... Onward into the teens ...

Mom is helpin' us to blog from our Aunt Toni's condo ... So, we wanna wish efurryone a safe New Year's Eve with the happiest an' healthiest 2010!

DaisyMae Maus, Cocoa Francis Puff, Sparky Kyoot Fuzzypants, (William Jefferson) Pumpkin, and Lucky Charmz

(and me, too ... Jessica)

Charmee and the Fling-ama-string

For ChristMAUS, Mom got us a Fling-ama-string toy. This is kind of a dull video, but Mom's still learning how to "shoot tape" on her iPhone. Perhaps there will be more exciting videos in the future? Oh, an' don't bother turnin' up your speakers 'cuz Mom doesn't say a darn thing an' there's no music.

Secret Paws: ChristMAUS 2009

We decided to jumble up all of the photos that Mom took of us openin' our Secret Paws packages for ChristMAUS this year 'cuz there were lots of photos an' Blogger doesn't make re-organizing them furry easy ... So, in no particular order:

Here's a photo of me on Boxing Day ... I didn't have anything to exchange 'cuz all of my presents are PERFECT for me (an' I'll even share with the boys). Now why is the photo sideways? Mom's iPhone an' the photo enhancement software make things kinda difficult ... So we're gonna leave the photos sideways. It just makes things more interesting. Right?
Sparky Fuzzypants is investigatin' the box that came from Hansel and Tesla. It had goodies in it like fev-ver butt FISHIES!

Samantha Black sent a Secret Paws box where efurrything was wrapped in tissue paper! Fuzzypants LOVES playin' in tissues, so he's havin' lots of fun here ... Mom didn't get a picture of Charmee dive-bombing Fuzzypants an' tissue flying efurrywhere ...

Ooo ... a fev-ver butt fishy is gettin' examined by Sparky Fuzzypants ... Fun!
This is a Watermelon Cat figurine that Mom's cousins, Kirsten an' Matt, sent for ChristMAUS. It's sitting in the china cabinet where efurryone can see him ... Oh, an' Kirsten an' Matt are the parents of Zoey, the Furballs, Cha-Ching, an' Tigger!This is what Samantha Black sent in the Secret Paws box ... There are toys like some 'nip wands (that smell yummy!) plus Sheba foods an' mousies, an' 'nip soft blocks, an' some Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys! YUMMO!
This is the card ... it's a non-vishus deer ChristMAUS cat an' a whole bunch of BOWS! Mom likes to stick the bows onto Charmee an' watch him shake them off ... He wasn't too enthused 'bout those bows.

This box of goodies is from our SECOND Secret Paws present. It came all the way from Iowa! Patches an' Nemo were our Secret Paws ...

If you look closely, you can see a photo of Patches an' Nemo. They are furry photogenic (an' give excellent presents). There's a turtle fishing toy an' nummy Temptations! Oh, an' some Tiki Cat foods ... Even two plushy 'nip toys called "Flea" an' "Tick" that we'll enjoy biting!At dinnertime, our Uncle James an' Aunt Lori came an' opened the Secret Paws present to our woofie cousin, Shadow. Hansel an' Tesla's woofie was Shadow's Secret Paw! Shadow got some cool presents like a plush LOBSTER!

All of Shadow's loot looked furry interesting, but we didn't investigate it 'cuz that LOBSTER looked mighty ferocious an' we were scared.

