Mike's Visit with Diry Harry

Mike's story about Dirty Harry is here: http://gretchenspawprattle.blogspot.com/2008/07/mikes-visit-with-dirty-harry.html

A Sanctuary of My Own

Gretchen was so warm and cozy and I missed her so much since she'd started sending the days in her pillow cave, so, today I decided to join her.

Well, I can tell you this...it didn't work. She got very snippy with me and insisted that her mom bean make me my own pillow cave...on the sofa...in the livingroom. My, my, she was grouchy about it! But it could have been the goggles, too. They do look a little frightening.

Thanks mom bean for making a pillow cave for me. I will stay here, too, until the sun comes out or I go off visiting to someones house where it's summer and sun is out. I've no appointments for June, yet, so I hope the sun comes out soon.

Oh, and I can't wait...Dirty Harry is coming for a visit, soon. We're going to have so much fun! I'll post more about him later.

It's Peace Globe Time Again! Peace Everwhere!

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Party's Over and I'm all Danced Out!

Gretchen and I have each found a cozy place to sleep it off.

It was a wonderful wedding and party and I'm pooped!

Take home gifts from Karl and Ruis Wedding

Congratulations Karl and Ruis

A toast to my bud, Karl, and the love of his live, Ruis

May they live long and prosper!

(Zoolatry made their graphic above)

It was a great wedding. We liked our suits so much we've decided to wear them to the party.

Yoggie, Gretchen, and I are ready to eat some cake....and a little nip, of course.

My Adventure in Ohio with Mr. Hendrix and Bendrix

Mike here:

We'll in-between my visit to Texas and waiting to go to Ohio to see Mr. Hendrix and his alter-ego, Bendrix, I stopped off on May 1st for Gretchen's Birthday party in her magical secret garden. It was a gas. Everyone wore fancy hats and ate fancy foods. Anyway, as soon as that was over I popped home, grabbed my bag and hung out in my transporter room and waited for the signal from Ohio.

When Mr. Hendrix sent the signal, he told me to wear my shades to protect my eyes. He teleports around, too, and he's used to the weird colors and sounds. All this time I've been teleporting with my eyes shut tight and now I've just discovered a bunch of neat stuff I've been missing when I teleport. With the shades on, I opened my eyes and, Wow! What a neat trip I had. I'd never seen anything so fantastic—all the beautiful colors of the rainbow. I don't know what he did with the signal, but I didn't go zipping like lightning through cyberspace this time. It was like slow-motion, softly floating through swirls of strange lights and sounds. I loved it.

I always take a lot of things along with me in my bag that I think I might need at my host's house. I make sure to pack a few bags of Temptations and sometimes I bring a few of my toys. Well, Gretchen's toys, really. I guess I've never thought about having toys of my own. We just sort of share at home.



Well, Mr. Hendrix had lots of toys and when I got there, Bendrix wanted to play with the wand toy they just got, and so their Dad bean played the wand game over and over and over with us until we were exhausted. It was great, and Dad beans are always fun.

I love being in other people's homes, too; all the different things they do, the new smells and tastes. Different habits and activities. That's why I started traveling around, to meet new kitties and their beans, to have wonderful new experiences. One thing that is most familiar, however, is that most of the places I've been to have a garden, and feed the birds and squirrels. After we wore ourselves out playing with the wand thingy, Hendrix and I hung out at the window and he showed me he his sixteen birdfeeders, and two hummingbird feeders. His Mom bean puts peanuts out on the deck for the squirrels and they are so cute to watch as they march up single file and grab the peanuts.

Now, Bendrix, being Hendrix's alter ego, is an altogether different sort of fellow. He loves mischief. He was so ready for three a.m. to come that he could hardly contain himself. He knew I kinda get into some mischief, too. So it was like a disaster waiting to happen. I don't have any idea where Hendrix went off to. I think he was afraid that Bendrix and I would break something and he'd get blamed. He stayed hidden until morning. Mostly Bendrix and I just played Thundering Herd of Elephants and spazzed out on some nip. We're panther brothers, two of a kind, only he has real cat hair and a beating heart, while I have fake, melted fur, stuffed with fluff.

