I can explain!

See, this picture is so...don't believe a word of it! I didn't know he was under there...I thought I was just getting in bed with Mom, and...and...*sigh*

-Benny

Freedom, no freedom

So for a few months now, there's been this flap in the kitchen door. I see the D-O-G go through it all the time, in and out, and I've been wondering what that's all about, but as I try not to encounter the D-O-G that much, I've mostly stayed away. Then a couple of weeks ago I noticed I could smell fresh air coming through it sometimes, so I started investigating a bit more. One day, I steeled up my courage and I went THROUGH THE FLAP. I ended up outside on the back step...it was pretty scary out there, and I wasn't sure what to do next. Then the door opened and Mom grabbed me and brought me back inside. This happened pretty much the same way two more times.

Now the flap isn't open much anymore, and definitely never when nobody's around to notice if I go through it. Rats.

-Benny

P.S. The D-O-G is, I've decided, not all that bad. Sometimes I let him sniff me. Sometimes I let him chase me. I don't understand why he gets all the attention, though. I've been coming out more to make sure I get my fair share.

Truce

Well, as you can see from my newest picture, the D-O-G and I are cohabitating with a relative amount of peace these days. He's obnoxious, and when he chases me I certainly run, but I guess it isn't TOO bad having him around. Sometimes I sniff him when he's sleeping. He smells weird.

Little brother? Hmph.

So...we have a puppy. Apparently it's staying. (Oh yeah, we also moved across the country and live with two parrots now, and I got stress bladder, and then I realized this house is WAY better than my old place...oh, and I ran away for three days while mom and dad were out of town. But clearly the puppy is the biggest news!) I am SO TORN between being mortified and intrigued. I keep following him to see what the heck he's up to, make sure he's not....but then I get too scared (it's a DOG, after all!) so I have to jump up on something and watch from above. Maybe...well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Also, he doesn't like any toys but MINE. What's up with that? He gets all the good attention AND my toys? On the plus side, since he came, I've had my whole own room, which is awesome. A room with windows and a bed. That part is heaven. As for the new member of the household...jury's still out. More soon.

So THAT'S why they're called "dog days"...

I apologize for not writing any entries for so long, but you have to understand that it has been VERY, VERY HOT in my apartment. It has been so hot that I must lie on my back in the center of the hall floor on the nice, cool linoleum and meow at Mommy and Daddy to take me into the bedroom with them as often as possible (which they have been letting me do a lot lately, yay!) They have a big box in the window that blows cold air out of it and makes me purr and feel much better. But during the day when they're not here I have to lie around and just be hot. Not that many exciting things have happened to write about lately, either, I think because Mommy and Daddy are so hot too!

Well, they did go away for a LONG TIME and leave me at Tara's house, which was okay because she had a window that looked out on a street, and that was pretty cool. But still, I was very mad at Mom when she got back, and I wouldn't let her hold me for three days. But then I decided to forgive her, because after all, my "no cuddling" rule was getting old. Cuddling with Mom is one of my favorite activities! And she seemed like she had learned her lesson. But really--is "getting married" more important than hanging out with ME?

*fft*

But I LIKED it like that!

For a while now I have been sleeping a lot on the top corner of the sofa in the den. It took a while, but I had finally gotten it so covered in hair that you couldn't even see that ugly upholstery anymore. It was just perfect, all soft and warm and smelling like me--a little fur nest. But last night Mommy came with the velvet brush and took all the fur away! I was so sad...and now I refuse to sleep there anymore. It just isn't the same. I have started a new fur nest on the opposite corner. She'd better not touch it.

Cuddles!

Hi all. Hope you've been well. It's awful snowy here where I am in Brooklyn. Daddy keeps tracking in dirty water all over the house.

But Daddy is gone now for a few days, and last night Mommy let me sleep in the bed with her! She hasn't done that since we moved here. Usually when I go in the bedroom I get yelled at and thrown out. Except for on special occasions, like when there is a D-O-G in the house (thankfully not often!), or plumbers.

But last night, when she was in her pajamas and about to go in and shut the door, she stopped by where I was on the couch and picked me up and took me in WITH her! At first I wasn't sure what to make of this, but I know a good thing when I see it, so I snuggled up next to her right quick and purred as loud as I could so she'd know I was happy and not to move me. And I stayed there ALL NIGHT. It was great! I was afraid to leave the room in case she shut me out again, so I just curled up and purred right next to Mommy until the radio started making noise in the morning. Then I got up and nudged her and tried to get her to pet me, but she seemed kind of cranky then and wouldn't pay much attention to me. Oh, well, I'm not complaining! I miss Daddy, but if this is what happens when he goes away, I think maybe I hope he has "business trips " a LOT! Mommy doesn't seem to agree with me on that one, though.

