Ho Ho Ho Part Deux

Well, it's official. I'm living with a teenaged monster! Seriously folks Simone, the poor unfortunate, shy, timid, neglected, perhaps abused wee thing in the basement .... not only has come out of her shell ... she's becoming a holy terror!!!

Ok, perhaps it's just a phase (don't all parents of teenagers say that?) Simone has officially left the basement. Oh, she still frequents the nether regions for play purposes, but for all intents and purposes she has ensconced herself permanently under my kitchen table. Well, sort of. In reality she's running around the main floor like a maniac, chasing empty thread spools and a hot pink foam ball with a happy face on it, or the laser pointer, which drives her absolutely mad, Mad, MAD! Simone needs to learn some household manners - that's for sure... and mommy is determine to teach them via the squirt bottle method and a deep authoritarian NO! House rules are:

1. we DO NOT get up on the kitchen counter, china cabinet, or the kitchen table,
2. we DO NOT growl at each other
3. we eat what mommy gives you and no complaints!
   

If/when Simone encounters poor Iris she is stopped dead in her tracks. The feline standoff usually terminates in a hissy fit or deep growling . Iris responds by decamping upstairs to my bedroom where the living is easier... In my last post I discussed two new year's resolutions. Well, I've thought of the third resolution - NO MORE RANTS! I have resolved to totally ignore everything/everyone that annoys me (see How do we react). Simple eh? These acts/people have always been there, and unfortunately always will ... so why bother getting annoyed? I resolve to make next year a CREATIVE and HAPPY year! Wish me luck!

WHOOPEE!

TTFN

Ho Ho HO

I wish I could say the above image was something I made .... but to be honest - once again I haven't had enough time to be as creative as I aspire to be! BAH HUMBUG! It has become quiet obvious to me that if I ever wish to be the creative and productive individual my inspirations motivate me to be - well, I'll simply need to win the lottery so I can retire from this d#*& rat race. With the current economic situation and probable loss of pension savings (I'm afraid to look) I'm betting I'll never retire -

TTFN

Simone Update # ?

For all you readers out there anxiously awaiting news of Simone - the cat in the basement .... We've had a breakthrough !

Yes, a real, honest to goodness breakthrough. Simone has - voluntarily - come upstairs into the main part of the house! Last Friday when I arrived home from work - there she was - Ta Da! Just as nice as you please. She moved around various locations in the living room and finally settled under the kitchen table for the evening where she could contentedly watch me doing my kitchen chores. She seemed quiet happy and, knowing how food driven she is I naturally rewarded her behaviour with a variety of treats. I now know Simone does not like yogurt!

So, thinking that she had finally come out of her shell (silly me) I naturally ran downstairs and put the basement room back into human order (aka I put the loveseat back down on the floor from it's up ended position). So, naturally when Simone retreated to the basement once more and found the loveseat horizontal she immediately reverted back to her old ways and proceeded to hide UNDER THE COUCH for the next 3 days! Post weekend I did manage to get a play reaction from Simone as I patiently dangled a fur ball in front of her for close to an hour. Yes - an hour ... none-the-less this too was a great leap forward in that she PLAYED with me = interaction with the human!

Well, as usual, my personal schedule has been totally insane this last 2 1/2 months, and I'm at the end of a very long 3 week stretch, so haven't had any where near as much time with poor baby in the basement, but I've been worrying about her. Much to my very great surprise and delight didn't Ms Simone come upstairs this morning whilst I was breakfasting. Whoopee!
Simone wandered about briefly and snarled loudly at Iris who meekly retreated upstairs and pouted. Simone then made the rounds of the living room, jumped up on a chair then onto the table to look out the window then looking back at me she discovered I was eating oatmeal! That means there will be leftover milk! Smart kitty that she is Simone then leapt down from the table and waited patiently at my feet for the dregs of my Scottish breakfast!

Progress at last!!! Maybe - just maybe by Xmas, when I can be home for several days in a row, maybe just maybe she'll come upstairs permanently?

TTFN