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The Travails

Many long months

Friends and supporters,

It has been many, many long months since I was able to write to you. The new house continues to be sub-standard. I am forced to run up and down slippery wooden floors, and there is hardly any comfortable carpet upon which to lie. Shame on you, humans! Shame on you!

I have also found it very difficult to write because of some new developments. First, I have taken a part-time job as a medical billing specialist. I am hoping that the universal health care initiatives will be an opportunity for more and better-paying work, and I plan to have my skills sharp for when the motherlode comes down. The drudgery of it is, of course, disheartening, but I'm tenacious and of above-average intelligence (if I do say so myself), so I've been able to do more with less, if you take my meaning.

My environmental activism has expanded considerably. I was able to do some door-to-door canvassing on behalf of the League of Conservation Voters right before the Maryland primaries. I am also drafting a petition that would encourage more and better non-human public transportation in the Baltimore metro area. Now that I've been here for a while, I'm starting to realize the importance of being able to get around with ease.

It may be a while before I am able to write again. But don't worry - the humans continue to feed me inadequately: not much changes.

Regards,

Tuesday the Cat

My long absence

Dear Tuesday,

Long time no hear. Everything alright at the new house?

Mike Atisgrate


Dear Mike,

Thank you for your note of concern. As you are aware, it has been several months since I was last able to provide you with a morsel of delight in written form. I have been well. In fact, I have undergone something of a conversion experience.

Let me explain. A few months ago, I was able, through a series of ruses, to outwit my captor/humans and go out for a night on the town. I went to see the film "An Inconvenient Truth," by Al Gore. It was life-changing for me. As a humble young cat, I've had very little exposure to environmental awareness. Since seeing the movie, I've become something of an activist. Just because global warming is happening, doesn't mean we can't put policies in place to slow and reverse it!

So, in that vein, I've taken to organizing petition drives, doing door-to-door canvassing, making telephone calls to undecided voters, and done various other community organizing activities. It has been long, exhausting work - I frequently don't get my 17 hours of sleep per day - but it is worth it. Together we must all make a difference - human and feline - for the continued survival of all beings on the planet.

Sincerely,

Tuesday the Cat

Inconveniences

The humans have been nearly unbearable to live with these past many weeks. For one thing, they spent hours and hours during the month of June at "the house" instead of at home, playing with me. That was terrible. I nearly died of boredom.

Not really. But I did run out of space in my journal and had a heck of a time getting a new one.

Next, they packed up all the things I'd carefully marked, putting them in boxes. And then they locked me in the bathroom for hours and hours and hours. Sure, I had some water and my litter box, but who likes to be in such close proximity to their own faeces for hours on end? Not me.

When I finally got out of the bathroom, our home was totally bare. It was unbelieveable. I've never seen the place so clean.

I probably should've seen the next insult coming, but I didn't. They picked me up and put me in the car carrier--which I hate--and carried me off. I would have protested more, but I was concerned about alerting predators. Anymore I don't feel as secure out-of-doors as I used to.

Finally we arrived at "the house." What a lot of trouble over nothing. First of all, it's covered in boxes and dust. Second of all, the floors are all wood and useless for rolling. I've had to find tiny scraps of rugs to lie on. Terrible. Finally, the worst insult of all -- the humans have taken my litter box out of the bathroom and shunted it down to the basement. The creepy, smelly basement. Really! I admit that it's not always pleasant after I've relieved myself, but come on!

Needless to say, I am adjusting reluctantly. If only I had thumbs to open the doors and drive the car. I would be back home in no time.