MOM ALMOST CRIED TODAY

We haven't been very active recently. Mom has been very worried about Uncle but he's doing better right now. Mom feels better about his situation. Even though the cancer can't be cured, it is being managed to allow him to have the gift of precious time with his family. It's been 22 months since his diagnosis and in January of last year no one was betting on more than three months.

This post is to share some very wonderful news. I actually got in Mom's lap on my own. As most of my friends know, I have serious trust issues and haven't been a lap cat since I came to live with Mom over two years ago. I've let her pick me up and hold me for a brief time but then I want down.

Well when Mom came in from Uncle's this afternoon, her first order of business was to visit her litter box. While she was sitting there, I hopped up on her lap all by myself. She said something about "a belated birthday present". I sat there and sat there and sat there and snuggled and purred and Mom loved on me and loved on me.

I haven't done that again this evening but Mom's hopeful that this was the turning point. She likes lap sitting cats and snuggley cats and she's always hoped that I'd be one of those.

We wanted our Catster friends to share in our news before anyone else.

HOT AND HUMID!!!!!!

Mom has been fussing because the weather is so hot and humid now. She doesn't like for the temperature to get much over 75 degrees nor for the humidity to get higher than about 30%. She's miserable but she understands that that's the price she pays for living in South Carolina.

She gets out in the early morning and tries to work in the yard, catching up on stuff that needs to be done. After 5 p.m., she can do the lawn because she's moving and the lot is shady. Still not pleasant but not heat stroke either.

Every time she comes in to cool off, I run and jump on her to snuggle and rub noses. Just have to make sure she's warm enough. Sometimes she lets me stay and sometimes she just picks me up and moves me off her chest. Bugging Mom is so much fun.

SORRY WE HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND

Mom has not been home as much as we'd like for the past three weeks. Her uncle has been in the ICU since March 11 and passed away last night. She (and a lot of other people) has been there every day since March 11 to check on him.

Mom is very sad and quiet and hasn't completely dealt with this and she worries how it will affect her brother.

UPDATE ON NEIGHBOR WHO LOST HER DOG

Mom finally caught up with our neighbor whose dog was killed in our drive. The neighbor lady is sad of course but she holds no hard feelings; accidents do happen. She is spending a lot of time with the remaining dog because he's very sad and they're making sure that he's on a leash or with one of them when he's outside.

It's been very warm here the last few days, in the upper sixties for highs and in the lower fifties for lows. Doesn't feel like January at all but the weather is supposed to change very soon and we expect Old Man Winter back again.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Mom was out for a while in the middle of the day; the family met up at an uncle's house and took lunch. Mom says that some of her best friends are actually family members.

When she got in about 4 p.m., she made sure we had eaten the food she left for us. Charley made sure to get cuddles; me, I'm being standoffish since she went out and left us.

The next door neighbor is setting up his fireworks but we're used to them and don't really pay very much attention. The windows are closed and we don't hear very much noise. He has a shooting range at the back of his property so we hear bangs often.

Our best wishes for every cat (and dog) to have a fantastic New Year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Mom made Charley let me write the diary today. He's been hogging all the diary time and the DDP's.

We're looking forward to 2012. The old year has not been good to us but we're thankful for the good things that have happened.

Tomorrow afternoon, the family is getting together at Mom's uncle's house for an early celebration so everyone can be home and off the road before dark. None of the family are big party people.

I'm getting more loving by the day. And I'm beginning to not try to lick Mom's face (but if her attention is somewhere else, I get in a lick or two). I'm still not very big on being picked up or lap sitting; Mom hopes 2012 is the year I move on to those two activities.

Charley is his usual self: Bossy, snuggly with Mom, loves to cuddle under the blankets.

We hope everyone on Catster has a safe and happy New Year's celebration and a wonderful and healthy 2012!!!!

WISHES FOR EVERYONE

My Christmas wish is that everycat in the world would find a loving home in 2012.

To everyone who sent me a gift, Mom thinks she has finished the
Thank Yous and if she missed someone, please forgive her. It's been a hectic and stressful time for her. I'll let Charley tell you about the last several days.

P.S. Mom will finish with the "Thank Yous" very soon but probably not tonight.

JUST A SHORT (OR NOT) NOTE

Mom and I are about to come to an understanding about my face licking. She's beginning to think it's a security type of think because everytime I get close to Charley, I start licking him and keep on until he gets disgusted and walks away. She still doesn't like it and doesn't plan to give in but she will let me get away with one lick to her face per snuggle session. Then the hand goes up and the "NO's" start. It's almost gotten to be a game for me - Mom not so much.

This is also about Mom - My Mom is a real "Scrooge"; she doesn't put Christmas decorations; she doesn't do Christmas trees; she was tired of Christmas music by the day before Thanksgiving. By this time of year, Mom's just about nuts, and she's sometimes forgetful.

Case in point: It was rainy and cold on Wednesday but Mom went out especially for catfood because we were almost out of our Fancy Feast. She bought it and came home with it but she forgot to bring it in. We had a couple of cans of Fancy Feast and some cat food we don't really like but we ate it to keep the hunger monster away from the door. Mom went out Thursday evening and checked the van - didn't see the catfood. She planned to go to the grocery store today and buy another carton for us. Before she went out, she looked in the van again and found the food; it was hidden by Christmas presents she had left on the seat. She's apologized several times and has made sure we have had enough to eat.

Mom says she can't decide it it was a blonde moment our a senior moment or if she's just nuts.

Hope everyone has wonderful experiences over Christmas. Don't know how often we'll be able to get back before the New Year.

DAILY DIARY PICK, DAILY DIARY PICK!!!!!

We're all excited - well, maybe not Charley so much. Mom says there will be treats later today. Mom's having DSL problems so some days we don't get on the internet until later. Today, it seems to be working OK.

See you all later!!

NO LICK

I spent last evening trying to stifle the urge to lick Mom's face. I actually made it; but I did manage to get in one little lick on the end of her nose. hehehehe

She is determined that she won't let me lick her face and I guess Steinem's right that Mom won't ever over her early training. sigh

But right now, it's time for a nap.