Category Archives: Grendel

Today I got my answer

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I’ve been terribly concerned about Chira.  He once was a regular fixture around here.  His multiple visits each day for several months were predictable and welcomed.  Then he stopped showing up.  It was a sudden change, an abrupt modification of our ritual.  After that, I would see him occasionally, sometimes more than once a day, but rarely more than once every month or two.

As I told Jenny some time ago, I hoped he had been adopted by someone who was taking care of him and feeding him, and that was why he no longer visited me as he once did.  It was either that or he was sick and/or hurt.  Today I got my answer.

I had fed the outside cats around six this morning and dallied inside as I was not in a hurry to go anywhere.  Sure, coffee was beckoning, but I was playing with The Kids after brushing my teeth and getting partially dressed and figured I’d find my way to Starbucks eventually.  As I lay on the bedroom floor playing with my own cats after watching some of the outside felines grab some breakfast, I heard a thump from outside and turned to see Chira on the patio.  It’s a cold and blustery morning and he was wasting no time doing his thing—whatever that happened to be.  By the time I stood and went to the window, he was already at the other end of the patio.  He leaped to the top of the fence and it was then I got a good look at him.  He was wearing a collar.  Because he promptly jumped down and ran off around the corner, I can’t be sure if it was a flea collar or a regular collar, but the fact that he was wearing one meant someone had taken him in and was caring for him.

I’m thrilled.  Chira’s a very sweet and laid back cat.  I had seriously considered adopting him after he started hanging around, and I even implemented a plan to capture him.  But then he vanished and seldom visited.  At least now I know he’s being taken care of and I don’t have to be so worried about him anymore (although I still worry since he’s outside).

Faux fireplace

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The faux fireplace.  Gas powered.  Controlled with the simple flip of a switch; either on or off.  Completely enclosed with glass.  What a wondrous invention.

Sure, it’s not the same as a real fireplace with wood burning and the crackling and popping and the smell, but it’s also not a huge danger.  As you see below, Grendel and his siblings found it to be a wonderful gift from the feline gods.  It gave off plenty of warmth and even some light (enough to be the perfect night light in winter).  There was no risk of sparks shooting out of it.  None of the cats could climb inside and rummage through the ash when I wasn’t home.  I could use it as often as I wanted and never had to clean it.

I know it looks fake.  That wasn’t as apparent when viewed from a distance (although it also wasn’t hard to figure out).

Anyway, it’s a wonderful invention.  I wish I still had one.  I’m sure my brats wish the same thing.

Grendel sitting in front of the faux fireplace (119_1958)

Rinse mouth thoroughly after each use

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Both Grendel and Loki use the Flovent HFA inhaler to control their asthma.  Loki takes it twice daily while Grendel takes it once every other day.

I just picked up a refill of it and for the first time took note of the various stickers the pharmacy puts on it.  You know the kind; they’re on every prescription and give you all the major warnings.  Avoid Direct Sunlight.  Take With Food.  Do Not Take With Food.  Do Not Chew Or Crush.  May Cause Drowsiness.  And on it goes.  My favorite?  May Cause Cranial Implosion (which generally is written as “Do Not Drive Or Operate Heavy Machinery”).

What makes the warning on this inhaler stand out is twofold: It’s for a cat, something noted directly on the prescription; The most prominent warning says to “Rinse Mouth Thoroughly After Each Use.”

Um, sure, we’ll get right on that.  Can you imagine?  Okay, listen up, Loki and Grendel.  After you take your medicine, let’s go to the water bowl, get a mouthful of water, swish it around a bit, and then spit it out.  Don’t swallow now.  You just need to clean your mouth out after using this stuff.  Got it?  Good, let’s practice a bit so Daddy can make sure you get it right.

In the meantime, they’ll be staring at me with both curiosity and embarrassment.  Their little faces will be saying “He’s freakin’ nuts!” and “What the hell is he talking about? Did he say take a drink and spit it out? Why would anyone do that?” and, at least in Loki’s case, “You try any of that funny business with me and I’ll mop the floor with your sorry ass.”

Better yet, the second warning says to “Shake Well.”  Do they mean the medication or the cat?  And again, I imagine Grendel would accept it to some degree as affection, at least until he realized it wasn’t fun, but Loki wouldn’t tolerate it for a minute and I’d wind up bruised and bleeding and beaten profusely.  It would only happen once, I assure you.

Play is a wonderful thing

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Can it be more simple than the pleasure of enjoying some new catnip toys?  While this video is mainly of Grendel, note that Loki can be seen in the background and Kako gives us a drive-by cameo.  This video was lightened due to the original being excessively dark.

[I have decided to drop support for the AVI format and raw footage.  This is based entirely on size and bandwidth usage, and also in no small part due to very little use.]