Naughty Kitty on Time Out from Video Gaming

Hi effurrybuddy! It's me! Yah... ME! It be Timmy da Timid! Ya miss me? I knowed it! I missed ya too! Queen Bambi wouldn't let me online coz I was playin' too menny video games. I dunt know what she talkin' bout! I just be jumpin' up by da TV all da time ta see what's all dem things movin' round alla time! They sure is fassinating! Ya know? Acourse ya know. I betcha yoo been up dere doin' da same thing. Yeah? Uh huh. I knowed it true!

But Queen Bambi, she say I was disreespectfull coz then Mom cants see da TV. Why.. she dunt even watch da dang thing half da time. She just gots it on, Mom say, ta keep her company.

But, ya know... MY Mom gots ME ta keeps her company! And Buffy da Bampire Flayer ta keeps her company! And my baby brudder, Shadow, ta keeps her company! Oh yeah... and Her Royal (pain in the haunch) Highness, Queen Bambi ta keeps her company. Why Mom even needs dat TV anyhoo? I purrsonally think she turn da TV on so she can laugh when I runs up and jumps on dat box in front of da TV to bats at all da movin' things on da TV.

But, dats whut I wuz talkin' about. That's whut Bambi... I means Queen Bambi put me on Time Out fer. Coz I was jumpin' on the video box and making the TV pictures changing. She say I play too much video games. I keeps tellin' her I dunt. But she say I do and dats why I was on Time Out and I not "permitted" to write no nothing on da bloggie for so long. Basides, I broke da Halloween kitty jumpin' up there. I dint mean to! Reely I dint. Dat's when Bambi put me on Time Out and I canst write on no Bloggie.

That... plus... we had so much udder stuff goin' on too. My Uncle Ninja, he went off to da Rainbow Bridge. I misses him so much! But him was so sick. I glad he got to feel better and go run free again. And we gots them widdle baby kittens and I got to be their pretend Papa. Then, they gots all sick and had ta go away, and Pinky nevers came back! I misses Pinky, too! And Mom cride so much about Pinky alla time. Bambi tell me it okay coz Pinky dint go to da bridge, but got dopted and a new furrever home after him got healthy again.

But, Shadow... MY Shadow... MY baby! Shadow... He come back home! Oh, him was so nervus and sad. All I could do was hugs him and licks him and purrs all over him and make him feel all happy again. Now he growin' up so fast. Queen Bambi, she say dat Shadow is 8 months old now and him still a baby. Him da biggest baby cat I ever did see! Him is as long as ME right now and I is a big boy cat. I mean mancat.

Bambi say I not "mature" enuff ta call myself a mancat. I dunt know. I kinda like still being a boycat. Mom still swoop me up and cuddle me like a boy cat. I think she not do that if she think I mature like my old mancat, Uncle Ninja. May him rest in peace.

Why they say that? Rest in peace? Huh? I wonnder. Him not resting as I unnerstands it. Him off running free on da udder side of da Rainbow Bridge. And mebbe even him going ta run right off into him next life like Queen Bambi say. If dat how it is, then him not resting at all. Cuz kittens, them moves around a lot!

Can a Cat Propose?

I, Ninja Panther Moonrose, hereby propose my New Year's Resolutions:

1. I shall lose weight.
How I will do this, I don't know. Mama-San has already put the kitten's automatic feeder in a position so tight against the wall, and behind a terrarium that I can't quite get to it! Besides, when I try to squeeze behind there, she reminds me with a squirt of her water pistol to get out of there. She is so helpful! But, my own feeder is freely available to me at any time day or night. It's full of diet cat food, the best that money can buy, I've been told. That being the case, you would think I would lose weight. But, here I am at 14 pounds, that's one full stone in UK weight. I know there are others who might weigh this much normally, but I'm a small bone ninja cat. My full grown up body weight when I was adopted was 11 pounds.... (.78 stone) You would think that with our new little baby kitten hanging around here and chasing me all the time, all that exercise would get rid of those extra love handles (my cat pouch)

2. I shall make every endeavor to exercise
The best way I know how to do this is to go outside like I did when I was young and fit. Jumping fences, tormenting the dogs to chase me, leaping after birds, hunting mouses. You know, stuff like that. But, that's hard to accoomplish when Mama-San keeps the doors and windows locked all the time. And since The Monk installed those cat proof window screens, I can no longer successfully open them no matter how I try! Not fair!

