab the cutters. Not one of those new-fangled safety-rotor-drilly-sander type things, but the old-fashioned scissor type.

      Nellie came to me as a surprise gift from a friend 10 years ago. Now, folks, don't get me wrong, but I've always been a true dog-lover at heart and still prefer them. But this tubby, 13 pound, green eyed, gray, uselees lump of fur has won my soul, gotten under my skin and taught me how to respect these beautiful, treasured animals. As for her? Well, she's Queen of her Catdom  (aka  my home)

   I guess I just want all you animal lovers out there to know that putting a silly costume on a pet isn't always for laughs--sometimes there's a bit of glory knocking at your door, too.

   Thanks for listening,

    Your friend, Lori

MARK AND I WENT TO THE HOLIDAY INN, TO HAVE A ROMANTIC GET-AWAY. IT WAS ONLY FOR THE NIGHT, BUT HE WAS VERY ROMANTIC! WE WERE SUPPOSE TO STAY AT HAWTHORN SUITES, BUT MY REQUESTS WERE NOT MADE! SO WE LEFT. WE WATCHED IRON MAN FOR THE FIRST TIME, I SAT IN AN INDOOR HOT TUB(I WAS THE ONLY ONE THERE),AND THEN WE ATE SUBS FROM SUBWAY. THEY HAVE AWESOME SUBS! ANYWAY, IT WAS VERY ENJOYABLE AND I WAS VERY GLAD WE DID THIS... IT'S A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE,SINCE WE DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY! BUT THIS WAS WORTH THE $109.00!

I have four cats - all male.  Three are Maine Coons:  Hunter, Storm, and Skye.  All are related.  And, Patrick, a half-Siamese.

Patrick is orange/white.

Hunter is a cameo Maine Coon.

Storm is a blue with white Maine Coon.

Skye is a red and white Maine Coon.

They are a riot and hard to keep up with.  Maine Coons always have to be where you are, and since he was raised by Maine Coons, he thinks he’s one, too.