On Sunday Morning, Hendrix heard about a Flying Pig Marathon so we had to go. It benefits various charities in the area, plus there was supposed to be tons of ham and chicken wings at the end of the run, so Hendrix and I headed out to join them. Hendrix said that normally he leaves the running thing to his woofie friends, but we actually joined the runners for a bit. I was winded, I haven't had that much exercise, ever, but the only thing that kept us going until the finish line was the food at the end. As you know, kitties can run really fast and the funny thing is that Hendrix and I tied for first place. I don't know if it made the guy behind us very happy, but we were being a bit mischievous and didn't care. (If you ask me, I think Mr. Hendrix is just as mischievous as his alter ego.)



When we finished the Marathon, we went over to the Newport Aquarium for lunch. He played a joke on me. Hendrix said the glass around the fish was just a little too thick. He had me convinced that we were going to eat again. But I did enjoy watching the fish swimming around. I'd never seen such big fish in all my life. I think the big ugly thing was called a shark. He looked kind of vicious, so I'm glad the glass was really thick.

We got back to the house in time to get ready to go with the beans to a place called the Hafbrau House. Like I said before, Hendrix and I, both being black, were like two prowling panthers out on the town. While the beans ate and danced, Bendrix and I kind of got into a little bit of trouble. They had this huge pole with rungs, like a ladder, kind of, and each rung had some kind of ornamental design on it. There were flags and a green wreath at the very top, but anyway, Bendrix wanted to play on the pole and we almost got arrested. Bendrix hollered to the Bean police below, "No way we're comin down, coppers! We're just cats, we like heights. You come up here!" But all went well, they were nice enough beans and lured us down with catnip, and then let us continue to party.



Hendrix and I did the polka. What a workout that was. The music was fun, the food was delicious, and when we got home Hendrix and I slept for nearly ten hours straight.

On Tuesday Hendrix's beans took us to the Butterfly Show at the Krohn Conservatory where there were hundreds and hundreds of beautiful butterflies sucking up the nectar from hundreds of beautiful flowering plants planted just for them. Bendrix got really excited with all the fluttering little critters. I was a little worried he'd whap one of them and hurt the poor thing. But he behaved himself.



When beans first go in the door of the butterfly house, the beans in charge of the place put something called pheromones on the visitor's hands. This causes the butterflies to land on their hands so they can walk around with them. We didn't get any pheromones stuff on us. Being panthers, I think the beans were a little worried having us there in the first place. But it was a cool place and I kind of liked seeing all those beautiful winged creatures. So many colors, too.

Because I was visiting, Hendrix's mom bean brought two of Hendrix's potted catnip plants in for us to enjoy. There were two big pots of the stuff, so there was plenty for both of us. Hendrix wasted no time in nibbling the leaves either. We kind of went overboard on the fresh nip, however, and everything became all fuzzy and the room wouldn't stay still. I think I heard Hendrix singing the lyrics to a psychedelic song called Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix…I think it was his signature song or something.

Purple haze all in my brain
Lately things just don't seem the same
Actin' funny, but I don't know why
'Scuse me while I kiss the sky.

Anyway, that was some good nip and we had a quiet night.

On Friday, Hendrix's mom bean went back to work and we had the house all to ourselves. We played Thundering Herd of Elephants again. It's much more fun at three in the morning, but we did it anyway. Then we played on the scratching post. Well, mostly I just watched Hendrix play on his scratching post. I sort of don't have any claws. I keep forgetting I'm stuffed with fluff and have thread for claws. We also climbed up on places we were not allowed to be on when the mom bean is home.

Then we hung out by the window and kept a close eye on Homer the Groundhog. That Homer was a pretty big fellow and had some pretty nasty looking teeth. He was all over the yard.

