Scenes From the Driver's Seat

As you must know, neither Cecil or I are drivers.  We are barely able to abide the times we have to be passengers in the keeper's car.  Cecil has far more experience in cars than I do, but we prefer to walk. However, the keeper spends a lot of time driving, and we get to see the photos of the sky that sometimes makes traffic jams worthwhile for her. The two above are from last night and this early evening.  She assured us that the car was not moving when she beheld the horizon in the blur of color.  She thought it was a good use of waiting time. Maybe.  Who knows?  We wait a lot, and we don't take photos.  We wait for her to feed us, to wake up, to let us out, to brush us, to clean up after us, to call us in. We wait for the bird to perch on the feeders.  We wait for the neighbor cats and squirrels to invade our yard.  We wait for mice in the bushes.  Our whole lives are about waiting.  Maybe we should ask her to attach little cameras to our collars like that You Tube cat. 

Saturdays Should Be More Exciting

We were excited because the keeper was going to work at home today at her computer on something called annulments.  She tells us that she has to translate testimony from Spanish to English and prepare briefs.  And she added that she needs perfect quiet to do this.  Alice and I were thinking the same thing...this means we get to play outside all day! But, that is not what the keeper was thinking.  It was drizzling, and I had snuck out before breakfast to mark my spots a few doors down and the keeper caught me, so I was busted and we were grounded.  INSIDE. BORING.  NO TREATS. We did try to walk on her computer when she got up to get the door.  We tried to sneak out when Blake the handyman came to fix a doorknob.  But we were grounded and still are.  WOW.  We know that other cats have way more interesting lives than we do. But we will keep her.  She tries her best.

Signs in our Neighborhood

After such a wild night last evening, the keeper brought us home some humor tonight.  No helicopters, search dogs, sirens or flashing lights.  Just a message from our vegan friends.

A Made for TV Evening

We had all experienced peaceful evening last night.  The keeper was getting ready for us to go to bed when she heard a helicopter circling above.  We looked out the window and saw the red lights hovering over our house and the park across the way.  Then, we noticed flashing lights in the parking lot across the street.  Then we heard shouting.  Then our house was washed in a chaos of reds and blues from flashing lights on the police cars which kept arriving.  One police car parked in front of our driveway and the revolving lights lit up our den for two hours after we turned off our lights.  We watched and watched.  They brought in dogs and hikers with flashlights to scour the woods.  We watched and wondered what kind of escaped madman must be out there, we imagined traffickers and rapists hiding in the woods as the dogs lunged and barked and the blades of the helicopter chopped away for several hours.  Finally they stuffed a young man in the sheriff's car, and peeled out.  Eventually the barking died down, the lights dimmed, the chopper moved on to chase other criminals.  It was 2 AM.   

This afternoon the keeper called the police to find out what had transpired. She was waiting to hear about a massive drug bust, a child molester, a murderer.  No, they told her it was a tagger defacing a city park and some underage drinking.  She told us that after living in the likes of El Paso, the Hilltop of Tacoma, and the CD, she was astounded.  And she wondered aloud to us, " If that is what they do for taggers here, what would ever happen to a drug dealer, a robber, or a person without proper documents?" 

In the Bleak Midwinter

Hi, everyone.  It's Cecil here.  Alice had to take an antihistamine and is a little drowsy.

But the keeper took me outside for a walk in the back yard.  I chased a new big long-haired cat away.  The keeper was very impressed with my fierce howl and yowl. But she got distracted as soon as she noticed that all of the bulbs we planted in the fall are starting to poke through the leafy mulch.  It is exciting. This means we will be able to stay out longer soon.

We are sorry to hear about all the snow problems on the East coast. We hope all the poeple and animals are safe.

An Olympic View

On the way home from Lake Union, the keeper had to admire the mountains.  Can you believe such gorgeous-ness?

At the Boat Show

The keeper left us this morning to go out to lunch with her friend J.  They went down to Lake Union where the keeper had a fat gift certificate for lunch.  There were many people shopping for multi-million dollar boats.  So the keeper and J picked up the catalogs and shopped a bit themselves.  But in the end, Chandlers Crab House was more appealing.

Tequila Chapel

Galerias has the largest collection of tequila in the state of Washington.  They also have a lot of religious art in their bar. The keeper invites everyone to come and see it and possibly taste some of it, along with some of the best food prepared in Seattle on February 28.  Dine all Day for Cabrini Ministry.  The restaurant is giving a percentage of the cost of every meal to the Cabrini Ministry Training which trains people to serve as pastoral care ministers. 