3. I shall help our new baby kitten to grow up healthy.
I already help her by cleaning out her bowl of nice wet food when she walks away. We don't want her to eat stale food, now, do we?

4. I shall continue to protect and serve Her Royal Highness, Queen Bambi.
I guess I should have made this one first and foremost. huh?

5. I will continue to educate that stubborn and slow minded boycat, Spyder, in kitty martial arts.
What more can I say. Self explanatory!

6. I will respect Mama-San by not putting my open claws in her lap.
She always screeches when I do it, so I don't think she likes it! Though sometimes I can't help myself. She's got a good cat pouch growing and it just invites me to dig into it. You know what I mean?

7. I will continue to enthusiastically greet the Monk whenever he calls on the telephone and push my face right up into the receiver to guarantee that he hears me.
I shall do this because he likes it, plus all his friends who hear him on the phone talking to me, realize I'm one pawsome cat

8. I will greet the Monk at the door and walk around between his legs in order to help him when he is bringing in his luggage.
I understand this helps him considerably to keep his balance.

9. I will test out all the kitty beds in the house, even if they already belong to somecat else.
After all, my bed is all the way in the back guest room and too much trouble to get to. And this keeps everyone in suspense and they need the tension! ...What?!!!

 10. I will jump up on the bed between the Monk and Mama-San just as soon as they get comfortable, and roll all over them so that they can enjoy the inexplicable honor of petting me and rubbing my belly.

They like to do that the best and I am willing to accommodate them. In fact I wake them up in the middle of the night to allow them to do so every chance I get. I don't understand why they keep putting me out of the room.

This is a pretty impressive New Year's resolution plan. Don't you think? What are yours?

Ninja Eyes

Grumpy Cats

Everybody grumpy today. Queen Bambi grumpy. I grumpy. Miss E grumpy. Ninja most grumpy of all. It not my fault. Really, not me did it. I swares! We was running round da house same as uzual, having fun, Queen Bambi and me. Mr. grumpy Ninja was sleepin' by da bookshelp. We wasn't being quiet, but Ninja, he can sleep through ennyfing. Him always say him meditating, but I fink snoring not a mantra. Right? Is I right?

Ennyhow, I chase Bambi cross da back ov da sofa and she knock down all da pillows was up there, and one jump over and smack Ninja. Just then him look up, and me, I running cross da bookshelp and books fall down all beside Ninja, and he jump on top ov da books. Then Miss E come in da room and see Ninja and da mess ov books all over. She dint see me and Bambi cos by this time, we hiding unner da sofa. So Miss E fink Ninja knock down da books and tell him he a bad boy. And Ninja dont lyke that. Now him all grumpy.

Not my fault him sleeping right there by them books! Queen Bambi say we gots ta stay away from him coz he givving da Eebil Eye. Him look scarey when him grumpy don'tcha fink so?

Eyes of the Ninja

Ninja Cat Haiku Corrections

The other day I wrote a Haiku without guidance from The Monk. I am most honored that my Sensei helps me today to make corrections. He's really proud of me for my advanced skills. Even though I wrote my poem in the correct form of (5-7-5) in American Cat English language, the literal translation into Japanese is not in Haiku form.

My original Haiku:

in sunlit window
sleeping cat awakens
golden eyes reflect


In order to fit the form and still have the meaning of my poem The Monk demonstrated how it would be in Japanese:

by the window
cat awakens
golden eye

This is how it is written in Japanese script, which is a combination of Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana characters. In this case the form is 5-7-6, which is called giamari and is still a correct form of Haiku.

窓ぎわの
ネコがめざめて
金色の目

This is how you would say it:

madogiwa no
neko ga mezamete
kiniro no me

Obon Festival

Wow! I never seen Ninja pout before! Bambi said he was "sulking".

We could hear da drums and smell da food cookin' but I din't unnerstand why dat make Ninja sad. It make me happy! It make Queen Bambi drool! But, she say lady queens no drool. Her just have luscious lips she say. Look like droolin' to me.

