Amber & FAQ

Q. Do the boys still snuggle?

A.  Yes.

P.S. Ginger's haunches are a little damp there from laying in the tub after my shower to absorb warmth.

Amber & Comforter Chameleon

Woody has many, many super powers, but among them is his ability to match duvet covers with amazing and handsome ease.

See for example how his ears and points and nose took on a pink glow when we lived in Madison and had a pink duvet?

Could it possibly be the same cat who looks downright tan against the back drop of our new duvet and comforter, a wonderful and much used gift from my mom and dad?

Without those gorgeous blue eyes, he would be invisible.

Amber & Breaking (and Sassy) News!

Ever-vigilant Kevin sends this breaking news from CSM about two of my favorite (and most blogged species):


Monkeys...

...and Squirrels.

The headline SLAYS me.

And, I found this conclusion fascinating.

"It is more likely that a simple misunderstanding about the squirrels' nature underpins the melee."

It reminded me of two other animals with a similar antagonism:

Tiggy...

...and Pickles.

Tiggy just misunderstands that Pickles is a baby and just wants to snuggle, or maybe attack her and chew her head, in the most loving way possible.

Amber & Peppy Penguins

I'm not the only one greeting the new year with optimism.

Amber & There's No Mystery Left

2010 was rather mysterious.  There were a number of mysteries that really absorbed (hogged) alot of my cognitive powers.  For example, it was about seven months from start to finish wondering why my side hurt so much before a new mystery (What on earth did my doctor just say is wrong with me?  Epiglottal appendicidits?) demanded to be answered.

We also solved some year-spanning mysteries, like what exactly we stared at for all those years at the River House?  And we celebrated yearly mysteries on June 8 with Kitty Eyebrow Day.

But our friend 2011 has (finally) brought us a new year's answer for one mystery that plagued me all winter long.  Namely: what on earth is this guy?

This was a deep, dark mystery, compounded by the fact that the image name was "Oink.jpg."  Clearly, that guy is not a pig.  Unlike when we learned all about the dik-dik, I had no general family of animals from which to start my research, never having taken a zoo class in "fuzzy tree creatures."  I had almost given up--although the image was still sitting there on my desktop, taunting me at start up every day.

But, lo!  When I went to do my Monday round-up of all things adorable, there was my mystery buddy along with some of his equally mysterious cousins!

I think that's the same guy, right?  Anyhow, it seems I am behind the cute animal times (makes sense since they are part of pop culture these days).  Cuteoverload solved my mystery in 2009.  Those guys are Japanese Dwarf Flying Squirrels.  That means they can do this!

Surprise!  Cute and flying.

Amber & Multitasking

How do I do it, you ask?

Work full time for Mother Goose Inc. (and pretty darn well if my department's contribution to the bottom line is any evidence)?

Stay in touch with both my friends and pop culture (my BFF)?

Maintain compelling web content meant to maximize audience engagement on this blog, a go-to source for serious journalism on topics as broad reaching as Hat Hair, Kitties, and Television?

And, all the while, manage to kick the behind of my own Sudoku score?

I have an amazing muse, darling reader.

Muses, even.

Amber & I Heart Him

Some days, I spend the whole day just waiting to get home, scoop Woody up in my arms, bury my face in his neck and sniff.

(Photo by James)

He smells of afternoon naps, oatmeal and enchantment.  At least that was the scent I got from him this morning.  He always smells like love.

Amber & Ridonkulous, Defined

I mean, sweetums, did you have to put the paw on the edge of the donut like you were posing for your holiday portrait at Bradlee's?  And do your eyes have to be so big and surprised-looking?  And what about those crazy eyebrow whiskers?

I mean, really?

Luff.

Amber & Tiggy Pooja

It's that time of year again (or, really, the first time since this is the first ever observance) to honor and devote ourselves to the grace and majesty of the Ultimate Dainty Paw with Tiggy Pooja.

There are so many fantastic stories about Tiggy to be retold on her special day.  We can remember the harrowing tale of how Tiggy did battle with the metallic silver thread, protecting our household from really bad fashion choices.  And then there is the tale about how gravity has no effect on Tiggy and so she grew to be the size of a mountain once to protect us during our journey through the dark, cold lands of Wisconsin.  (For much of that journey we actually rode on Tiggy's back, or at least I rested my head on it.)

She was so big then!  But she also has the power to be as small as a mouse-- almost invisible if the challenge (the vacuum cleaner) calls for it.

Tiggy knows not every battle needs to be fought.  Sometimes, when your brother wants to chew on your butt, you are better off just going in the other room.  It's the lesson of Tiggy's non-violence.

Also, for Tiggy Pooja, we listen to alot of David Bowie because, in certain lights, Tiggy, too, knows the magic of the green and blue eyes.

For Tiggy Pooja, we spend most of the day (except the laundry offering) at home.  Tiggy frequently reminds us that the home is where her heart is.  How badly do we  really need to leave the house?  With our bag?

Tiggy is small, but full of love.  She likes her chest rubs in the morning, she likes to sit on the toilet to make sure I am surviving the horrors of the shower, and she often purrs just being next to me.  I love her, and I am thankful for the chance to honor her on her special kitty holiday.

Amber & Mysteries of Talent

How is that Jimmy manages to take amazing photos even with his iPhone camera?

And, even more mysteriously, how are those kitty boys so darned adorable.

Amber & I Love Pooh

And not just Classic Pooh or Pooh from those Taoist books.  I was raised on Sears & Roebuck Disney Pooh with the red half-shirt, and Piglett in the pink-stripe leotard.  And I love that Pooh.  I loved my aforeblogged Talking Viewmaster Viewer with the amazing depth to the images, but I also loved the flatter hand-painted animations.  Like with the Heffalumps and Woozles.