These are two of the FIVE boxes that we guarded until ChristMAUS.
This ginormous Gizzy-style quilt was made by Mom's cousin, Kirsten. It is a ChristMAUS tree made of hundreds of one-inch boxes of fabric. It must have taken a long time. Unlike our Gizzy quilts made by Millie's momma, our mom won't let us lay on it. She says that it is hers an' not ours. When will Mom learn that EFURRYTHING in the house is ours?
Here is Charmee searching for his blue fev-ver butt fishy from Hansel an' Tesla.
Oh ... THERE it is! Oooo ... an' that nifty catapult toy is attached to the front door's knob right now ... Don't tell Charmee, but I have plans for that mousie that's currently attached ... hee, hee.
This is the ChristMAUS letter that Hansel an' Tesla sent ...
Charmee is snoopervising the box's contents an' wants Mom to open the Catapult NOW!
Charmee checks out Patches an' Nemo ... an' the presents they sent, too! Hmm ... treats look furry delicious!
Charmee checks to see that all of the presents have been opened an' is disappointed to see that they have ... Charmee asks, "How many more days 'til ChristMAUS?"
Okay, back into the box. Charmee wants Fuzzypants' fev-ver butt fishy, too!
"Okay, okay! Keep your fur on, Charmee! I'll give you a fishy."
"Ahhhh ... There's nothin' like a cardboard box an' a fev-ver butt fishy!"
If Charmee hides beneath the tree, he thinks that he's invisible ...
Check out all of the tissue-wrapped presents from Samantha Black! Mom had a good time helpin' us to open them.

This is what the package from Patches an' Nemo looked like before Mom opened the photo an' the card. Thank you, efurryone! We will be sending appropriate "thank you" notes this week ... Smooches to Samantha Black, Patches an' Nemo, and Hansel, Tesla, an' their woofie!

Love,

DaisyMae Maus, Cocoa Francis Puff, Sparky Kyoot Fuzzypants, Pumpkin, an' Lucky Charmz (and Jessica, too)

Charmee attacked Cocoa Puff AGAIN!

Yesterday, Mom an' Grandma spent the better part of the day at the Banfield Pet Hospital with both Puffy an' Charmee ... Mom had been smelling a rather rank odor in the living room and washed just about everything including Puffy's buns, but the odor wouldn't go away. Mom felt Puffy's ears and they didn't feel hot (like last time), so she got closer and sniffed Puffy's back. Ah ha ... the source of the odor was indeed Puffy. After running her hands down Puffy's back, Mom discovered some infected tooth marks and this time ... a pair of nasty abcesses. Charmz had once again tried to murder Puffy.

This time, Mom took both boys to the v-e-t for evaluation. Puffy needed surgery and the insertion of TWO drains this time ... plus a hefty dose of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds. Charmz got a full evaluation and rather than filing his teeth, he's gonna be put on some anti-anxiety medicine called Buspirone that will HOPEFULLY reduce the "felicidal/fratricidal" rages from him. Charmee was very good for the doctor, but he tried to rip Mom's face off when she was trying to insert him into the prisoner transport unit ... It was so bad that Mom had to put an Elizabethan collar on him so he couldn't bite her.

Puffy is resting comfortably, but the grandparents are gonna hafta deal with the doctor visits an' dosing Charmee while Mom is gone on her trip.

Think healing thoughts for Puffy, patient thoughts for our grandparents, and anti-psychotic thoughts for Charmee ... okay? Thanks!

DMM

Our ChristMAUS newcomer!

Yay! Just in time for ChristMAUS, we have adopted Coconut Flake from the Cat Blogosphere Shelter ... an' she is HERE! Yay! We're so happy to welcome her to sunny Sandy Eggo. Whoo hoo!

DMM an' the Feline Americans

December 21 ...

Well ... It's December 21st an' Mom is FINALLY finished with the last of her pre-vacation duties: Today was the trip to the dentist for a check-up an' cleaning.

Since she's now officially on vacation (an' leaves for her visit to Seattle next week), I'm makin' sure the sheets an' pillows are extra-comfy on the bed so that we can get in some snuggling time before she leaves us with our grandparents for a week or so.

You'd think that Mom would WANT to spend her vacation here in Sandy Eggo where it's warm an' she can do lots of fun stuff like chillaxin' an' snugglin' with me ... But no. She wants to visit the cold, wet snow an' hang out with our cousin, Benjamin.

Sigh.

Happy ChristMAUS to you an' your famblies ...

DMM

Did I mention that Mom's gonna miss my sixteenth Gotchaversary an' that it's just ten days away??? Well, she is.

Argh! Get the lead out, Mom!

I cannot believe that I haven't posted since Turkey Day! What is with my mom anyway? She can't be THAT busy that she hasn't been available for bloggin' when she knows how important it is to me that I get to visit my furriends and leave comments on their bloggies, right?