I ask Ninja why he sad. He say da Monk and Miss E went to Obon Festibal over at da Boodist Tempel and they lef him behind here at home. I finks he crazy. Why he wants ta go in da car?

He say Obon Festibal very important to him. He say it time to honor da ones what went over da Rainbow Bridge. And he say I gots to member Jeffery. I member him. He da big old snaggle toof mancat who was so growlchy when I was baby kitten.

I ask Ninja if him Sensei teacher doggies over da bridge, too. Him say no, if they go, they gonna come tell him in his dreams first. That be scarey dream, some doggies come see me when I sleepin'!

Alla sudden da breeze bring us new sniffs and Ninja look sad. He tell me they gots tarry-yucky chickin' and sushi over there! I fink he more intrested in da food then him is intrested in the Jeffery.

And dats when da drummin start up again. Ninja raise him head and listen with wishes on him face. He tell me them drums is called Taiko.

I tell him I like da drummin' very much. I feel it in my feets, an it make my ear hairs and whiskers bybrate. Then he say I very speshul young mancat. First time he call me mancat!

Wow! Obon must be Ninja favorite thing. No wonder him sad he dint go.

After while da Monk and Miss E come home and guess what? They bring sushi just for Ninja. Then he very happy again!

Queen of England to Visit Queen Bambi?

I understand that the Queen of England is visiting locally. She will not be visiting with me, however, no matter how much she likes cats. (Does she? I wonder) I have not sent her an invitation to visit, as my schedule is quite full.

For example, today was particularly busy with an unwelcome visit from Mr. Mockingbird. What a pest he is. He so much wants to see me that he flies in from long distances to sit upon the tall tree in our south eastern corner.  He is so persistent that he cannot keep a respectable distance and swoops down to the top of the gazebo!

Of course I watch him diligently from the window whilst pretending not to take notice of him in the slightest. After all, I sent the message I sha'n't give him audience!

I wish Ninja would shoo him away. But, alas, Ninja spends more time meditating these days and less time practicing his martial arts skills. He still teaches Spyder, but not so much by example as previously.

Needless to say, I have my own techniques which I have developed from my wild days before I came into my proper royal status, I find my methods quite useful on occasion, in order to carry out my duties and keep my subjects in line.

As I sat keeping an eye upon that pesky Mr. Mockingbird, he had the audacity, to dive down from the gazebo. Then, immediately. he swirled around the apricot tree right in front of the window!

I know he did that to provoke me. He certainly was asking for it!

So I leaped upon him with all my force and intent. He is fortunate indeed that I did not get my paws upon him! I had fiercely flung my body directly onto the window screen and no matter how I shook it, it did not budge! I could tell Miss E was a bit disturbed by this as she came in and closed the window.

Ninja's Favorite Human Ninja

Hi, It's me Ninja. Everyone around here thinks my Martial Arts interests have going into hibernation. I didn't spend the first 8 years of my life (48 in human time) studying with those two fine Sensei teachers of mine, the Honorable Shi Tzu and Honorable Akita, to throw it away in my old age.

I found this video of a modern ninja. you can tell he has good Martial Arts training and he is almost as good as a ninja cat. But, not quite. You will get dizzy in the end watching this, but it is worth it. Bambi and Spyder are very impressed



This video is not accompanied by sound, and that's good. Keep your focus on the ninja!

By Fur or By Feather

Queen Bambi writing: 

We've all been so on edge lately. We can feel the sadness and worry Miss E is carrying around. It makes Ninja especially frustrated and I must admit... angry. He says he wants to rescue her, but can't find anyone to rake with his Samurai Claws to get revenge and end the problem.

I appreciate the gravity of the situation. Miss E is not the only one affected.

We can feel it in the air, the earth, and the rain that cried last night. Something is not right. Something big. We've been feeling the intensity increase. All of nature is uneasy. I've heard many whispers among the insects. I've been trying to catch them and make them tell me what's wrong. But, the get smashed upon the wall. The laugh in their zinging way as they escape.

The birds seem sedate in their squawkings, even the pretty songsters are quiet. They go about their business without their foolish happy twitterings that entertain us so much. Something is very wrong. 