It was also the famous CCSI III production weekend and Bendrix was in the cast. It was fun to watch--The Missing Mummy Caper. I recognized some of my friends in the cast, besides Bendrix. It was a production for Mother's Day. The cameracat left the cameras rolling when they weren't shooting a scene and he got some great behind the scenes shots. But I had to leave and didn't get to see them.



I was so worn out by the time I got home, I just slept straight through Mother's Day. I had a wonderful time with both Hendrix and his evil alter ego—Bendrix—and their beans. It was fun, fun, fun, with my Panther Bros.

My interview with Hendrix and Bendrix

Mike: Are you an only cat or do you have siblings or companions? Who is your favorite?

Hendrix: I’m an only kitty. Dealing with an evil alter ego is a full time job. Between my feral past and FIV the VET does not think I’d be a good kitty sibling. Bendrix keeps things interesting.

Bendrix: Yeah, I share a body with Hendrix. He’s pretty cool though and I do what a want most of the time. He has that innocent “I love you” look so we don’t get in much trouble. If he snuggles, man, those beans would give us a can of stinky for putting a hole in the sofa. Well, not really, but hey, I’m gone by the time the water bottle comes out so no biggie.

Mike: How long have you lived with your bean(s)? Who is your favorite?

Hendrix: Since Nov. 4, 2004. The VET guessed me at 2 years old when they rescued me. As for a favorite, it depends on what is going on. In the basement, Daddy, totally. Mancat stuff, he is a good player too. Mommy is good for some playing too, but she is the best snuggler and chin scratcher ever. She also feeds me and keeps me in treats.

Bendrix: They discovered me in 2006. I was here from the beginning though. The Man is good for playing craps and pushing the pool balls around. He is a kick butt hand wrestler too. He doesn’t put up with any crap in the night though. That is a bummer. That is when the Woman is the best. Walk across the bladder 10 times a night and she just gets up to pee, she’d never shut us out.

Mike: What's your favorite food? Treat?

Hendrix: Do I have to have just one? Hmmmm. My favorite food would have to be my Hills WD stinky food. My new favorite treat is my dental chews from the VET. Nom nom nomilicious.

Bendrix: I still remember those squirrels. High in cholesterol? Sure. But oh so good. We’re inside now so I don’t get those any more. I guess the WD is the closest.

Mike: Where do you like to sleep at night? In the day?

Hendrix: Right up against mommy at night. Either on one of my window boxes overlooking the feeders, or on MY corner of the couch.

Bendrix: Same, Hendrix is a great napper. I’ll give him that.

Mike: What do you dream about? Do you have a secret wish?

Hendrix: I wish I could go outside on a harness, but cause of my FIV the VET says it isn’t safe for me. I dream about rolling around in mommy’s flower beds and smelling under the bird feeders.

Bendrix: I’m livin' the dream. I do what I want, I get tons of good foods, fun toys and the beans always tell us how smart and handsome we are. What else could I want…except more toys, more food, playtime when I want even if it is 4:00 a.m…

Mike: Do you have a sweetheart or crush on someone?

Hendrix: I adore my sweet lady cat Brandi. She is so pretty and sweet.

Bendrix: Yeah, I’m with him. She is a hot lady cat. Nice too.

Mike: Do have a special fluffhead friend or one you get along with best? Do they talk to you?

Hendrix: I have a special toy. It is my blue fuzzy toy with a bell and it is my most favorite. Mommy buys the store out of them so when I break them (and eventually I do) I’ll have another right away. I even drag it into the bedroom at night while my beans are sleeping.

Bendrix: Anything I’m not supposed to play with.

Mike: Please tell me about the place where you live. Your house, your town, your state or country.

Hendrix: I live in a nice house with 4 bedrooms (one is a craft/computer room). Mommy and daddy built it cause mommy has a bad back so we have lots of stuff on the first floor so mommy doesn’t have to go up and downstairs. They moved in June 2003 right before they got married. We are 45 minutes north of Cincinnati Ohio. We have lotsa farms and parks around us. I have woods behind our house so I can watch all the wildlife come up from the woods to eat on our birdfeeders.

Mike: Are you an inside or outside cat?

