Bowl Cat!

 

There's a new addition to OUR family!

Meet Gemma, our new kitten.

She is a dilute calico, which I guess means a calico with muted colors (?). Whatever. She's a darn purty little kitten.

Alison wanted Scout, our now one-year-old tabby, to have a companion. I had more mixed feelings about it, but I decided it was best to go with her judgment.

She is a very rambunctious, active kitten. Gemma explores the house with an aggressive curiosity.  

The name Gemma comes from the series Severance, and is Mark Scout's wife outside of work (outie is what Lumen's workers are outside of work - innie is at work; the two personalities are severed). Guess who Scout is named after?

Scout and Gemma get along pretty well. I'm not sure how thrilled Scout is over Gemma being in my lap. Scout and I have a special connection, and I hate that being "severed".

If I put my foot on the Ottoman, it will be attacked.  

I will continue my pet posts to keep y'all updated.

Meow and woof!

A Look Out the Window

 I let Scout have some screened-in porch time.

I drifted to other things and had forgotten I had let her out.

I came back to the kitchen to look out the window to see where she might be, and...oops, there he is!

Scout can climb up anywhere. And does. This morning he was on our fireplace mantel. There's not really much room for him there, what with all the knick-knacks. To make room, he knocked off a plastic cow figure.

We don't leave anything on the kitchen counter that he can get into anymore. Even food in a plastic bag - he will try to get at it, even if he doesn't like the food. The fun is in the destruction, not the food inside.

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I was going to post a story about the OHC Book Festival I attended. I was hoping to find some pictures online to head up the post, but alas, I could not find any.

So, how did it go?

Pretty darn good! There was a good-sized crowd, with vendors, activities, seminars, and costume contests.

I sold a few books. I was surprised that Crowley Stories was a bestseller. I love that book, but I've had a hard time promoting it. Even though fictional, it is set in the Okefenokee Swamp region. And although it was written almost a decade ago, some of the plot lines have proven prophetic. Things have become os much worse down here since the emergence of Trump and MAGA. I'm sorry if that upsets some of you, but it's the truth.

The experience has reenergized me and made me want to return to writing. I have a completed book that I have not published, The Extra Credit Club. I found a new Beta reader for it and potentially a book editor to review it. In the long run, I will probably still self-publish, mostly because at my age I don't want to wait the one to three years it would take to get it accepted and published.

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My health is pretty good. Most of my blood pressure readings are good (at least in my world). I monitor my blood glucose with a Dexcom monitor; most of the time, I am within the normal range. I've found some things that spike my numbers and others that have less of an effect. Dark chocolate, nuts, even some whole wheat and homemade sourdough bread don't cause much of a rise. Potatoes? Whoa, Katy, bar the door!

This morning, my weight was the lowest it's been this century!

I still have periodic bouts with arthritis pains, particularly in my legs (foot, knee, lower leg).

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I watched the Bad Bunny halftime show. It was fantastic! Did I understand what was being said? No, but I don't always catch what English-speaking singers say* (Dylan? Anyone? Anyone?). I did get the message loud and clear - a celebration of diversity and love. 

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Until next time,

T. M. Strait

AOC '28

* Maybe one of the reasons I like Johnny Cash so much is that I can understand what he says.

Year of the Scout!

 

It’s the Year of the Scout!

Yes, the year that this dog lover discovered there was still enough love left over in his heart to include at least one cat – Scout!

Adopted as a kitten of about eight weeks, Scout came to us after his own WILD adventure!  He took a ride under his caretaker's car and ended up a few miles away at the local college's parking lot!  How he wasn’t damaged in transit, I have no idea!

I am not a cat person, but I quickly discovered I am a cat person.  This active, playful kitten became our first pet who was more attached to me than Alison (who is the ultimate animal magnet, almost like a Disney Princess).  He spends most of his day where I am at.  He loves to sit on my lap, and we have playtime every evening.  The miracle for me is I no longer do my nighttime snacking – instead, I get exercise with Scout!  It’s part of why my health improved this year.

He is now considerably bigger.  He has outgrown Pixie, our 13+ year-old chihuahua mix. At seven months, he may still get bigger.  He can parkour all around the house, jumping from chair to cat tree.  From table to countertop.

The year was pretty good for my family.  I know it was less so for the country and world at large.

My spirits are often down, but it is amazing how much playful, loving Scout can lift me up!

Scout sleeping beside me.

Scout in my work bag.  I think he wants to come to work with me.

Scout and I watching Cat TV.

Scout waiting for me to come back home.

Sccout in his cat tree.