Spyder has been listless, not understanding what is pressing down his joyful energy. He walks back and forth across the window ledge. I crawl under the blankets with Miss E trying to give her comfort, to draw her attention away from what's bothering her. I even sat on her chest to help her to relax and pet me.

Ninja has been meditating deeply on the mystery, looking outside and beyond, looking around the world. And now He tells me there is no way for him to alleviate the problem by using his sharp weapon claws. He has learned what's wrong.

Even using his mind control power is not going to be enough unless efurrybuddy were to become ninjas, and that takes years of discipline and training. No, Ninja says this is serious. He says terrible damage has been done far away where the Monarchs migrate when they don't live near us.

He says the disgusting odor we smell when the car starts up has invaded an ocean. Not our ocean, but the one where the butterflies go when they are not with us. The Monarch Butterflies like the one our friend, Allie, showed us. I didn't think the smell is so terrible that it could be serious. But, Ninja says that in his meditation he saw that it was a nasty sticky stuff worse than when the rain and the earth mix together. He said it's a disaster called Oil Spill. And then I understood.

We must gather up all our shedding fur into a plastic bag. If we can get the birds to give us their spare feathers we must do the same with them. If the yappy dogs next door would give us their fur and the sheep out there on the farm give his clean wool, and if Miss E will go into her drawer and pull out all those nylon stockings that she never wears and puts them in a bag, we will all be able to help those who are working so hard to clean up the oil spill.

And we must send it all to MATTER OF TRUST, where they will take it all and make "Containment Booms" to soak up the Oil Spill. We hope our beloved readers from any part of the world will do the same. That way we can all help out, a hair at a time. Let your dog and cat groomers know about this so they can help too. Our long haired cousin, Cassie already got shaved.

And see if the birdies will trust you to pull out some of their feathers for a good cause. Our own yellow birdie is going to tell his friends. I'm sure they will if we promise not to hurt them. So many of their cousins are being covered with this ooky gooky Oil Spill and it is making them sick.

Below you will see a video that demonstrates how a hair containment boom is made, so we can understand what will happen after we send in our fur and feathers.

Gazebo Cats

We sat in the patio window watching the wind blow on the last of the tarp over the "gazebo". They call it a gazebo, but we learned that it is really just a sun shade, like a partial tent.

But, it is fun watching the shreds of tarp blowing in the wind, no matter what it is called.  Ninja says it reminds him of the grass huts in Hawaii, but we are not sure he really has been to Hawaii. Though the shreds do look a little bit like long grasses, especially because they are green. The wind has been blowing on them ever since I came to live here in my forever home.

Then, we were rudely interrupted in our reverie by Miss E and the Monk, as they carried in a large box and dropped it in the middle of the floor. Ker-Plunk! They made a racket as the Monk removed long metal poles. Ninja said they looked suspiciously similar to the poles that hold up our gazebo.

Miss E plucked us all up and unceremoniously closed us into the bedroom. I didn't mind one bit. After all, it was much more peaceful in there as they hauled things out onto the patio. Spyder was quite excited about all the fuss, and jumped up onto the window sill to watch what they were doing. I soon joined him. But, Ninja would have none of it. He suggested we all "chill out" and lie on the bed while we had the chance to enjoy it.

Spyder and I watched with consternation as we saw them dismantle our gazebo! We sadly realized we will never be able to watch the lovely green shreds swaying in the breezes ever again. It took a few minutes to figure out that the Monk was constructing a new gazebo. We were not happy as we shall miss one of our favorite pastimes. We soon became bored with this tedious process and followed Ninja's fine example and joined him on the bed. We made sure we left a lot of hair on the blanket to show our displeasure with the new gazebo!

Sushi for Breakfast

This morning while I was bird watching and Spyder was napping, the Monk and Miss E were having breakfast.

Ninja went to beg like an uncouth commoner! He has such bad manners, he even jumps up on the table! I would NEVER do such a thing! I stay away when they dine.

It would be unseemly for a queen to beg! Especially the way Ninja does it. Don't you agree?  Besides, I slept in between them last night right under the blankets! So, I don't need their attention the way Ninja does.

When the Monk woke up he was so surprised to see me right there by his elbow, he jumped. Of course, I found this quite disconcerting! So, I leaped like a little deer - like the Bambi deer I am named after, and I was gone in a flash.