I got a Secret Paws package yesterday an' Mom stashed it beneath the otherwise naked tree sittin' in the dining room. I know that Skittles has matched me up with someone(s) an' the Feline Americans, too ... but have we mailed ours yet? No. In Mom's defense, the boxes have been constructed an' addressed. The presents have been purchased (I've seen 'em). But nothin' has been put INTO the boxes yet.

The same goes for our cards. We got a furry cute Kliban card from Perfectly Parker TODAY! Parker is on time an' Mom is late, late, late! Mom has printed the cards an' purchased the envelopes, but nothing has been addressed yet ... so there's still time. IF you haven't ever received a ChristMaus card from us an' you want one, please email me before Friday, Dec. 11th. OR if you've moved since last ChristMaus an' we don't have your snail mail address ... an' you'd like a card, please email before Friday, Dec. 11th. Mom has promised us the use of her thumbs all weekend ('cuz she bailed on us last weekend to build two china cabinets an' she tweaked her right elbow kinda nastily). So hurry, efurryone! It's nearly ChristMaus!

Smooches ...

DMM

It's THANKSGIVING an' I'm furry thankful ...

On behalf of the Feline Americans, Mom, and of course, ME (!): Happy Thanksgiving to efurryone who is celebrating today (and Happy Thursday to efurryone who is thankful that it's Thursday) ... We're gonna try to visit all of our furriends today an' spread some welcome holiday cheer!

I also wanna mention that I'm thankful for good health, a warm place to sleep, nutritious food (ham an' turkey, right Mom???), ice water in a raised water dish, Pumpkin still among the living, the Feline Americans, Grandma an' Grandad, Mom, an' even that little brat, Charmee. Oh, an' I'm especially thankful for all of my furriends and readers in the blogosphere. You all are the greatest!

Gobble, gobble!

DMM

PeeSss: Happy Birthday to Mom who's older tomorrow ...

Wordless Wednesday: Never eat pumpkin pie again?!?

Good-bye, Bathsheba ...

We haven't been blogging much this week, so we just heard that one of our best furriends, Bathsheba, has taken herself to the Bridge to be with my sweetie, Jake. She was sick with cancer and chose to leave this world last weekend. We are terribly sad at this news and wish Emerson and Nancy love and peace as they cope with their loss.

Please visit her brother, Emerson's, blog (linked above) to leave your condolences.

Godspeed, 'Sheba.

Pumpkin update!

Well, Pumpkin is hangin' in there. He enthusiastically greets Mom when she's got his breakfast, or dinner, or Temptations for him to eat. Mom bought him a really nice fleecy cat cup from Cat Faeries that he relaxes in nearly 24 hours a day. Charmee tried it out when Mom opened the box, but Pumpkin put his smells all over it so we all know that it is his.

We will keep you updated on his progress. Mom still thinks that he had a series of small strokes, but Grandma thinks that he may have broken a hip or pinched some nerves. We dunno for sure.

Keep your purrers workin' for Ol' Mr. P, will ya?

Thanks!

DMM

Grandma's birthday! Pumpkin! Secret Paws!

Today is my grandma's birthday an' she's sixty-four. Happy Birthday, GRANDMA! I've been sittin' on her lap while she's had a cold an' I think that she may have given it to ME! I'm kinda lethargic an' haven't been furry interested in my food. I guess it's not a hairball afterall. Darn those germs ...

Pumpkin is feelin' a whole lot better. I believe that all of those helpful purrs an' purrayers from the Blogosphere have helped him a whole lot. A week ago, Mom thought that he was goin' to have to be helped to the Bridge, but that thinkin' was a whole lot premature an' not furry pawsitive to say the least. We're furry happy that Pumpkin will be with us longer. He's wondering if Dazey will be his Valentine next year???

Oh, an' we wanted to put in a plug for Secret Paws. Miss Skittles mentioned that efurryone is signing up an' that if you wanted to participate, you should email your information to secretpawsATgmailDOTcom. We sent in our info (an' our woofie cousin's, too).

