To folks like Kristine who keep coming back, even though I'm been a bad blogger, today you shall be rewarded with NEW kitties! (To see them asap, scroll down to skip this long bit.)
Back in University and College, I used to do a lot of pet/house sitting. And by a lot, I mean that sometimes I went for months living at someone else's house.
Thankfully, at the time I only had Buddy, who sometimes came with me. When he didn't, he stayed with my incredibly understanding roommate and friend. She and Budzo were tight, and still are even though she now lives in Toronto. Whenever she comes to visit, he stands on his tippy toes and gets the "shakey tail of happiness". I'm not sure if other cats do this, but it's pretty funny to watch. It's like he can't contain his excitment and it escapes out his tail.
All of this pet/house sitting pretty much put me through school. (Well, not really, but it certainly helped.) I also met some great people through it all who are still good friends to this day. I think it boils down to this: Love of critters = the great equalizer.
My favourite critters of all time were five kitties named George, Roo, Zinger, Stray Kitty and Secundo. They also happened to have the best people in the world who became very good friends of mine and Mat's.
A few years ago they moved to Pittsburgh. Mat and I visited the kitties and their people a few times. Over the years, Stray Kitty found a new home and, sadly, Secundo went missing. Then they moved to Kansas City and we waited for the day when they'd return to London.
Well, they're back! Not only that, but George, Roo and Zinger are in our spare bedroom chillin' because their house isn't quite ready.
Allow me to introduce Sir George:
And Miss Roo:
You'll never see Zingy -- he's afraid of the camera. Actually, he's afraid of just about everything but me, Mat and his parents.
So if you've wondered where I've been these past couple of weeks, I'VE BEEN SCOOPING CAT LITTER EVERY WAKING MOMENT OF EVERY DAY. (JessicaRabbit, how on earth do you do it?)
But I wouldn't have it any other way. My kitties are home!