The Monk called to me to return, and for once I decided to forgive him. So, I went back and he petted me. He's a good human, even if he already belongs to Ninja.

So, Ninja got to eat sushi again, even after they said they weren't going to give him any more, and this time his tummy was okay with it. I saw Miss E give him caviar, which I understand is fish eggs. But, he says he likes the hamachi best.

I love to watch the live fish in the aquarium and even taste their water when I get a chance, but I just cannot tolerate the idea of eating dead fish, no matter how delicious Ninja says it is!

Bird is so much better!

In Celebration of the Outstretched Paw

Our friends on other cat blogs have been celebrating the outstretched paw. We think it is a good idea to join them.

This is Ninja writing, so I will put my picture first. I think you will find my mancat paw quite pawsome!

This is Spyder stretching his paw out in the Curly Q fashion

Bambi says she is Queen and therefore does not reach her paw out to anyone!  It is very true. We have never seen her do that and Miss E has never taken a picture of her that way.


Go on over to Purrfect Haven, Darcy and Bingley's blog, to see their outstretched paws. And Milo and Alfie's too. They all have some really pawsome pictures!

Stranger Danger!

I owe Ninja an apology. I have made disparaging remarks regarding his ninja training.

I thought he was too proud, too overweight, too old and too cowardly. I mean, after all, he gave that impression, always asserting he had spent his life studying with masters, that he had black collars in every martial art there is, and he clearly wears a red collar.

We just thought he made it all up that he could climb walls silently and fly across the tops of bamboo trees. I don't even know what a bamboo tree is. But, he swears he can smell one probably planted directly across the street. And truly he was overweight, though has been more in shape lately. He has always acquiesced to my position as his Queen and acts frightened and runs away if I so much as look at him imperiously, which I am very good at, by the way.

But, this evening he proved himself in every way. We were all in our room enjoying the sunset, looking out our large plate glass sliding door that leads out to the patio. It is a good thing that Miss E had closed it earlier as it was getting chilly. Usually we have it open with just the screen closed so that the fresh air can be enjoyed.

After the sun went down and we were drowsing with the dusk, I perked up my ears as Ninja sounded a warning whisker. A stranger was approaching!

A large ginger cat came up to the window brazen as you please. We were all quite alarmed! I was up on top of the cat tower so I could not quickly make a charge.

So, Ninja leaped to the rescue, he was at the door immediately and would have gone through the screen! He so fiercely attacked that he banged his nose against the window. This did not make our intruder go away, but it certainly had him worried, as he kept looking away like he wanted to.


By this time Spyder was there beside Ninja, waiting for some guidance on how to help. Oh yes, our boy is growing so brave, and Ninja has taught him well the ways of a Man Cat. Ninja gave a fierce growl politely suggesting (as is his way) that the stranger vacate the premises immediately.

Our little Spyder had his hackles up so high he looked like a porcupine, but he joined in with Ninja demanding the stranger leave. Between them both, the stranger carefully turned, step by step making his way back out into the night, but not before he muttered a whining growl. "I'll be back!" he said. "You've not heard the last from me!"

Not Cat Muscle

Yesterday Miss E took my loyal guardian, and companion, Ninja, to the veterinarian for his immunization. When they returned Ninja turned his back on us refusing to exit the carrier. That is so unlike him. Usually, he is quite speedy exiting cages. Spyder and I went and sniffed him. He certainly had a myriad assortment of odors on him. Once Miss E pulled him out, Ninja immediately went into seclusion. He would not look at us. We were quite concerned about his unusual behavior. Spyder repeatedly questioned Ninja, asking what was wrong. Ninja was in no mood to tolerate the annoyances of our young mankitty and scared him off with a hiss. Ninja knows better than to hiss at his Queen, so I remained with him.

Eventually, he said, he had terrible shame had lost "face". I could not comprehend the meaning of his statements until he explained. He had shame as he has done something unacceptable and offensive. He cannot hold his head up with pride anymore, and that's why it is called loosing face  He says it is a very serious condition in ninja codes. If he were an outside cat, he would have to go up in the mountains to live as a hermit never showing his face again. Poor Ninja, to believe thus!