Peace Globes and Pawsitive Energy

Our great furriend Mimi is holding another Blog Blast For Peace an' we are once again honored to be participating.

This time, we chose a quotation from Jimi Hendrix (partly because of his profound wisdom and partly 'cuz Mom was born on his birthday).

We think that you'll agree that if efurryone concentrated on peacefulness for even just one day, the world would be a far better place for all of us.

Peace!

DMM

Pumpkin

Further Updated:

Nov. 2 at 5: 45 PM

Pumpkin seems stronger and is still eating enthusiastically. Thank you for your continued purrs and purrayers.

UPDATE: I am encouraged by Pumpkin's eating last evening and his enthusiasm for pets. He's showing greater energy (and I'm sure that it's because of everyone's positive thoughts, purrayers, and purrs). I've decided to play-it-by-ear and let him decide when he's ready.
Jessica

We are sad to say that Feline American Pumpkin has taken a turn for the worse an' will have to be helped to the Bridge early this week.

"Heartbroken" doesn't begin to describe how we're feelin' ...

Trick-or-Treat!

Clip Art from Thumbs Dreamtime

We wanna wish efurryone a Happy Halloween ... An' remind all of you living in the United States to set your clocks back an' hour at 2:00 AM on Sunday, November 1st!

Be safe ... an' get lots of CANDY!

Mud Tacos book signing

Rating: * * * 1/2 of * * * * *
How did Mom spend her evening? She went to the Borders bookstore in eastern Chula Vista to attend a book signing. Mario Lopez and his sister, Marissa Lopez Wong, wrote a children's book called Mud Tacos and Mom wanted to get a copy for our cousins, Ethan and Trentan, her god daughter, Sophia, and herself.

You see, Mario was Mom's student when she taught English 12 at Chula Vista High School back in the fall of 1990 when she was a baby teacher. At the time, Marissa was a sophomore and a cheerleader.

So Mom went to the signing and waited in a ginormous line more than two-and-a-half hours. She didn't get a photo taken because she had just her cell phone and the NBC people wouldn't allow a cell phone photo ... oh, well. But Mom did get all three of her books signed by Mario (Marissa wasn't at the signing). Mario was very cordial and was using his famous (infamous?) dimples to their full advantage. After signing so many books, he seemed tired. Mom asked him if he remembered her and he said that he did although he marveled that "someone so young looking could have been his teacher" (yeah, right). Mom didn't want a hug, but she did shake his hand politely and quickly left the building after getting the books signed.

Would she wait such a long time for autographed books if she had to do it over again? Sure. How many OTHER students of hers have written books? Not too many, I'd bet.

If you wanna buy the book, Amazon.com has it for less than list price and you can find it here: MUD TACOS. It comes in both English and Spanish versions, and is a very sweet story with good family values.

Oh, but don't get Mom started about the mother-and-daughte FREAK SHOWS who were right behind her in line. Can you say S•T•A•L•K•E•R•S???? They were two crazy chicks and Mom couldn't get away fast enough (Insert full body shiver here).

Mom told me that the best part of the whole evening was seeing her former student, Kathryn, who graduated from SDSU this last May. I like Kathryn, 'cuz Mom nicknamed her "Kitty Cat" an' of course, I like efurrything that has to do with kitties ... Don't YOU???

Mr. Tigger needs to go home to Texas!

Mr. Tigger STILL hasn't gone back to his home an' his fambly continues to search for him.

So I'm gonna say, "Mr. Tigger ... If you can hear me ... GO HOME! Samantha Black an' Maverick an' your momma miss you a whole bunch an' they're not gonna rest until you get your stripy buns back home!"

DMM & the Feline Americans
(They don't call me "Miss Bossy Buns" for nothin'!)

Teefs ... are clean, shiny, an' WHITE!

Mom put my harness an' lead on at 8 o'clock this morning an' trundled me over to the v-e-t to have my teefs cleaned. Since I'm sixteen, they did some kidney tests to make sure that efurrything was functioning properly ... an' other than some slightly elevated renal levels, I'm in furry good health for a geezer-ette.

