If Bert Says It's True, It Must Be True

"There are two means of refuge from the misery of life - music and cats."
- Albert Schweitzer

Isn't it grand that we are of such use to our food humans? I mean, to have Albert Schweitzer rank us right up there with music when it comes to being a refuge from the misery of life... that's really something.

Of course, I always try to be empathetic when HH gets down a bit, but now I might be a bit more attentive. I mean, I want to continue to be ranked up there with music..., don't you?

Oh-oh, did Mousey eat too much cheese?

Max on... Scratching

How's your scratching post holding up? Personally, I scratched whatever was handy and usually ignored a scratching post. Have you ever wondered why we do all that scratching... besides the fact that it just feels good?

According to the Humane Society, we scratch the furniture or other things to:

• Mark our territory (it seems we have sweat glands in between our paw pads)
• To stretch and exercise
• To remove the outer layers of our claws when they need it.
  

Are these the reasons you scratch? If you have reasons other than the ones the humans come up with, let me know.

Humans are convinced it's not because we don't like the furniture they picked out. I bet in some cases, though, that poor choice of color on the human's part is the very reason.... Oh well.

One company decided to make designer scratching posts. Take a look here... Boy, if HH paid $500 or $600 for a scratching post, you know who should keep his paws to himself...? Yowza!


Happy Scratching.

My Blog is Carbon Neutral

Let's keep everything green!

Wow... I don't know when I've ever written two posts in one day, but when I read The Island Cats blog today, Our Blog is Carbon Neutral, I could not resist joining in. Thanks to The Island Cats for spreading the word. Send it out to all your pals.

It is so important to participate in Earth Day in some way or another and I thought that this is a great way. We all do love the Earth. It doesn't have anything to do with politics or anything else except it's important to keep our planet beautiful and preserve the environment as best we can.

Anyway, so, I'm participating in My Blog is Carbon Neutral by posting this blog and linking it to the Make it Green folks.They plant a tree for each domain that participates and spreads the word about Make it Green. According to The Island Cats blog, the trees are being planted in the Plumas National Forest in Northern California by the Arbor Day Foundation

You want to get involved?. Here’s how to participate in the My Blog is Carbon Neutral initiative and get a tree planted to help erase your blog’s carbon footprint.

Just:

1. Write a short blog post about My Blog is Carbon Neutral.

2. Put a carbon neutral badge on your blog

Here's how to do it... go to the Make it Green site and copy the html-code and paste it in your blog. Make sure the carbon-neutral button works, the html-code must not be changed. Use the carbon-neutral-white button for a white background or the carbon-neutral-transparent button for different colored backgrounds.

3. Send the “Make It Green” people an email with a link to your blog post.

Go carbon neutral on your blog...

Max on ...Spread the Cheer

Spread the cheer...Rub an ankle today!

Most cats are generally cheerful, don't ya think?

Oh, once in a while you might find an ornery one with less than a desirable disposition. But, usually it's snooze in the sun puddle and rub a few ankles. That's what we're about. Oh, life is good.

But, is it as good for our food humans? As a roving reporter, I hear many of their woes first hand. Whew! Life is complicated for our food humans these days with troubles with the economy, home foreclosures, people losing their jobs, and life at such a fast pace. They just seem to face a bit more stress than we do.

So..., my suggestions are that we rub their ankles a bit more often and liberally spread the cheer. After all, we have plenty to spare...

Everybody know what to do? Okay, get busy, pals. We got happiness to spread.....!

Oh-oh, who is that chasing Mousey?

Any of you recognize the kittie having fun with Mousey?

Max on... Recipe of the Month -- Kitty Litter Casserole

Hey there Critter Pals... HH's friend (and my new friend) Debbie sent on this wonderful recipe. It's for your food humans, not for critters. It looks like it'd be loads of fun to serve at a party... Give it a try and let me know how you like it.

Kitty Litter Casserole

4 cups cooked, brown rice
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 lb. cooked, link sausages
1/2 cup chicken broth
Spices to taste (thyme and rosemary are good)
Salt & Pepper to taste

1 new, clean (unused!!!) kitty litter tray or an aluminum rectangular roasting pan
1 new, clean kitty litter scoop

Stir rice, cheese, broth, and sausages in a large baking pan (cake pan works great). Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35 minutes, or until hot.

Pour all into the kitty litter tray and use the kitty litter scooper as the server. Freaky but yummy if you can get over the idea of “eating” kitty litter. Debbie took this to a Halloween party once and it looked so real no one would eat it!!!!

Enjoy!!

Oh My Cat!.... the fish are falling... the fish are falling!!!

Maybe this is the guy who dropped the fish.
Read the story and tell me what you think.

Listen up kitties... and look up as well. Fish are falling from the sky in Florida... They may be in your town too.

HH went out to dinner with The Great Noodles' food human the other night and the waiter said that one of the guys was leaving work and a big fish fell out of the sky and landed on his vehicle. He jumped out of the car and ran it in to the restaurant and they put it in water.