Hendrix: Inside only! I had enough of that outside as a feral kitty.

Bendrix: I’m with Hendrix, indoor only where I get all the food, treats, toys and pets I want.

Mike: Do you have a secret or any hidden talents?

Hendrix: I can grab things with my paw, even though I have no thumbs. I am a wonderful snoopervisor to all my bean’s projects, and nap like a professional.

Bendrix: Troublemaking

Mike: Do you stalk real live critters like mice, spiders and stuff? Do you eat what you catch?

Hendrix: I love tracking and whapping and killing bugs. I do eat them…and then bomit them back up.

Bendrix: I am a fantastic hunter. I kill any and all things. I can even catch and eat flies.

Mike: Are you afraid of anything?

Hendrix: Thunder! Woofies.

Bendrix: No way Jose!

Mike: What is the one thing you like to do the most?

Hendrix: Get pets

Bendrix: Get into trouble!

My Friends in Texas--The Royal Kitties & Renna

Mike here:

Well, it's been quite a couple of months—April and May. I finally made it over to visit with the Royal Kitties, Queen Snickers and Empress, in the Great State of Texas. The Lone Star State. Near Dallas—the Big D.

I thought I'd never get there, however. First their mom bean had to have a little operation and then Texas was having a lot of big thunderstorms and a few power outages before I could transport out. So there was a lot of waiting around home, waiting for the signal that everything was a-okay at their end, and I could go.

Even using a transport room, I still have to have pretty good weather to get where I'm going. When there's a lot of violent storms around things can get pretty fuzzy—kind of tingly, too. But Gretchen is getting better at the controls in my transport room. She landed me right in-between Queen Snickers and Empress in their living room, Sunday night on April 21st. I wonder if Gretchen practices sending other things into outer space while I'm away. Anyway, I arrived in a shaft of rainbow colors, as my luggage and I materialized right before their eyes. Queen Empress was holding up a pretty purple Welcome Banner that they had made for me. That was so sweet of them. I like welcome banners.

The two royal kitties have a neat-o kitty-castle that we hung out in, and played a lot of racing around games on. When the blinds were open we just lolled around on our favorite levels and watched the birds and the bugs fly around in the garden. The bottom of the kitty-condo is a little house-like structure. That spot is strictly for Empress.



On Tuesday we went shopping! Now that would be more of a Gretchen thing to go shopping at Neiman Marcus than it would be mine, but it wasn't so bad after spending time shopping in Dallas, where there is more shopping per bean than anywhere else in the United States. Like not even New Yorkers or Hollywoodies, or even Vegas-ites shop as much as the beans do in the Big D! It's a good thing my official fashionista, Queen Snickers, was with me to explain all this to me.

The best place I liked was a store called the Cat Connection. Now that is a cool store. Queen Snickers pointed out that all their food, and even their new little puppy, Renna, food and toys come from the Cat Connection. The toys and treats were the greatest thing I've seen so far, and after all that shopping from store to store, we needed to go home and eat and rest a while and plan out our next adventure.

On Wednesday they took me up over the big city of Dallas in a helicopter. Wow! This is surely a big town (oh, sorry—City!) From our seat in the helicopter we could see Big D's skyline. At and night? Wow, lights everywhere! We also had a vintage postcard made of all of us. It was an exciting day and it was loads of fun flying around in a whirly-bird, looking down on all the tiny, little humans.



We had a terrible storm Wednesday night and the power went out. It was really annoying to Queen Snickers; she said that it was more like a rolling blackout…the power never stayed on for more than five minutes at a time all night. That was my first time being in a big thunderstorm and it was pretty magnanimously scary.



Thursday turned out great, however. We got to go outside and spend some time in the garden. Queen Snickers wears this very pretty pink halter when she goes outside. I'm thinking Gretchen might like to have one of those. Gretchen slips right out of the smaller ones. Anyway the day turned pretty, so Renna (that's their new little puppy) and the rest of us went out to romp on the grass. Puppies are kind of cute and a lot of fun for a while, but they do wear on ya a bit. So after a long romp in the backyard, Queen Snickers and I retired to the porch throne for some relaxation and a bit of kibble. I was panting by then and welcomed the chance to rest.