I told him in no uncertain terms, as his Queen and Royal Highess, he owed his allegiance to me, first and foremost. Not to the foolish ancient ninja codes.

Even though they are very honorable, he needed to accept that his duty to me is greater than his old ways. I reminded him he has not lost face with me, nor Spyder. He looked so relieved and told me the reason why he felt so much shame. I could barely contain myself! So, I sent him off to get some comfort petting from Miss E.

Spyder came to me, properly bowed his head, kissed my nose and begged me to tell him what was wrong. I couldn't help but giggle slightly. "The fact is, my dear boycat, the vet told Miss E, Ninja was very overweight!

We had a very hard time controlling ourselves so Spyder and I jumped on the bed rolling around laughing.

Attention, Please!

                              
Every time that Miss E sits down at her computer, I know that I have her cornered.

This is the best time for me to come over to her for petting.

Sometimes she is an easy target. But, sometimes she is not.

Once she gets busy, she wont get up for a while. So, I just head over to the side of her chair and purr loudly so she will notice me.

If that doesn’t work, I meow at her in my most firm, Ninja voice.

If she cannot hear me, and this seems to be most of the time, I stand on my hind legs, pull on her belt, and poke her with my paw!

And again give a firm command.

Sometimes she is so focused that she still doesn’t notice, even if I use my mind-over-matter skills and penetrate her brain with thoughts of "pay attention to cat!"

Bambi thinks that is so impolite of me! But ya gotta do what ya gotta do in order to train a purrson properly. And I do want her attention! Sometimes I need to give her a karate chop.

If that doesn't work, I have resorted to what my ancestors would have done, and that is to bite her! Don't be shocked. Really, it is ever so gentle of a nudge with the sharp points of my teeth!

How could she possible ignore this technique? Usually by this time she picks me up and rewards me with the attention I deserve.

Cat Fish

Saturday evening the Monk arrived with wonderful treats to eat from halfway around the world. He brought SUSHI!!! I was so happy to see him! But, I was surprised when the Monk and Miss E didn't offer me any. I thought for sure they would set a place at the table for me.

It would have been a great opportunity to use my ninja skills to invisible swipe away some sushi, but I respect the Monk and Miss E too much to do that. Plus, they never looked away. However, as a well controlled ninja did not yeow like a begging kitten. I did wander around their legs and the table legs to work up my energy powers, though.

I focused my mind pointedly into their human thought waves, and produced a very simple mantra: FEED ME! Miss E succumbed first. She began to break off morsels of her salmon, then some shiro-maguro, then some snapper, then some ebi.  It pays to be a gentleman with mind control powers. I savored every delicious mouthful.

The monk is not so easily swayed. He is very protective of his food, as any wise cat would do, and adamant that he was not going to share. I had to demonstrate one of my Tai Chi poses to impress him standing upright on my haunches while balancing my upright paws. He was much delighted with the high quality of my ability to hold the pose. His resolve soon melted. Hamachi, unagi, anago, ika, kurodai, and tamago passed over my palate. A feast fit for a fine ninja, such as myself.

Ah, Near Samadhi!

Eight Years in the Life of a Ninja

Well, here I am another year older, and wiser, I like to think. We had a great party today and celebrated with a tuna cake cut into three parts. There were no candles on the cake. Miss E doesn't believe in having candles. She thinks they are dangerous. That's okay by me. Though candles can bring about great states of relaxation by staring at them. I can stare all I like in relaxations without candles. I rather like the warmth of the stained glass lamp shining down on my fur. I don't think a candle can do that.

The years have passed by in a blur. I've had a good life. I can't complain. The only life I ever knew was with the couple I lived with and those two dogs.

One was a Lhasa Apso. Her name was Dolly... Dolly Lamar.... get it? No?

Dolly told me she is from a long line of sacred Dolly Lamars from Tibet. She is the 123rd in her lineage. She was very wise, but very sometimes hard to understand. She spent a lot of time chanting in some ancient gutteral sound. Once she was quiet, if a bell rang, she would start up again. It sounded like "oooooommahneeepadmeeeeehoooo" I think there was something about her background or training that was set to bells. if the door bell rang she would start up. If I jingled my collar bell, she would stop, and then if I jingled it again, she would start again. So, I tried not to jingle at all. That was one of my first lessons in becoming a Ninja. Being silent in my stealth techniques.

