Watchcat protocol DCXCVI

If you use the Cat Dancer toy during a watchcat's agility training session, don't be surprised if the watchcat critiques the toy's effectiveness:

December 2007: Watchcat Rosie inspects the Cat Dancer toy to make sure it's a suitable test of her dexterity.  Actually, she just wants it to be a fun plaything.

Watchcat protocol DCXCV

Alert?  Wide-eyed?  Somewhat nonchalant?  You might have the makings of a good watchcat, as Watchcat Rosie did in June 2003:

Watchcat protocol DCXCIV

A piercing stare from a watchcat sometimes prevents intruders from stepping out of line.  Watchcat Nemo proved this in June 2014:

Witch cat watchcat protocol XXVIII

It's not easy being a witch cat after Halloween.  Some witch cats convey such sentiments to their therapists as, "It seems like most of the world just moves on when November First comes around.  We keep telling people that we're cats for all seasons, but they've already started listening to Christmas music."  I lent a sympathetic ear to one such witch cat in 2010:

I felt guilty for contributing to the witch cat's angst by playing Christmas music.  I swear it was unintentional.

Giving thanks for a complex cat

As narrator Daniel Stern said in an episode of "The Wonder Years," "Some gifts are complicated."  My cat, Collette, sometimes tests my patience by biting my feet and trying to eat my food.  Nevertheless, I'm thankful for her because there's more to her than that.  She curls up with me on the sofa for hours and kneads her paws on me thoroughly yet endearingly until she thinks I'm just right.  She also looks to me for comfort during thunderstorms.  In addition, there's her background to consider. I don't know what her first two years of life before I adopted her were like.  She might have had a hard life as a stray cat.  She might also have had kittens.  When I think of her as struggling to survive, especially as a mother cat, I'm more accepting of my aching toes.  So, in that spirit, I wish Collette a happy Thanksgiving and hope that she's thankful for her time with me thus far.

October 6, 2020: Collette takes a well-earned nap break from her watchcat duties.

Watchcat protocol DCXCIII

When a watchcat has to survey a large assigned sector, it's reasonable to expect her reflection to do some of the monitoring:

Fall 2003: Watchcat Rosie and her reflection guard their assigned portion of the basement.

Watchcat protocol DCXCII

Watchcat Headquarters requires a wide range of character traits in its watchcats.  A watchcat must be...

...stately...

...stern...

...vigilant...

...focused...

...flexible...

...sly...

...covert...

...semi-covert...

...sympathetic...

...and, at times, a bit impish.

Watchcat Sylvia embodied all of these characteristics commendably during her 11 years with me.  One year after her passing, I miss her tremendously and can't let today pass without honoring her memory.

Watchcat protocol DCXCI

As long as at least one watchcat is keeping tabs on the assigned sector, Watchcat Headquarters permits one watchcat to wash another watchcat's back--pending the other watchcat's approval:

December 2008: At Watchcat Cleopatra's (actually Watchcat Rosie's) request, Watchcat Sammy touched up a hard-to-reach spot on her back.

Watchcat protocol DCXC

Sometimes, Watchcat Headquarters assigns two watchcats to the same guard post and hopes they'll make the best of the situation:

December 2008: Watchcats Rosie and Sammy make do with their cramped accommodations.

Watchcat protocol DCLXXXIX

Watchcat Headquarters doesn't encourage this. Once in a great while, however, it's permissible for a watchcat to request a backup watchcat so she can savor the good security service she has provided for a few minutes:

December 2012: Watchcat Rosie, smiling with pride at the good job she has done.

Watchcat protocol DCLXXXVIII

Just because she was relaxed, it didn't mean Watchcat Rosie wasn't guarding her assigned sector in April 2003:

Watchcat protocol DCLXXXVII

I always knew my kitchen was secure, thanks to Watchcat Sylvia and her wooden watchcat backups.  Here they are on duty in April 2010:

Watchcat protocol DCLXXXVI

Intruders might think this is a decorative tortie cat statue.  It isn't.  It's actually Watchcat Lily, surveying her assigned sector last night:

Watchcat protocol DCLXXXV

You know your fortress is secure when you have a dedicated watchcat monitoring one side of an assigned sector and a backup watchcat and watchrabbit keeping an eye on the other side:

Spring 2017: Watchcat Sylvia and her backup security force.

Watchcat protocol DCLXXXIV

A doorway is a good place from which to guard one's assigned sector.  A watchcat can spot a wide range of activity from that vantage point:

October 2004: I vaguely remember Watchcat Rosie calling out, "Medic!" from this guard post once.  I don't remember why, though.

Watchcat protocol DCLXXXIII

In Spring 2011, Watchcat Rosie conveyed to visitors, "You know no one gets past me, right?"  Such was her attitude when guarding the steps:

Watchcat protocol DCLXXXII

The watchcats may look comfortable, but that doesn't mean they aren't keeping an eye on their assigned sector:

Spring 2005: Watchcats Rosie and Sammy see you; you're in their assigned sector, after all.

Watchcat protocol DCLXXXI

In May 2006, Watchcat Rosie prevented unauthorized visitors from putting their food and beverages on the kitchen island:

Watchcat protocol DCLXXX

Watchcats sometimes give themselves pep talks before going on duty.  In November 2006, Watchcat Rosie said to her reflection, "Let's go guard that sector!"

On second thought, knowing her healthy self-esteem, she might have said, "Of course the sector's in great paws; I'm Watchcat Rosie!"