Friday was Fashion day on the Internet and I got to help dress up the little pooch for her first Fashion Friday event. She wore a little shirt—really little, like XXS, and then it nearly swallowed her up. Queen Snickers said that Renna likes to wear it outside in the mornings or when she goes on evening walks with the beans. It keeps her from shivering. The beans get all excited to see her dressed up and ooo and aw over the tiny woofie. After all…she is kind of cute.

For Fashion Friday, Queen Snickers wore a designer brand, pink polo shirt. It's called a designer brand because there is a cute little paw imprinted on the sleeve. QS even wore some jewelry. Then guess what? I got to be in the Fashion Friday thing, too. I got to wear a colorful polo shirt. I was quite handsome in it, I'd say. QS said I was very chic in my PAWSOME striped polo and matching pale yellow bow-tie. I shared my sunglass collection with them, too.



I never knew playing dress-up could be so much fun. After we put away all our pretty clothes, we got our Temptation treats for working the photo shoot. Saturday and Sunday we were going on a BIG adventure, so we had to get to sleep early.

Saturday, everyone was packed and off we went to the Scarborough Faire Renaissances Festival. Queen Snickers and Empress's cousins, Kirara and Rossetti from the Kiaton Empire, went with us. After the main gates were pretty much empty, Empress demonstrated her Kung Fu moves. She'd planned on using her Kung Fu skills if the guards tried to stop our entry. But there was no problem. We got in safe and sound. Instead we just glided through the gates, past the guards, under the beans hooped skirts. Hee, hee, we thought ourselves pretty slick with that move.
The Faire was a wonderful place to visit. We pretty much did as we pleased, everyone was so nice and there was so much stuff to play with.



Now, all the while we're getting ready to go to this place, all I kept hearing out of the beans was how incredible the food was here. You could get just about anything on a stick—chicken, steak, macaroni and cheese, (yes, I said macaroni and cheese) and cheese cake. All kinds of stuff you could ever imagine…you could get it on a stick! That had a wow factor of 10! Kirara and I found the Best of the Best, however…Fish Tacos! Oh, yeah, baby! Better than a 10!

Everybody, every bean, and living thing, dresses up at this faire. It's like real old fashioned times…way back into the medieval times for which I wasn't even thought of being manufactured yet. Everyone pretends to be back in that era and has a blast doing it. The kitties and I dressed up, too. Everything was so much fun. But all good things have to come to an end. My trips are just a week long and it was time for me to go home. So, on Sunday night we found a place that had some space and said our goodbyes in the shadows of the setting sun. They had filled my luggage with bags of Temptations and my interview sheets, and then I soon began to feel that familiar tingle and sizzle as the tractor beam latched onto me and beamed me back home.

I have to say it was a great time being in the biggest state in the land, and then pretending to be in Renaissance England, too. They invited me back for another visit sometime, where I'll get to see more Texan things, like a real live cattle drive near Fort Worth, and a Rodeo. And the best thing of all—I picked up a bit of a Texas drawl, y'all. Gretchen's mouth fell to the floor when I greeted her with, "howdy, y'all--I'm home!'

I've retrieved my interview sheets and here's how it went:

My Interview with the Royal Kitties and Family

Mike: Are you an only cat or do you have siblings or companions? Who is your favorite?
QS: A year ago it was just me, Queen Snickers, then last August my sister Empress came along. Now we have a new baby woofie Renna. I still think being an only cat was nice, but Empress is staring to grow on me. I like playing tag and pounce and sometimes kitty snuggles are good.

Mike: How long have you lived with your bean(s)? Who is your favorite?
QS: Four years, and I’m a momma’s girl! So is Empress unless daddy has ham. Renna is an equal lover. Daddy loves that she will jump up from whatever she is doing and run to him when he gets home from day hunting.

