[ Posted by JimmyKitty on May 1st, 2007 4:35 AM ]...

I got new neighbors last week. People with about 4 kids ranging from age 2 up to teens. AND... two kittens. Today I was outside with the cats, again (in the controlled backyard zone) and I could hear them "mewing" in the garage next door. I don't know the situation - but they sound *very* young.

Meanwhile, I'm converting the unused fireplace into a litter box. I'm creating a *pan* that fits within the fireplace and a cover that makes the whole thing like a little house. This way any odors are sent straight up the chimney, and recessed into the wall I don't have to deal with the litter box in the hallway.

Other than that....? Nada. Just working on my book.

1 Reply [ Latest posted on May 1st, 2007 3:50 PM ]

[ Posted by Lois2037 on May 1st, 2007 3:50 PM ]... Our cats did that anyway--WITHOUT permission! Ewwww. Sounds like a good idea, though. Will your cats use a box with a cover? Ours just hated that. What kind of people keep kittens in their garage?! We're doing all the same overwork stuff, plus prepping the house for sale. So far I have painted 4 rooms, with only the kitchen left, plus the downstairs bathroom ceiling. I SO want to be on the other side of all this...! And it is not a good thing when cats help you paint.

[ Posted by JimmyKitty on Apr 11th, 2007 4:39 PM ]...

Lois, my 15 year old girl has suddenly started "talking" all day. She just goes through the house "nee-yowing" - then breaks out into those cat sprints for a time. We've been going outside a lot lately. I'm working on "cat proofing" the backyard in time for summer. I take them out for "walks" for about an hour every other day - to break the monotony. I need it too, stuck in the house drawing all the time.

Sadly, living in "the hood" of Oakland, Ca. isn't the best home for outdoor cats. Cars speed and spin 'donuts' up and down the street, aggressive pit bulls are accessories and it's just a crazy place. I love pit bulls - when raised properly. Lovely dogs. But I've already lived through one cat death due to pit bull. The litter mate (the 15 yr. old girl) is still alive from after that attack. You can understand my skittishness letting her out again.

Anyway.... she's just talking all day now.
Either she's going senile, or just stir house crazy. Hahah!

We both are.

1 Reply [ Latest posted on April 11th, 2007 6:26 PM ]

[ Posted by Lois2037 on Apr 11th, 2007 6:26 PM ]... Maybe she just wants to tell you what to do! It kind of sounds like Spring fever, doesn't it? I know what you mean about not letting the cats out. All our cats are indoors, too, and they take it pretty well most of the time. We had pit bull jackasses in our old neighborhood, by which I mean the owners, not the dogs. They thought it was lots of fun to sic their dogs on cats, which, of course, were killed almost immediately. Nice folks. This neighborhood seems pretty safe, and there are quite a few cats that go out, but as long as there are cars on the road, mine stay in. We are about to run into a bit of trouble with this, actually... We're going to sell our house and get a smaller one with a lower mortgage, and the cats all have to go somewhere while we prep the place and show it to buyers. This will be most interesting... The one really good thing about most of our work going to computer is that with wi-fi in our house, we can work ANYWHERRE, even the back yard or (my favorite!) front porch. That really helps with that house-crazy feeling.

[ Posted by JimmyKitty on Mar 21st, 2007 4:32 AM ]...

Lois, sorry I'm late.... I just caught up on your blog.
I read about Skeezix. I'm SO sorry to hear that news.
As a fellow cat-person trust me you have all my
sympathy and I wish you the best as you get
through this.

[ Posted by SChung1968 on Jan 4th, 2007 7:53 PM ]...

Lois,

Happy New Year to you and Tom.

I'm planning on attending Wondercon on March 2nd only, but I hope to see you there.

Steve

1 Reply [ Latest posted on January 5th, 2007 12:21 AM ]

[ Posted by Lois2037 on Jan 5th, 2007 12:21 AM ]... We'll be looking for you.

[ Posted by al_gordon on Dec 26th, 2006 8:22 PM ]...

He Big "L"?

Is this really you??? And is Big Tom warmin' his toes witcha too?

best dishes,
~albabe

1 Reply [ Latest posted on January 4th, 2007 6:45 PM ]

[ Posted by JimmyKitty on Jan 4th, 2007 6:45 PM ]... I also wondered if this was the lovely Lois I recall from the conventions - and likewise, Tom's better half. But even if it wasn't I'm ALWAYS happy to deal in "cat talk".

[ Posted by Lois2037 on Dec 26th, 2006 9:15 PM ]...

Yeah, Al, it's me. Tom is on comicspace as ... Tom Orzechowski. He hates screen names. We haven't totally frozen up here in Portland, but we may drown. Lots of rain up here, and some of it is finding its way into our basement. Fun, fun, fun.