Securing a hiding place

Sometimes, you just need to get away from it all:

July 2012: Sammy, seeking solace under the sofa.

A linguistic irritant XLVI

I'm pleased that I haven't heard anyone say, "Oopsy-daisy," in a long time.  Just plain "Oops" is sufficient.  The cutesy--another word I dislike--form of it should never need to be expressed.

A linguistic irritant XLV

Can we all please agree that the phrase, "Ta-da," has no place outside of a magic show or a circus?  Thank you.

Welcome to "Point Reinforced..."

If Rosie and Sammy had participated in the former "60 Minutes" feature, "Point/Counterpoint," I could have imagined Sammy saying, "Sis will take the following view on an issue, and I will agree with her, at her behest." 

March 2004: Rosie, looking resolute near Sammy.

March 2004: Rosie, looking at Sammy as if to say, "You agree with me, right?"

A photo op or not?

Two cats, two different choices...One looks at the camera, while another continues his study of the wall:

Neither choice is better than the other.  In July 2003, the intricacy of the wall fascinated Sammy, while Rosie saw the camera and treated the moment as a photo op.

The labored effort of rising from a chair

I've come to realize, in middle age, how I often utter gibberish syllables when getting up from a sofa or chair or reaching down to pick something up.  One recent day, while picking up a pen I'd dropped, I'm pretty sure I said, "Neef! Noff! Snorf!"

I wonder if the composer of "Eep, Opp, Ork, Ah-ah!"' had such an experience before crafting that song for "The Jetsons."

Finishing the sentence XCV

More responses to one of my unfinished sentences from January 1993:

The key to a stress-free life is...

...no coats or ties. (Chip C.)

...locking yourself in a padded cell with no outside stimuli. (Laura W.)

...ownership and skill with firearms. (Cathy N.)

A linguistic irritant XLIV

I'm pleased that I haven't heard anyone abbreviate pizza by saying, "za," in several years.  Thank you.  Why did anyone ever shorten it that way in the first place, though?

Let Judge Sammy eat first, and...

...let him rest his head on his brush/gavel.  Then, he might be in a more receptive mood to hear cases:

2015: Sammy, attempting to relax with his head on his brush/gavel.

The calico's clean clothes seal of approval

Apparently, the clothes weren't clean until Rosie said they were:

January 2006: Rosie checks the settings on the washing machine.

Truth in advertising? XVI

A memory from the '90s: The younger-than-usual aspiring TV evangelist was trying his hardest to sound charismatic on a public access channel.  Unfortunately for him, some of the effect was compromised when he said, "Call this address--I mean, call this number on the screen..."

To play or not to play?

In this photo from 2013, Sammy is about to make a decision--to play or not to play with a jacket tie presented to him.  As a judge, he had his image to consider:

As a cat, however...

I think he made the right choice.  One can be an impartial, dignified tabby judge and still make time to play with jacket ties.

Tamping down the sarcasm

Considering all they have to endure, I wonder how often middle school teachers must censor or at least modify their sarcasm.  In one of my sixth grade science papers, I wrote, "Without oxygen, we would not be living."  The teacher wrote in the margin next to it, "good point."  This was in a paper that received an A.  Imagine what comments he must have wanted to write on D and F papers.

Finishing the sentence CXXXI

Of all the unfinished sentences I wrote, this one elicited some of the most of-their-time responses.  Here are some of them from October 1992:

Because of its ability to penetrate one's mind and pop up when one is trying to remember something important, this commercial slogan (or theme) should be banished into oblivion.  This slogan (or theme) is...

...the Roy Blunt ad against Bill Webster with the politicians riding the merry-go-round, laughing fiendishly, and throwing away money! (Cindy D.)

...the Johnny Cash Taco Bell commercials.  I find it reprehensible to see a man of such stature lowering himself into crooning "Run For The Border."  Him and Ray Charles--What the @#&*, eh? (Ryan G.)

..."Sky fits heaven; now, ride it."  That damn Gap ad!  Madchen Amick, why did you agree to equate your body with a motorcycle's? (Greg Y.)

..."It's everywhere you want to be."  What does that mean?  Is it a Big Brother kind of thing?  If I wanted to be in a hot tub with Jim Morrison, would it follow me in there? (Miranda G.)

The ominous (or not-so-ominous) claws

Although it wasn't a real mouse, I was concerned for its fate on that day in 2010 when Sylvia was about to apply the iron claws:

There was no need to worry, however, as Sylvia's claw positioning was deceptive.  She actually made friends with the mouse:

I was so proud of her that I didn't mind having to wash the clothes she'd sat on again.