Oh, well. Time to look out the window. It's starting to snow again, and I have to watch and laugh at all those poor suckers (dogs) that have to go out and walk in it.

Giving Thanks for What?

Mommy and Daddy went away FOREVER. Or at least it sure seemed that way. It was so booooring without them here. No one to pet me or tell me I'm cute or even to chase me around. I napped a LOT. Also the heat came on, and it was soooo hot because all the windows were closed and stuff. All the walls were wet, and my fur was all flat--it was horrible. It was pretty much the worst three days of my life!

Then they came home finally, and I was so happy! Mommy picked me up right away (after she put the fan in the window--phew!) and we snuggled and snuggled in front of the nice cool air. I purred until I didn't think I could purr any more! And there were lots of interesting smells coming through the fan...I think I smelled bunnies, and some other cats, and definitely some dirt and vegetables. Boy I wish I could go out there.

Then, after it was cooler, I sat with Mommy and Daddy on the couch and we all cuddled up under the big red blanket. Even after they went to bed, I slept there all night and most of the next day. It was so cozy!

I wasn't too happy after I got up the next day, though, because I went into the kitchen and meowed a whole lot, and nobody pet me. Then I meowed some more, louder, and Daddy said something to Mommy and they both looked at me and then they ignored me! Huh! I got mad and walked away, and after a while Mommy came in and pet me. But then I followed her back to the kitchen and meowed some more, and they ignored me again! Sometimes Mommy and Daddy are so mean. I just want them to stay home and pet me all the time. And sometimes they could chase me. And give me catnip. But when they go away or in the bedroom, or when they ignore me--fft. Not fun at all.

I bet I get lots of snuggles tonight, though. Mommy is going to be home by herself, and she always pays lots of attention to me on nights like that! Yeah!

Ok, back to the blanket.

Is It Safe to Come Out? Are You Sure?

So...I just don't even know what to say. THERE WAS A DOG IN MY HOUSE. A DOG. Can you believe it? I'm dictating this to Mommy from under the bed because I still don't believe her when she says I can come out. I can still smell it! I mean...A DOG!

I was even going to TRY to come out and take a closer look, see what all the fuss was about...and this giant black evil beast came racing toward me. It was like the Matrix. Suddenly the world was in slow motion and my whole purpose in life was to just! get! away! I'll remember each second for the rest of my life. I ran up the wall, did a double backflip with a half twist off the top of the couch, and disappeared through the crack in the door before anyone could even move. It was beauty and terror in one horrifying moment. And I swear I'm never coming out from under the bed again.

(On the plus side, Mommy's actually allowing me to BE under the bed...I like that part. Usually I can't even go in that room, so it's like a vacation or something! Although she got kind of mad at me when she was trying to go to sleep last night and it was crunchy food time for me. Yum! And then when I tried to puke on the bed right after, she got angry and chased me down onto the floor, and then muttered to herself while she cleaned it up. Then, when I started to lick some yummy plastic bags in the corner a few minutes later, she got up and took my food and litter into the den and put me in there too! I can't figure out why. Doesn't she want to cuddle with me?)

I'm So Happy I Need Valium!

I haaaaaaate it when Mommy and Daddy go away for a long time! They were gone for three days and I was so bored and lonely...I napped most of the time, but still! Then I heard Mommy coming up the stairs and I was SO EXCITED!! I stood right by the door and meowed really really really loudly. Mommy came in and she had lots of big bags but she put them down right away and scooped me up and talked in a baby voice and petted me for a really long time and I was just in Heaven. I licked her and I purred and I snuggled and I was so comfy and happy.

Then she put me down.

And then she started to do other stuff! She wasn't paying attention to me anymore! I meowed and cried and I even started to yowl, but she was walking around the house putting things away and it made me crazy! Then I decided that she was EVIL and whenever she got in the same room as me I flattened out and raced into the next room to hide, yowling all the way. It was scary! My heart was pounding a lot, and I got so crazy I didn't know what to do! I wanted Mommy's attention! But Mommy was what I had to run away from! And I couldn't stop crying! And then Mommy was yelling at me so I had to run away even more!

Then after she ignored me a while I got bored and sat on the couch, and Daddy came home, and I snuggled up with them and watched TV. And all was right with the world.