(Yes, that Pooh nightmare gave me nightmares, but it was a growth experience.)

So just imagine my excitement, when Jimmy directed my attention to this.



I cried. That is how excited I am.  Who is in for a midnight screening on the day it opens?  Huh?

Come on, people.  It's Pooh.  And there seems to be a honey dream/dance sequence.

Love.

Amber & But He Can't Glide!

But holy bologna is he cute.

Amber & Meanwhile....

Lowell, the the World's Best Cat Sitter, sends this proof of cuteness in my apartment.

(Proof that Lowell is amazing?  Pickles is not only out from under the bed, but interacting with him. Cutely.)

They are all so good, and by "they" I mean Pickles, Woody and Lowell.

Amber & Happy Colobus Day!

Like Kevin says, "Lose the M and it's much better."

Amber & Oh. Em. Gee.

I am not sure I have ever seen anybody more ridiculously cutie.

Or with a curlier belly.

Thank you, video chat, for making documenting Pickles so entertaining.

Amber & Pica Pooja

Today is the very special celebration of Pica Pooja, on which we contemplate and take lessons from the myriad qualities contained in the small kitty of Pickles.  "Pica" is the avatar of Pickles we recognize when he is sleeping in a small and curly ball.  But we know, even then, that he has a mighty mew inside him, ready to call for more play and joy in the world, being, as he is, the champion of fun and fleece wand.

Pica Pooja actually begins with the brother, Ginger, waking us by ritually grooming our hair with his tongue.  No one is a bigger devotee of Pickles than Ginger.

Later, there will be playful brother wrestling with feats of strength like Head Banging on Floor Loudly and Kicka Kicka Kicka, but the morning starts out slow with a plate of wet food, sprinkled with Pickles Powder.  As we sprinkle the Pickles Powder on the food, we are reminded that all kitties have special needs but some kitties have more special needs than others, and we say "Bam!" to remember the shock we had when we got the vet bills from Pickles's most special hospital pilgrimage.

And tonight, the celebration will really kick into high gear with many, many enrichments.  We may do Treats in Open Envelopes, or Treats Hidden Under Dixie Cups, or Treats Stolen While Taking them Out of the Bag Because Somebody with Curly Fur Is Too Impatient.

Pickles fur reminds us, again, to experience joy.  The hair could grow in straight lines, but it chooses instead to take a more circuitous route, to stop and form curls around the roses.

And Pickles reminds us that the highest form of love of the self and life is loving others, including those who are baby and needy.  We could, for example, spend more time painting our toe nails or ironing shirts, but isn't it ultimately more rewarding--and enjoyable for ourselves--to instead run back and forth through the house with the fleece wand, hiding behind doorframes and ducking beside the bed.  Doesn't that bring rewards that are many, many times beyond?

Amber & Strengths vs. Weaknesses

I've been doing a more structured play time with the kitties every evening before their dinner time.  Not only is group play supposed to help with kitty relations (since Woody came back from the hospital he has no patience for his little brothers, and inexplicably, Tiggy has even less than he does), but more diversion is supposed to help with Pickles's anxiety which is a prime suspect in his pee problems.  Energy spent on PLAY EMOTION means less energy spent on FEAR.  (Illustration of FEAR provided by Pickles's eyes.)

On Monday, I wrapped a few treats in four little strips of brown paper bag and gave one to each kitty.  There was some initial sniffing, but, even though they had seen me put the treats inside, no one seemed to understand that the treats were still in there.  I tried partially unwrapping each treat pack, but only Woody really did any digging.  Ginger did mostly eat one corner of his paper pouch, but then didn't seem to notice that he had exposed the treats.  Sigh.

So, today, I bought one of these things.

See how the cat in the illustration is poking at the toy?  Well, Tiggy, Pickles and Ginger all did that.  They even worked together to knock it about and knock out the treats.  But Pickles?  He took a couple of sniffs, tried to eat treats the others knocked out, and then retreated to the blue donut with the cardboard it came with.

So, let's just say his weakness is Problem Solving and leave the hidden treat games to the other cats.  And then think up another game that somehow uses his strengths: Curliness and Babyness.

And in the meantime, I'll be playing the game where he and I chase each other up and down the length of the apartment until he decides it is dinner time.  (Sorry downstairs neighbor.)

Amber & Birthday Booty

So, today is also my birthday.  And I got some stuff.

Yesterday, I got a very sweet card from my Auntie Carol.  It was so heart-felt that it made me super happy inside. Also, I got this super heart-felt post from CRD.

Then, this morning,  I got this super cutie hedgie necklace from Nick along with a rubber hedgie stamp.  (Just you wait until I mail you something.  Stamp!)

Then, I got this pretty headpiece (they call these "fascinators" I think) and some kitty highlighters from Alison and this loaf of yumminess and a burping cloth for after I eat the loaf (see my shoulder) from Emma.

And, I this awesome handy-crafted lavendar and flax pillow from Emma.  I think it supposed to be for eyes, but it smells so good I might use it as a nose pillow.

And, then I got this adorable hedgie necklace (! the sign of the perfect gift is multiplicity!) and some chocolates which I am eating right now from Alison.

Thank you, everybodies.  And, if you are wondering what a girl does with TWO hedgie necklaces?  I think she celebrates that she now has an earring option, maybe wears one as an anklet or keeps one in her hedgie shrine at home, but is really, really delighted to have friends that know her so well and are so thoughtful and giving.

Amber & Everybody's Fancy

Some kitties are curly on the outside.

But they are not so furry on the insides.

Every kitty is fancy, every kitty is fine.  Your kitty's fancy, and so is Pickles.

Amber & More Birthday Wishes

I totally almost forgot that this guy says Happy Birthday to Nick, too.

And so does Petey!

You can tell because he is licking the air to taste the excitement.