The whole day of dentistry cost Mom a little over $300 green papers. I'm still groggy an' they shaved my right leg(!), so I have a Banfield bandage for another hour or so, but for the most part, I'm less worse for the wear.

I complained for some of the ride over (I serenaded Mom an' Grandma with my choicest an' bluest vocabulary ... Mom's not fond of "Me-yeowwwwwwuullllfffff" screamed at the top of my feline lungs), but was on my best behavior when I was weighed (10.4 lbs including harness an' lead), had my temperature taken (ouch!), an' had my pee an' blood stolen. I wasn't furry happy when I had my furs shaved ... Overall, the stabby place wasn't terrible.

Then ... Mom ... left ... me ... An' went out to breakfast with Grandma. They had bacon.

In the mid-afternoon, I was still really groggy ... excellent anesthesia on par to maybe a Grateful Dead concert ... an' wobbly, but my hearing was just fine. Big woofies were there when Mom was payin' the bill: A black ball-of-annoyance that weighed the same as me; a white puff-ball that weighed eighteen pounds (but I coulda taken him with one set of nubby clawrs tied behind my back), a fifty-one pound stripy pitbull girlie who'd recently had puppies an' had the attitude of a bent trash-can lid, an' then a GINORMOUS yellow lab girlie named Lady who musta weighed eleventy-squillion pounds an' had to wear a pink Halty on her nose 'cuz she was LOUDER than Mao ... Skeezix's brother.

While I was having my teefs cleaned, Mom dosed all of the Feline Americans with Feline Advantage 'cuz she paid for me to have some while under anesthesia (since I don't like havin' it put on) ... Mom DOESN'T wanna get any fleas in the house an' it seems like other "patients" aren't so careful 'bout pests like we are.

The v-e-t said that my back teefs looked pretty bad with all of that plaque and tartar on 'em. She even thought that she'd have to extract some of 'em! But once the calculus was removed, my teefs were BEAUTIFUL an' very healthy! Ta da!

I was so happy to see Mom an' Grandma ... They carried me in a twill bag rather than in the PTU an' I didn't pee on ANYTHING! Are you proud of me? On the way outta the store, Mom's former student aide, Stefany, saw me an' got to pet me on the melon. Stefany is a cashier an' she's wanted to meet me for years! I am famous!

So now I'm home an' less groggy. I've eaten some Temptations an' had a drink of water. I've even been to the 'box, but I haven't had to go much since my tummy's pretty empty.

I'll let you know how I'm feelin' tomorrow when I'm mostly back to normal ...

Oh, an' Mom bought my Halloween costume today ... Bast!

DMM

Teefs ...

Mom was on the phone to the v-e-t today ...

It seems that Catster an' Skeezix's momma the Food Lady
have been bloggin' 'bout "how to keep geezer cats healthy" an' efurryone suggested keepin' a close eye on teefs.

Apparently, my breath isn't as sweet an' pleasant as it has been, so Mom inspected my teefs an' found that while I still have all of my teefs, the canines have some yellow tartar on 'em. Well, whaddya expect when there are WOOFIES in my mouth?

So I have an appointment tomorrow at 8 o'clock in the morning to get my teefs cleaned. Bast!

DMM

Empty house an' no more kitty cartons ...

Our Oregonian guests are gone ... They spent the day at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park an' then zipped up the freeway to Anaheim for some Disneyland/Disney's California Adventure followed by NASCAR at Fontana.

We didn't get to spend nearly enough time with them, but they did get to see an' do some things that they don't get in Oregon like the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, and the W.A.P. They also ate at local favorites like Boomerang's, Rubio's Mexican Grille (home of the fish taco), King's Fish House (which has better clam chowder than just about anywhere), In-N-Out Burger (don't get me started ...), Stuart Anderson's Black Angus (hee, hee ... I nearly typed "anus" ... darn lack of thumbs), Jalisco's for breakfast machacas, an' Casa Del Taco.

Supposedly, our cousin will be comin' back down to San Diego for a legal conference in February. That will be great. Mom might be travelin' up to the Pacific Northwest in the wintertime (like January) if the weather isn't too snowy.