Saturday Afternoon at Galerias

 The keeper had two meetings in one delicious spot today.  She met 2 friends and sister-planners at the site  of the event.  Galerias Restaurant on Broadway has the the finest gourmet Mexican food in town.  They had brunch which was unbelievably inexpensive, which included the finest Apple strudel ever baked. The keeper hopes that it will be on the menu in heaven.  One of the owners brought her a whole pan to show her how he bakes three for each weekend brunch.  He also sent her home with three pieces. She offered to share some at dinner, but it did not smell fishy enough for us.

The January Moon



What a surprise to walk onto the deck and find the moon waiting for us all.

We raised a toast to Prince Anastassi, that old moon lover.

Before the Moon Showed Up

The western sky was wild and bruised this late afternoon

before we noticed the moon!

Daphne Lives!

The daphne is getting ready to bring us spring!



Indoor Games

Today was rainy and chilly.  We stayed in, and the keeper did her best to entertain us, but she has a short attention span.  So we did our best to humor her. And she let us  get back to our naps.

An Alluring Witch

She didn't snip off a bloom for us, but she told us how she was seduced so unexpectedly by the witch hazel floating off of the tree on the hill.  What a treat on such a grey linty day!

Exploring the Neighborhood

Why is it that when we explore the neighborhood we get in trouble? Cecil got in trouble on his own this morning while he was exploring the territory which belongs to Hunter, the neighbor cat, just as Hunter was returning home from his explorations in our yard. Cecil howled, and the keeper came in scooping him up and carried him home. He cried, but later mentioned that he was relieved.  When the keeper explores the neighborhood, she finds stunning beauty. So this afternoon the keeper invited us to go out with her on her explorations (on leashes of course).We declined, but she told us she loves exploring the areas that look like where she grew up.  She is so tempted to race through the clutches of trees and grasses like she used to many years ago. She told us she knows where to look for eagles and birds hiding in the blackberry bushes. It sounded pretty interesting.  But she mentioned that there are a lot of dogs on leashes, but no cats. So we slept and waited for her to bring us the pictures.  She checked on the state of McAleer Creek which was behaving well, but running very fast.  It was a grey linty day, but she found many colors of green leaping out at her.

Thank You, Rev. Dr. MLK, Jr.

"I choose to identify with the poor. I choose to give my life for the hungry. I choose to give my life for those who have been left out of the sunlight of opportunity. I choose to live for and with those who find themselves seeing life as a long and desolate corridor with no exit sign. I’m going that way, because I heard a voice saying, ‘Do something for others.’” MLK

Some Swimming Rama with Taize Prayer

All is back to normal at this home.  We lounge.  The keeper runs with her briefcase and computer. We are happy.  She even wanted to play with us tonight.  We thought she came home for good late this afternoon, but she simply switched bags, telling us to be patient.  Well, quite a few hours later when she returned, we stared at her and the empty food bowls.  We were fed but had to listen to her story, of course.  She had a meeting at SU, and then decided to attend the Taize prayer for an end to the violence at St. James.  She had forgotten to eat lunch so decided to celebrate being well by eating at her favorite little Thai restaurant on Boren where she met the young man who was listening to NPR while waiting tables, who got his Masters in Finance from SU, but still hasn't found a job, who has fallen in love with Seattle, and will never move back to Bangkok.  Meanwhile the Mexicans were cooking all the food.  So, she brought that lovely story and all the frustrated hope for a peaceful world to the quiet cathedral, and lifted her raspy voice in chant and prayer for a world filled with more compassionate relationships. It must have helped her because she fed us quickly and let us out for a little bit.

A Regular Day Again

Good news for us---the keeper went back to work.  We think she could have waited one more day to make sure, but we finally had the house to ourselves again. It was quiet and we could sleep through most of the windy, rainy day.  We did a little chasing around, but without the thrill of the Christmas tree and all those delicate little things hanging from the branches, the chase seemed a little dull.  But the keeper came back at a decent hour--she had foregone the evening event, and she shared some chicken with us.  And now we are all on our way back to sleep.