Let Judge Sammy eat first.

Sometimes, cat judges aren't in the best of moods until they've eaten breakfast.  On this June 2015 day, I hope Judge Sammy waited until after eating to hear cases:

Fit for a stamp

A relaxing view in Des Peres Park, June 2015:

I think it would make a good postage stamp, as well.

"In tonight's double standard sports roundup..."

During my years as a sports data collector, it amused me when a coach would attempt to make his or her team's stats look more flattering by crediting a volleyball team with far more assists than plausible, not recording errors in baseball or softball or cards in soccer because "we don't need to get into that," or giving their batters hits they didn't actually have "to encourage them."

I used to think but not tell such coaches, "I might think that a hitter should have four strikes instead of three before being called out, but the game isn't played that way."  Or, as one co-worker said sarcastically, "I think that one point should count as two for my team!"

If I'd planned to go anywhere...

...I'm sure I postponed getting up from the sofa.  After all, when a cat is this comfy...

April 2006: Rosie, fast asleep, with a paw draped over me to make sure I don't get up soon.

Finishing the sentence CXXX

Sometimes, the simplest unfinished sentences elicited the widest range of answers.  Previously, I've shared some of the answers this unfinished sentence elicited in high school.  Now, here are some of the answers it elicited in college, more specifically in April 1992:

Maybe...

..."someday...saved by zero..." (The Fixx's "Saved By Zero," quoted by David R.)

...the idea of war will be obsolete someday instead of being seen as the only alternative to dealing with aggressive nations. (Erica C.)

...everyone will one day be nice and fair to each other, and everything will be peaceful and happy, and bunnies will hop around merrily.  (I'm idealistic.) (Jenni S.)

Finishing the sentence CXXIX

Here's another round of responses to one of my unfinished sentences from December 1991:

Contrary to popular belief...

...the moon is farther away.  (Eric S.)

...two wrongs do not make a wrong in all instances but often make a right.  The key is to never generalize a facetious principle (when applying it) to every facet of one's life. (Brian W.)

...blood does show up on my red car. (Janet L.)

...you can never stop being a kid. (Mary C.)

...foreign culture is the American way of life. (Colin S.)

...graduating as an English major will get me a high-paying, well-respected job.  (At least, I hope so!) (Virginia R.)

A linguistic irritant XLIII

I despise the expression, "Finders keepers, losers weepers."  Whenever someone says that, I think, "That's just an expression, not a mandate!"

Preparing new exhibits

Museum curator Sammy oversees material for new exhibits in August 2004:

Although it might go without saying, Sammy was also a watchcat for his own museum.

Spring is here...

...Here's hoping everyone enjoys it as much as Sammy and Rosie did in April 2003:

Cozy: A realtor's euphemism but not a cat's

To a person, this space might look too confining.  To a cat, however...

October 2004: Sammy fits into a space that's just right.

A linguistic irritant XLII

I once watched the debut episode of a comedy show in which the cast members introduced themselves.  One cast member said, "My handle is..."

I gritted my teeth when I heard that.  Why not just say, "My name is...," or "I'm John (or Jane?)"  It sounds too pretentious to say, "My handle is..."

Truth in advertising? XV

You've probably seen the Ad Council PSA promoting recycling via a soda can's musings. 

"Today, I'm just an aluminum can," the can says.  "But one day, I could be a stadium."

That's the best, least heavy-handed approach I've seen in a PSA about recycling.  Instead of hectoring or taking a self-righteous "Good people recycle" approach, the PSA reminds viewers of the potential new life a recycled item could assume.

I'm sure not every scrap of paper, cardboard, or aluminum I've recycled has been used for such an enduring purpose.  Still, it's nice to be reminded politely that they could be.

A good enough reason to vote

I had just voted in today's local election.

"Wait!  You can't leave!" the poll worker said.

I was puzzled.  I'd voted via touch screen in many previous elections, so I knew I hadn't made a mistake.  Why would I be detained?

"You need a Tootsie Roll," the monitor said, handing me a piece of candy.

"This must be the Christian charity I've heard about," I thought.  "During the 12 years I voted at City Hall, no one ever rewarded voters with sweets."

That was unexpected, but it was a considerate incentive for completing a civic responsibility.

A self-contained world

When you want to make your world feel smaller, try the vantage point of a file drawer:

It worked for Sammy in 2005.

Got to catch that toy...

Inflatable rabbits and eggs did not distract Rosie from pursuing the Cat Dancer, a favorite toy of hers, one Easter:

2007: Rosie, navigating the rabbits-and-eggs course in pursuit of the Cat Dancer.