Indian Summer and Autumn

We've been having some beeautiful Fall weather the last few weeks. Lots of bright sunny days with temps in the 60's-70's, and it even got into the 80's a few times. I don't really know what those numbers mean, but I know it's been really nice. Trees are turning colors and some of those colored leaves are falling to the ground.

I like to try to sneak out the door and go outside, and then I can sniff everything and roll around on the ground. It's fun to roll around with leaves on the ground (crunchy leaves - hee hee!) Mom really has to keep an eye on me, cuz I like to try to wander off and explore - which I'm not supposed to do - darn!! If I can't go outside I like to hang out in the window, especially when it's open.

Momma says these nice Fall days are sometimes called Indian Summer - that sounds cool to me!
Last week it was so nice Mom even took us on a long ride in our stroller. Yeah, we went about a mile or so and even went across some busy streets and went inside a Petco store in our stroller -- woohoo, that was fun and different! I saw some ferrets and birds in cages, and mom looked at some cat goodies for us. I kept pointing out things I wanted...

Autumn is a beautiful time of year, I just wish it would last longer...

Lots of love,
Gump

Ohh, Friday I got to go for a boyz nite out with some mancats for Tate's birthday in his hummer! Woohoo, I'm still recovering from all the 'niptinis and catweiser! Too kewl!

Mom's going to the Big House today, and other tuxie tales...

Hi my furriends,

First, it's been so pawsome to see my good pal Luke as the Cat of the Week this week! Woohoo for Luke! We love Luke and family. I also loved seeing precious Alfie as the Cat of the Day this week, it made me smile....Though also I know there have been some kitties to went to the Bridge this week, and I'm sending purrrrs...

So the Big House. It's a really Big House. It's actually a stadium for U of Michigan football. No, Mom is not a big football person, but she got the chance to go to the Michigan v. Michigan State football game today. It's a big rivalry in our state and Mom actually has ties to both schools. This year both teams have won all their games, they're both 5 and 0, so she says it'll be fun....So who do you think will win? Btw, it's called the Big House because it's the largest stadium in the US! Yeah!

I told Mom I was bummed that I couldn't go to the game with her. Dang, I've heard there is a cool tuxie cat called "DJ Kitty" who gets the fans riled up for the Tampa Bay Rays. I'd like to do that, I could get the fans going at the Big House!

If DJ Kitty can do it why not me??

Purrty pawsome, huh? Couldn't you see me on the video screen getting 110,000 fans going? WOOHOO! I'd be dressed in MSU and U of M gear! I've have Mom look into it...

We hope the video works, Mom wanted to check out that new feature. Hope you have a great weekend....

Lots of love,
Gump

Go Blue and Go Green and White!

Remembering an angel's birthday...Alfie

Hello my furiends,

I wanted to dedicate my diary today to an angel named Alfie . He has also been known as Alfie the Lovebug and Sir Alfie Kneads Alot, and now Alfie Child. And I'm sure he has other sweet names. Today is Alfie's 5th birthday. But, if you don't know his story, he left for the Bridge unexpectedly last winter. It wasn't illness that caused Alfie to leave, but an accident - he just jumped and fell. Which left his family devastated. Sometimes it's hard to make sense of what happens in life. We are sending our love to Alfie, his mom and family.

I have been very fortunate to get to know Alfie and his mom and family. Like I wrote about before, he even asked to be a guardian angel to me (I feel blessed because I'm the only non-orangie photo badge on his page). That is such a sweet thing that I feel grateful for. Alfie was a beautiful, precious orangie boy with a tux. Just look at the color of his fur. He is special to his Mom just I like I am special to mine...

His mom is really talented and generous with making photos for people. My mom doesn't really know how to do much with that, but she did try to make a a couple photos. She made this photo which is on my page, and a few others.

Happy Birthday to beautiful Alfie the Forever Lovebug...

Love,
Gumpy

I have a new heated bed from Alfie and his Mom...and it's- starting to get chilly!

I recently met Alfie ~ the Lovebug Angel and his family when I was COTD last month. It has been great to meet and get to know them...And one day Alfie's Mom pawmailed and said she wanted to send me something for my sweet 16 birthday - which was June 1st and we hadn't met then. Well, Alfie and his Mommy offered to send me a heated kitty bed! How generous is that! I have never had one, even though it can get really cold here (check out some of my photos in the snow). Mom had heard about these and was thinking of getting me one.

So I was pretty overwhelmed that they did this for me. I wanted to show some photos of my new heated cat bed . When I opened the box there was a package and bow that the kitty bed was in! How cool is that! Here I am trying out my new cat bed. My sis and I had fun playing in the box that the bed came in! I might even let Nadi use the heated bed once in a while.