A Little Snow

We had some snow last night.  It seemed heavy.  The keeper let us go outside, but we tucked our tails in and came right back in as if we had been planning it all along. It was too cold to the paw.  However, this morning, there was more snow and no sign that we had ever been on the porch. But today it was like chilled soup. So we didn't as to go out.  The keeper stayed home  today after she  got sicker yesterday.  So after another day with us, we think she is ready to go back to her office tomorrow.  And we are ready for her to give us the house to ourselves for  awhile.

A Plummy Sky

The keeper did two things today of which we do not approve.  She woke up this morning feeling poorly and without a voice.  So, of course she decided to go to one of her parishes to be with the young adults.  The only wise choice she made today was to leave the event early and make her way home.  But she also decided to photograph the sky while she was speeding along. She came home all enthusiastic about the plummy sky. However, we want you all to know that we are not amused by these antics.  We tried to be stern tonight. We are not sure she gets it.



Scent of Open House

The keeper came home from the open house.  She didn't tell us where she was going, but when she returned she didn't need to say anything.  We knew.  Northgate Veterinary Clinic.  We cannot erase that smell from our memories. Yes, she had been there.  They opened up the Clinic to all of their patients' keepers, and fed them and showed off the surgery rooms and the boarding areas, as well as the dentistry rooms.  We are happy that she finally saw the rooms where we have both spent time.

Moon 2011

It's a new year and the moon is out among the stars tonight.  We both wanted to go out and prowl this clear night, even though it was cold.  However, the keeper told us to stay inside because she was going out to an open house.  She is feeling better, by the way.  We tried to attend her over these last 24 hours.  Last eve we both kept watch by her pillow.  Alice even put her paws on her head.  We think it helped. Not perfect, but she left us this morning for a workshop very early.  And she came home and took a nap.

Selecting Our Remedies

 Why use one particular formula to drive away a cold when 15 may work more quickly? That seems to be our keeper's motto these last several days.  We have every kind of potion and product here to kick start her back to health.  Our feline remedy would be sleep and fluids.
However, she has latched onto oil of eucalyptus, and something from a root of a South African flower, as well as chicken noodle soup and cheap pizza sprinkled liberally with hot chile peppers.
Is there any wonder that she still feels under the weather?  However, she has pronounced that it must be gone by tomorrow morning. Whatever.  It would help if she would stay home and nap.

Why the Keeper Took Her Time Walking Today

Epiphany Proclamation

At the Masses of Epiphany there is a tradition of chanting the proclamation of the dates for Easter and all of the liturgical seasons and significant celebrations.  The keeper likes this.  She offered to chant it to us, but we declined her offer.  But we did note that although the ice is blanketing the flower patches, the rhodies and the camelias and the daphne in our yard are already proclaiming very quietly their preparation for spring.

A Lovely Monday Off

 

 Today we slept in, and once we woke up the keeper, she let us play outside for awhile.  We both snuck out and checked out the neighbors' trails, but rushed back before the keeper became too suspicious. Not a lot happening on the ground in this area.  We guess most pets are indoors. 

The keeper took a long walk down to Third Place Books and was late in coming home because she fell in love again with how beautiful the area is when it is sunny and crystalline.  She brought us back lots of photos of Mt. Rainier and the neighborhood. Then we had tea as she read Mary Oliver poems to us.

            

!Feliz Ano Nuevo!

The keeper left late this morning and came home after dinner.  She was back at her work, going to churches and hanging out with lots of people.  She finished the day at a New Year's party on Mercer Island with the young adults.  They had food from multiple states in Mexico, El Salvador, Venezuela, and Colombia. They played games and the keeper often lost, and had to dance because she did not remember, let alone know, the names of Mexican and South American pop stars. She actually knows very few names of US pop stars!  Don't tell them that, though.  She would have to dance all night.

First Evening 2011 Becoming Epiphany

 " Arise, shine, for your light has come."

It was so beautiful tonight. Epiphany poured out of the skies all brass and golden and crept in more softly by land.

First Evening of 2011

The keeper headed back to St. James because she was reading tonight, and showed us the Olympics and the Space Needle, shot fom I-5 South. Not bad from 55mph.

First Morning of 2011

It was a beautiful morning.  If you can believe it, we all hung out on the sunniest part of the deck...the top of the hot tub.  Alice and I sunned ourselves for several hours and watched squirrels. The keeper joined us for breakfast there.  She said it reminded her of San Diego on New Year's Day without the heat and the palm trees.