Hurray! The fish was not dead. They put it in their big fish tank and have named the fish Lucky! And, yes it was that fish's lucky day, cuz it was a sushi place where he landed and if they hadn't had kind hearts, they might have eaten him.

Here's the link to the news story about the incident in case you want to read more (plus video)... http://www.wesh.com/news/23009799/detail.html

Anyhoooooooooooooooooooo.... heads up pals. A fish may land in your yard too.

Where did that fish come from? Some say one of the birds caught it and dropped it as it was flying it home. What do you think?

Look.... Look..... Susan finished the painting of me!

I am so excited. Susan Kessler finished the painting of me. Thank you Susan. I love it.... And, Wow! HH is thrilled. She says it makes me look very handsome. Susan's such a wonderful painter.

*... does cartwheel ... then back flip....* I'm just so excited. I'm so proud to have my own portrait. I mean, it's pretty special to have your painting done. I'm speechless.

HH is going to have it framed and hang me on the wall in the living room.... She only hangs the very best in the living room, so guess I made the grade.

Anyway, couldn't wait to show it to you..... Feel free to contact Susan if you want. Here's her information:

email: caseykessler@yahoo.com

website: http://www.susanswatercolorart.com

Max's Novel continues... Episode 6

When we last left Max, he had heard a scuffle downstairs. Then he watched as someone in a trench coat and big hat ran off into the night. In this episode, we pick up where he is waiting for HH to return from her evening out. Now in his own words, the story continues...

I stood guard until HH returned home. That means no naps... I stayed at attention and knew that was an important job. I alternated between looking out the kitchen window in the back and running to the front to stand in the bedroom bay window.

When I finally caught sight of HH turning into the alley, I let out a yelp and skidded to the back door to wait for her. It seemed like forever until I heard her climbing the wooden stairs to the second floor landing, but finally I did and soon enough I heard her key in the door.

As soon as she opened the door, I let out an urgent "Meoooooow" and ran to the door to the downstairs. I expected her to follow me Lassie-style, but when I looked over my shoulder, she was still in the kitchen.

I trotted back to her and head-bumped her shins...hard -- it was no "glad-to-have-you-back" bump. It was more a "dead-guy-downstairs" bump.

"Max, easy, yes, I see you, pal. I missed you, too."

I said it wasn't a "missed-you" bump, and I rammed her shins again and spun my back feet for traction to get her attention to follow me to the downstairs door.

At last, she understood. "What is it, pal? You hear a noise down there?"

HH put her hand on the deadbolt to unlock it. I wedged in front of her so I could be the first one down the stairs.

As soon as she opened the door a crack, I squeezed through and took the steps four or five at a time. I wanted to see for myself if there was any danger and warn HH if I could.

The momentum from flying down those stairs propelled me through the main rooms... nothing there. Head down, I charged down the hallway toward the back room where I knew the men had fought.

I had a little too much momentum going because by the time I saw Fred's body... it was too late to efficiently apply my brakes. I skidded to a stop two -- yes a mere two-- inches from crashing into his lifeless body.

I looked over my shoulder. HH had stopped in the doorway... her hand to her mouth. For a second, I thought her feet were glued to the floor, but then she inched forward. She walked around the body to the opposite side of it.

I watched her intently as she knelt and reached out to feel for a pulse at poor Fred's neck. Then she punched in a number on her cell phone. "Send help," she said, followed by our address.

After a minute, HH looked up at me. "Oh Max..." she said in that soft voice she uses when she's sorry about something. "Look at you?"

"Wha....? Look at me? What's she talking about?" I thought. Then I looked down and realized I was standing in a puddle of blood..... YIKES!!!

Max on ... Update on the Book about Moi

HH worked on the book about me (not the mystery -- that's the one I'm writing... it's the biography) most of the weekend. At this pace, she should finish it in ten or twenty years.

Honestly, what is so hard? I'm cute, I'm interesting... just slap those words on paper and it's a book and good to go.

She tells me, however, that writing a book takes a lot more care. She wants to get it just right. And, truth be told, I want it to be just right also. After all, it's the story of my life. and the lessons I've learned as a consequence of the things that have happened to me. The younger generation of kitties might find it helpful in raising themselves.

Anyway, I had a long talk with HH yesterday and she agreed to pour herself into my book. I've been talking about it for too long. It's time to get it out there. There will be a picture of me on the front, too. Can't wait.

I'll keep you posted.

Max on... the Easter Bunny

I don't have an Easter Bunny, but I do have an Easter Flamingo. Ta-Da!

Can't believe I missed April Fool's Day. It would just be so natural for me to write about it. Oh well, there's always next year.

I am not going to miss extending my kudos to the Easter Bunny however. Man that guy with the big ears has to pack a whole lot of egg-cellent work into one day. Here's to you Primo Hare. Hope you have a happy and successful day.

And I hope all the little kiddies and kitties have a great time hunting for all those eggs you hide.

Happy Easter to one and all...!

Mousey out for a walk...

Always take water with you when you go out for a walk or run...