The other dog was an Akita. He was huge! His name was Kain Doshi, but our people just called him Doshi. He claimed to be a warrior monk of the highest caliber and an expert teacher of Ninjutsu martial arts. I called him Sensei, which means teacher in Japan, where his ancestors came from. Though he was large, he was quiet compared to Dolly. He really knew how to just sit, and be. I learned a lot from Sensei.

I miss those two. But when I was living with them it could be very difficult to get through a day with both of them on my tail to learn this lesson and that. It could be very confusing, since both had different points of view. Yet, they were united on their goals to train me to their "Way". Unfortunately for them I am not a dog and could not fit into their "pact". Fortunately for me, I am a superior black cat who has taken the best of their knowledge and put it into practice. Even they could never reach the state of being one can reach in the practice of "Stillness". I am actually quite excellent and can hold that pose for a very long time. No dog I know of can keep stillness for that long, always being distracted by people calling them, responding to whistling, and cars driving up to the house, and so on.

I do miss them, it's true. I miss the couple, too. Even though they were always yelling at me.

"KOBE!!! Get down from there." I had to get away from my incessant but well meaning teachers. Didn't I? How else was I to do that but by sitting on top of the refrigerator?

"KOBE, Come here!" What did they think? That I was a dog and would come running when summoned? Excuse me, even a tough guy like me has a sense of dignity. Besides I had no idea they were referring to me when they were shouting KOBE, KOBE, KOBE all the time. Dolly and Sensei showed me that when they are shouting like that to go hide and whimper, usually under the table. But, I would never go under the table with the dogs. I couldn't stand the whimpering. It was just too high pitched for my sensitive ears. So, I would go hide somewhere else. The couple thought I was "aloof", and seemed quite happy to leave it that way, as the dogs were happy to lick their faces all the time. That left me plenty of time to practice my Zen skills.

But, that last year I lived there, the couple were always bickering. I was almost relieved when we were all put in our carriers and taken to the shelter. Dolly swung into her chanting continuously that whole trip. I felt sad that my own Sensei would howl like a common dog, then too. It was quite painful to be in the middle of that. I was so relieved when we were separated but I didn't realize I wouldn't see my teachers again. That is one thing they were sure of when we were traveling in the car. I had blocked out all their noise, but they Knew it was Good bye.. Sayonara because that was part of their last messages to me.

At the shelter nice man took me out of the carrier and "inspected" me, saying I was in perfect shape. Of course, I was, even though I was already seven years old. They say that is 45 in people years. I suppose that is venerable enough for me.

So when I came to live here and was called KOBE, I turned and went in the other direction. It didn't take long before the Monk recognized who I really was, and pointed out to Elizabeth that I was truly a Ninja. He is a very smart man, and a brother in the monkhood so to speak, as it seems he can be "still" in the midst of chaos, too. And even though he has an innate fear of cats, he is able to maintain his integrity by his own zen practice. It seems that Keli, the Dowager Queen was his first teacher of cat acceptance. Though, I have noticed, even though he is able to pet me, he has never attempted to pick me up. I recall, though, that he would let Jeffery sprawl himself out from head to toe on his lap on occasion.

Now that Keli and Jeffery are gone, I have a lot of responsibility around here. First and foremost, I guard over the household by keeping my post at the head of the bed on the bookcase headboard. Then, of course, I must be a good example and older brother to Bambi, though she has little respect for me when she chases me about. I guess I still have a lot to learn about patience. And now that little Spyder has joined us, it is imperative for me to let him know who is boss around here, and teach him some manners. Though Bambi insists that she will take care of raising him in the Way of the Cat.

Sometimes I'm not sure which is more challenging, to live in a household with two dogs, or to live in a household with two other cats?

I know one thing for sure. The past is the past, and it is done. That is the way of the Zen Cat. The future with Bambi and Spyder is yet untold. Though, I may attempt to influence them with my abilities and powers, we may not always see eye to eye. Worry not, I say to myself. The future is the future, and it is not this moment now. Spending this moment now worry, is not living. It is worrying. For right now, I will just be and live the moment.

Happy Birthday to me.