Well, I hope you enjoyed seeing photos of my new bed (and I hope they all work). It was so kind and generous of Alfie and his Mom to send me this! She told me that there is a lot of giving that goes on here on Catster. Thank you again Alfie and Mom. I know I'll love the bed, and it'll be great with the weather we get...And actually, it has started to get a little chilly here - what a relief after all the heat and humidity we've had. My Mom loves the Fall and is looking forward to it, and I'm going to have my heated bed to keep me nice and toasty warm!

Lots of love,
Gump

Our furiend Pigeon is still missing....

Hello everyfur,

It's been since last Thursday that our good furriend, Pigeon, has been missing. It's been very sad and upsetting. We keep checking in everyday hoping to hear good news. There was some good news yesterday; we found out that one of Pigeon's neighbors saw a cat which she is almost pawsitive is Pigeon...We will keep purring all the time for sweet Pigeon. It's just not the same at the Kewlest Catster Kitties group - this is the group that Pigeon and his mom started. We all have to keep purring and sending Pigeon lots of protection and help to find his way home.

This has been really sad, and it's more difficult when the fleas show up on Catster. The last several days a lot of techie things aren't quite right on Catster....The 'purr board' doesn't seem to be updating, there are ads again covering images sent through pawmail, today a lot of photos had little ?'s instead of photos, and there are probably other techie problems...Sigh...those flea outbreaks can be really frustrating. I hope everything is taken care of soon.

On a happier note, I seem to be doing well (knock on wood). My blood glucose numbers have gotten even better; my pancreas started producing better numbers that my mom wanted to see. Today she tested me and got a 72, and I have gotten a 64 and 66 on my own. Those numbers probably don't mean much to most kitties, but those are purrfectly healthy numbers that mom is happy about as before I was hanging closer to 100.

We're purring for you, Pigeon! We love you and miss you, buddy! You gotta come home!

Love,
Gump

The intercat access is down...again!

Dang it! Mom's internet service is down again; it went down earlier today...
We have a different acronym for AT&T!!...Well, we've been here at Barnes & Noble for a little while to get online and check email. They may be able to come out and fix it tomorrow, but it may be later. This also happened to us a couple of weeks ago. So I wanted to let you all know we might not be around as much in the next few days...We'll be on when we can! Not a very exciting diary entry!

Love and purrs,
Gumpy

COTD was great! Thank you!

Hi everyone,

Last Sunday Mom woke up and found out I was picked as Cat of the Day! We wanted to say thanks for all the kindness and for making me feel special. Days like this allow you to feel a lot of love and kindness, and it's also a great opportunity meet new friends. Mom was actually overwhelmed with the kind gestures that some kitties and their pawrents showed us that day...(Mom's internet service was messed up for several days last week which is why this is a bit late. She also may have missed commenting on some things last week - we're sorry if we missed anything!)

Thank you again for the gifts, messages, pawmails and friend requests...

I was really overwhelmed when my new friend, Alfie the Lovebug Angel, made me a beautiful COTD photo and sent me a Forever Crown. We didn't know each other, but my best pal, Tully, asked his Mom to make me a photo that day...That was so kind to do that since we didn't know each other...We've now become friends and he even asked to be my guardian angel! What a sweet angel.

Thank you also to:
Tully and family for the Forever Star and for the sweet message. You and your family are wonderful friends that I cherish.

TT and Tasha, my good friends, for the Forever Diamond and sweet message. They have always been good friends since I came here and have been very kind and generous.

Muppet for the Forever Crown and sweet message. I haven't purrsonally known Muppet (though I've know her story!). How kind and thoughtful to send that to me!

The family of Sarge, Lena and Pepi also sent me a Forever Emerald, and they were kitties I didn't know purrsonally. Thank you for your kindness!

Pretty Tessa, a special lady furiend sent me a beautiful trophy! Mwah!

Hooch also sent me a pawsome trophy and a sweet message - and it was HIS birthday that day! And we didn't really know each other. Another kind and thoughful gift.

My good friend, Wyatt, sent me a yummy cupcake. He is always very kind, thoughtful and fun!

My good pals the Tomcat bros - Buddy, Timmy, and Toby - sent me a pawsome trophy and a sweet message! Thanks dudes!

Sweet Sassy sent me a pawsome trophy. What a sweet and generous girl she is!

Adorable Milo sent me a catpagne toast and a sweet message! How kewl to get a catpagne toast! Thanks, cutie!

My new, olde furtie friend, Jasper, also sent me a trophy and a sweet message! We didn't know each other too well and this was very kind of him!

My good pal, Pigeon, sent me a blue ribbon. He and his Mom also made me another great COTD photo! Thanks again, pal!

Adam Dylan sent me a yummy shrimp and a sweet message! That was furry sweet since he has some health issues to deal with.

River and Simone were so kind to send me a little beach ball, even though their Mom is on vacation in France. How sweet and pawsome to take the time to do that!