Watchcat protocol DCLXXIX

Just because a watchcat's cat bed is a comfy guard post doesn't mean she isn't alert while on duty:

Spring 2012: Watchcat Rosie lets intruders know that she's ready to confront them, if necessary.

Watchcat protocol DCLXXVIII

Granted, I just listened to three of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos last night.  Watchcat Collette and her reflection thought it would do me good to listen to something else this afternoon.  Thus, she blocked my access to the record player:

Approaching the record player from the back also didn't work for me:

Although these instructions to Watchcat Collette might have been well-intentioned, I'll probably speak to Watchcat Headquarters about overstepping its bounds.

Watchcat protocol DCLXXVII

The portable vacuum probably wasn't going to make any sudden moves.  If it did, however, Watchcat Sylvia was ready to admonish it in October 2010:

Watchcat protocol DCLXXVI

Being held by one's guardian doesn't make a watchcat stop looking fierce:

October 2010: Watchcat Nemo maintains his tough composure.

The virtue of patience II

Patience paid off.  Thank goodness!  Sanity, decency, and democracy prevailed, after all.

Watchcat protocol DCLXXV

When asking a watchcat to guard your shoes, know that he might want to use them as a chinrest, as Watchcat Sammy did in 2008:

The virtue of patience

As I continue to wait for the final results of the presidential election--and, hopefully, Joe Biden's victory--I'm struck by how my sometimes impatient reactions to the incomplete state-by-state tabulations mirror the way I often react to road construction.  Initially, I'm irked.  I'll think, "Why isn't this done already?  This isn't convenient for me."

Then, I'll think a little longer and realize, "What specifically do I mean by 'this?'  I have no idea what's being done to this road, how it's supposed to be done, or how long it's supposed to take.  Besides, there's no way to repair the road telepathically, so how could it not be inconvenient?  Although it's inconvenient now, the repairs will ultimately make the road safer for everyone."

So, in that enlightened spirit, I'm refreshing the electoral college map on CNN's site with the understanding that the ballot tabulations will--and should--take however long they need to take.

Watchcat protocol DCLXXIV

In October 2014, Watchcat Sammy's eyes indicated, "Intruders, this is no place for you.  I've got my eyes on you."  There's no doubt he was focused on his job:

A good day to have my say

Before heading to the polling place today, I was a little concerned.  I'd read about voter intimidation tactics and skirmishes in various cities.  I'd never had a problem at either of the polling places where I'd voted in Kirkwood, Missouri before.  Still, I thought, emotions are running high during these divisive times, and the pandemic doesn't help matters.

I'm pleased that my back-of-mind concerns were unfounded.  The two words that kept coming to mind during my 90-minute wait to vote were "neighborly" and "civil."  Here's what impressed me:

• Two women ahead of and behind me in line went out of their way to see that a man using a walker didn't need to exert himself more than necessary.  One of them asked the other if the polling place made provisions for differently abled voters.  The other woman called her daughter-in-law, who was one of the poll workers.  Thanks to their combined efforts, the man was able to wait in the shade until the women were near the entrance and get back in line with them.  When they saw him walking toward the entrance, they both applauded and complimented each other for being considerate.
• The woman in line behind me joked that by standing in the sun, she was "getting (her) Vitamin D." "Perhaps an excessive amount of it," I replied.  "As pale as I am, it never occurred to me to bring sunscreen today."
• From a distance, I thought that two of the signs promoting different candidates had been propped on lawn chairs.  I looked closer and was surprised to see that two people were sitting there, holding up the signs.  Admittedly, that strategy cut through the clutter of signs and focused voters' attention on the names Jill Schupp and Barbara Phifer.  I hope the sign holders are paid for their efforts.  It's tiring to hold one's arms up so long.
• Although I didn't see anyone in line eating or drinking, it was considerate of the polling place to provide chips, granola bars, and bottled water on picnic tables.  There was also a woman walking around, asking if anyone wanted a Power Bar or bottled water she'd packed in a crate.
• The poll workers with whom I dealt were polite, and I had the privacy I desired while voting.  Scanning my ballot and seeing confirmation that it counts never stops being satisfying.
• As I left the polling place, I saw a woman in line playing patty cake with her kids.  Considering how many people were looking at their phones, it was nice to see three people opting for old school fun.  For a moment, I thought I'd walked into a Bob Greene column in the best way.
  

A few minutes into my line-waiting, I joked with someone that "for a heavily introverted person, this is kind of a shock to the system."  It wasn't really a shock, though.  It's easy to be among your community when the community is cordial and respectful.  (And socially distanced, as a woman in line pointed out.  It was a relief to see everyone around me staying at a safe distance and wearing masks.) I know not everyone in this town agrees with me politically.  Seeing bumper stickers promoting candidates I would never support in a million years confirms that. It's refreshing, then, that the only discordant note I heard the entire time was a car horn blasting from the street.

To anyone who hasn't voted yet today, may your experience at the polling place be as positive as mine was.

Watchcat protocol DCLXXIII

Some security matters might require an intense conference between a watchcat and backup watchbird:

As a watchcat, you might think the watchbird's suggestion is too careless:

When you think it through again, however, you might realize it has more merit than you thought:

That's how you reach detente, as Fredbird and Watchcat Sylvia did in 2013.

Watchcat protocol DCLXXII

In December 2012, Watchcat Rosie made sure intruders knew they couldn't escape the long paw of the law--watchcat justice, in other words:

There's a lot of grit behind the gleam in a watchcat's eyes.