I'd like to thank...

I'd like to thank my feline friends, for without you I would not be here.

That is how I'd like to start my speach when I win the award for the "Purritzer Prize."

I really feel I'm on my way, as "Todd's Tales" was one of today's featured diaries and it will be displayed all day on our Diary Central page! What an honor. I hope I can meet more friends this way.

But my goal is the Purritzer Prize. The Purritzer Prize is an American award regarded as the highest national honor in print journalism, literary achievements, and musical composition. My newspaper column, also titled "Todd's Tales" , has been published in The Lennox Independent (www.lennoxnews.com) for five weeks now has been well recieved.

I know our newspaper is not a daily paper, I know it is not the largest in circulation but it is perhaps, in my opinion, the best local weekly newspaper around. Just think, with "Todd's Tales" now in print, cats have the opportunity to teach humans so much. And let's face it, they need our help fellow felines.

Sunshine temptation

South Dakota is known for its harsh winters, not that this year has been unbearable. But still when spring is on the way, the sun feels warmer. Today, for the first time in years, I walked towards the outside. I didn't go outside, but I walked toward it.
For those of you who have been getting to know me, you know I used to be a country cat. I lived that life. I weathered the frigid cold, I enjoyed scratching the tree trunks. But I also remember the pain, I was hurt pretty bad on a fence (my humans think) when I explored too far from home. And another cat picked on me. Inside was much safer, much calmer, much more comfortable.
Now that I'm a city cat, I don't really think about going out in the concrete jungle. I know that the trees are there. But I have my cardboard scratching toy, and a nice couch. I don't understand why the humans are bothered when I add texture to their furnishings.
Yet today, I went towards the outside, but I didn't go out there. My humans just watched me, as I couriously sniffed the ground, the door, the air. I love the sunshine and my blue dog bed pillow. I don't want to go anywhere right now.

Solitary Sunday

Weekends in our community are quiet. My view is from the glass front door, I sit and watch the feet walk by. Sunday it's heels and skirts that woosh by. There is a church on the block. I love the mothers who hurry their little ones, as the little ones pull at their dress clothes, and poke at the door because they see me. Smile. And run back to catch up still fussing with the clothes they wear but once a week.

Sundays are lay in the sun days. Enjoy the heat and the peace days. Sundays are perfect for a fat cat like me.

But Monday is even better. Except I have to figure out what this week's newspaper column should be about. I'm leaning towards the special bond between children and animals. Why is it that kids see what those old two legged beings miss?

It could be the lower vantage point. I know from where I'm sitting life looks pretty good.

Thirsty Thursday

I am a connoisseur of fine water. I enjoy a full bowl of fresh, clean water. I enjoy trying to sip from a left over coffee mug and I'll admit, I have, on rare occassion enjoyed the T-bowl after a flush.

Today I sat staring at my water bowl with floaty, puffy food in it. Just waiting for one of the girls to notice. I just sat there staring.

They kept right on ignoring me.

Thursdays are thirsty days.

By now it has been nearly three hours and still the puffy, floaty food stares back at me. Taunting me. Daring me to drink, knowing full well I will not.

I, weak with thirst, go to my human, nudge her leg, arch my back and in no uncertain terms demand my water be replenished this instant.

Perhaps it is because she is getting up anyway, perhaps it is because she can read my cat mind, but in any instance, she empties the nasty puffy, floaty food-water and sets in it's place a nice cool, clean bowl of fresh water. Along with a quick neck rub.

My thirst is quenched.

The Day I found Catster

There is a saying that is "you can't teach an old dog new tricks," I beg to differ.

Although I am an older cat, I have found that I learn something new each day. And today, I am proud to say, I learned how to find other brilliant felines. I'll admit typing is difficult but my human is always willing to help. As a professional cat, I am always striving to keep my skills top-notch.

I am a newspaper cat. I write a weeky newspaper column, that is actually published! I am thrilled to share with readers my view of the world around me.

And who knows perhaps I will inspire an old dog, or an old cat, or an old human - to learn something new. And the world can only improve if we all learn from each other.