Scooter sent me a blue ribbon and a sweet message. Her mom is very helpful in the Pawsome Pages group!

Casey and family sent me a blue ribbon and a sweet message. It was Casey's birthday that day, so this was sweet of him. His family is so kind and generous and are always sending gifts!

Misha Angel, an fellow olde furtie sent me a blue ribbon and a sweet message!

Reanan sent me a beautiful rainbow and sweet message. We also just became friends - yay!

The wonderful Bush family of furs sent me a blue ribbon with a really fun image inside. It's always fun to get those little extras images!

My pals, Colorado and Napolean, sent me a blue ribbon and sweet message!

Bugsy and family, my kewl new friends, sent me a blue ribbon and a nice message!

Adorable Tabby Little sent me a yummy shrimpie and nice message!

Big Harry and family and the AFS made me a beautiful COTD photo - thank you!

Lovely Miss Minerva Lucille sent me a yummy ice cream cone! That was very sweet (and delicious)!

Nigel and family sent me a another yummy shrimp. I got lots of yummy treats that day!

Also thank you to everyone that sent me pawmails or comments or friend requests. I appreciate all of those very much! It was a great day, it's fun to have that experience. We are also grateful to Catster for creating this wonderful community.

Much love and gratitude,
Gumpy

Cat of the Day!

Hi kitties!

Wow, Mom checked her email this morning and there were a bunch of messages, and then she saw that I am the Cat of the Day! Wow, this is purrty cool! This is the first time we've gotten a Catster pick! It's going to be a fun Sunday! I really appurrciate all the gifts, pawmails and furiends requests! Catster is a purrty pawsome place...We'll be getting our purrsonal thanks out soon!

Hey, by the way, there is a new group called the Kewlest Catster Kitties! My pal Pigeon and his Mom started it, and we are an admin there. It's going to be a really fun and friendly group with lots of activities. It's still getting started and there'll be a lot more added, but I just wanted to let you know. Stop by, check it out and join if you'd like!

Thank you again my furiends, and thank you Catster for the COTD honor and for creating this wonderful site!

Love,
Gump

P.S. Too bad my Ray-Bans (my shades) are cut off in the COTD photo -- oh well! Life is still good!

Fireflies

Hello furiends,

We know it’s summer around here in Michigan because there are some little creatures flying around with little lightbulbs or lights inside them. Mom calls them “fireflies” so I guess they’re bugs. I’m not sure if everyone has fireflies around in the summer, but we see them where we live at night. I might enjoy catching one (I’ve been known to catch and eat a bug or two), but actually these firefly bugs are kind of magical. They glow with a beautiful soft luminosity. It’s amazing - bugs that glow. It’s pawsome to see a group of them softly glowing on and off. But....they’re bugs! Who would think that a bug could be magical?? Mom says they must be one of those little gifts that are given to remind us of the magic in life. Maybe to remind people that we all have those little lights within us -- and not to furget that. Even us cats have those little lights. Fireflies are magical bugs, so are butterflies. Mom likes to look for symbols, signs and those kind of things - it makes her happy. And these bugs have even inspired songs and other artistic things. Bugs that glow with an inner light - pretty amazing!

Sweet summer purrs,
Gump



WW hot dog buns - nom nom!

I hope everyfur, everypaw and everyone is having a good summer! As summer began it had gotten pretty hot and humid where we live (unusual), but the last week or so has been beautiful with low humidity -- nice!

So, now onto the ww hot dog buns...Mom doesn't buy hot dogs that often, but she picked up some turkey dogs and whole wheat buns from Trader Joe's for a nice all-American treat (a healthier version). She then left the package of buns out on the counter, and I have a trick to get up there (hehe)...So I got up on the counter (not as easily as little acrobatic sisfur, though), got into the package and ate half of a plump whole wheat hot dog bun. Boy was Mom upset about that! She was saying all this stuff about carbs, BGs, insulin, my pancreas - you know, Mr.P...Well, sheesh, Mom knows I have a broad palate and I'll eat anything I can get into my mouth, so she better be careful to not leave anything out for me!

So my blood glucose did go up a little, and I had to get a little needle poke and a bit of insulin. But, phew, now I'm back to the good BGs I had on my own (thanks, Mr. P). Mom is going to be more careful because she knows how I enjoy eating (anything). She did want me to remind all the pawrents out there to be careful leaving stuff out because us cats are curious and enjoy getting into things, some of which may not be good for us - and some can be toxic. Does anyone else get into stuff? Oh by the way, my sisfur pops up onto the counter like it's nothing...Just a little effortless jump and she's up there. I can't quite do that; I'm not as athletic, but I have other skills :)

Maybe we'll write something later about the 4th of July. We have some neighbors that have already started their little explosions and booms to celebrate. Man, that freaks me out! Why do they do that...? But it is pawsome to celebrate Independence Day.

Luv,
Gump