Mike: What's your favorite food? Treat?
QS: Salmon, Greenes
Empress: Ham, Temptation
Renna: Roast, Freeze Dry Chicken

Mike: Where do you like to sleep at night? In the day?
QS: I sleep by momma's pillow at night, trade for the sunniest perch.
Empress: Me sometime on mommy legs or head like hat or on poof bed in liveroom. Day is in sun windows or poof beds (me has 2).
Renna: In big bed, tween mommy and daddy. I swiqqle next to one then next to other ALL NIGHT! In puppy bed in playroom.

Mike: What do you dream about? Do you have a secret wish?
QS: I dream about walking outside, playing in flowers and catching mice, sometimes I wish I had my kittens back.
Empress: Me dream about food, big piles of it. All kinds, ham, filet, scallops, stinky goodness, nip, nip, nip! Me wishes dat all my kitty friends froms my old house wheres here.
Renna: Chasin bunnies, wish for…. more play time!

Mike: Do you have a sweetheart or crush on someone?
QS: My sweetheart is Jake for PB&J.
Empress: Me is a Chase’s Charmers, an a special one me tink.
Renna: Ummm, me luv daddy?

Mike: Do have a special fluffhead friend or one you get along with best? Do they talk to you?
QS: My only fluffhead is a mouse and I kill it regularly, does that count?
Empress: Nope.
Renna: Yep, Yep! Purple Ducky is favorite of them all. He go Quakel Quakel and its secret what we say! I have many fluffhead but I not sleep without Purple Ducky.

Mike: Please tell me about the place where you live: your house, your town, your state or country.
QS: We live in a nice 3 bedroom house. It is a bit generic, but it was brand new when momma and I moved in 3 years ago. The front yard is pretty but the backyard needs work. Hehe. We actually live in a tiny suburb of Dallas. So it seems like we live in the country but with all the amenities of a giant metropolis 30 minutes away. Texas is really a great state; both Empress and I are not native Texans but are glad to be here now. Texas is 2 largest state and the bluebonnet is our state flower. They grow wild all along the highways, so pretty. I love flowers. Texas has mountains, forests, desert, beaches, caves, lakes, plains, marsh/swamp, just everything! We also have all kinds of weather! Tornados, hurricanes and yes-even blizzards in the panhandle! WOW! We border 4 other states and another country! We have also flown 6 different flags over our land.

Mike: Are you an inside or outside cat?
QS: Inside, with supervised outdoor excursions
Empress: Inside Only
Renna: Inside, with supervised outdoor excursions

Mike: Do you have a secret or any hidden talents?
QS: I have incredible dexterity with my front toes. I can pick up small objects and even string or treats. I use them independent of each other like beans use their fingers, all I need now is a thumb!
Empress: Me can puzzle food out a anything! Me got the auto food feeder to gives me crunchies when ever iz want an me brokes in to da pantry an steel food until mommy had to by big tubs for every ting. Now iz has to figure dose out.
Renna: I bunny hop.

Mike: Do you stalk real live critters like mice, spiders and stuff? Do you eat what you catch?
QS: Empress and I stalk bugs in the house all the time. Many times we work together. We eat everything but spider, those we smush. No mouse has ever made it in our house, but if it does…. It’s lunch!

Mike: Are you afraid of anything?
QS: Thunder, small spaces.
Empress: New beans, loud noises, sometimes beans I know, being pickup most of the time, quick movement, surprises, male beans in general.
Renna: Being left alone

Mike: What is the one thing you like to do the most?
QS: Sleep
Empress: Chase bird toy
Renna: Chew! No Tug A War! No CHEW!

Home to Write

I've had two splendid trips this May, but now I'm home for the rest of the month to write about my adventures with Queen Snickers and Empress, and Mr. Hendrix and Bendrix!
So, stay tuned. I have to compile all my notes then write my two stories. Plus take a little time out for the nice weather we're having. :) The sun is shining here at last!

In Case You Miss Me...

I'm in Ohio visiting with Mr. Hendrix and Bendrix...see ya when I see ya!