But for now, they're gone. Sigh.

'Tocks Toozday: Check out my 'TOCKS for 'Tocktober 2009!

Charmee is flashin' his 'tocks in honor of 'Tocktober ...

Don't tell him that we can see spots 13 an' 14 or he'll be pretty embarrassed (hee, hee ... pun intended).

BTW: Mom used the flashy box on Charmz before she used the kitty wipes on his buns. The brown crust is gone ... for now.

Yep, I'm a naughty Tuxie (blush) ...

DMM

WBCL ... in the new bags ... is in stores!

Our furriend, Drew, from World's Best Cat Litter, sent us a second package today. It's the same litter, but in the new packaging. It looks pretty darned spiffy in the green an' black bag with the tabby kitty on the front. Inside the package with the litter was a card from Drew explainin' that the only difference is the bag itself ... Whew! That's a relief! We like the corn-kernel litter as is!

But there was a surprise in the box with the litter an' the card: A special litter mat with the new design all nice an' big! Cool!

(Sorry Rocky! I gotta tell it like I see it ... an' he's HOT!)

Mom has put the litter mat under our water bowl in the kitchen 'cuz we keep splashin' water on the cabinet (an' we have a mat under each litterbox anyway).

Thanks, Drew! The new packaging looks awfully purrfessional an' we really love the kitty on our new drink mat! Mom has filled my personal litterbox with the new litter already an' I'm drinkin' extra water so that I can be the first to use the box! Yee haw!

DMM

And the vouchers go to ...

THANK YOU to Bev, Emily and Eukanuba for the five FREE Eukanuba cat food vouchers that we were able to give away to ...

First of all, we wanna wish our Grandad a happy 71st birthday. Mom got him a furry cute t-shirt from Crazy Shirts with Kliban cats on the front (an' back) that says "Dadcat." He really liked it!

An' now on to the recipients of the Eukanuba vouchers that Bev an' Emily sent.

Each recipient will also receive a little Yeowww! prize pack from us: Some Yeowww! catnip an' a Stinky sardine.

We're contactin' the "winners" at their bloggies so that we can get these into the mail as soon as possible. Whoo hoo!

Sparky Fuzzypants was supposed to do all of the selectin', but he didn't wanna ... He only chose one.

Sparky chose Latte's entry, so Latte will be receivin' a prize pack with voucher! Yay for Latte!

Cocoa Francis Puff stepped up an' endured the tape on his paw to select the other four. Yay! Furkidsmom (aka Sniffie an' the Florida Furkids) gets one of the prizes from Eukanuba.

Olaf an' the rest of the The Ozark Mountain Cats are gettin' one, too!

Our cousins, Zoey an' the Furballs with Cha-Ching an' Tigger, are winners.

An' the last voucher with prize pack goes to our new furriend, R.W. Emerson. He's Bathsheba's new brother.

Cocoa is an excellent chooser. He did furry well with the tape on his pawpads.

Too bad it wasn't that great blue painter's tape. We didn't have any 'cuz Uncle James took Mom's tape for paintin' the school an' he didn't have any left when he was finished (an' since he's good at takin' an' not replacin', we didn't get a new roll).

Here is Cocoa showin' off the terrific Yeowww! mini prize-pack from us. He REALLY loves Yeowww! 'nip an' that odoriferous Yeowww! Stinky sardine toy.

An' here are the vouchers good for one 4-pound bag of Eukanuba catfood that Bev, Emily, and the Eukanuba company sent for FREE! Our readers are furry lucky!

We wanna thank efurryone who left a comment on our September 20th post. Too bad we couldn't give each of you a voucher ... That would've been great. Sigh.

Concatulations to Latte Meezer; Sniffie an' the Florida Furkids; Olaf an' the Ozark Mountain Cats; Zoey, the Furballs, Cha-Ching an' Tigger; an' our new furriend, R.W. Emerson.

Please send us your snail mail addresses

(to daisymaemausATcoxDOTnet) so that we can get your voucher an' prize-pack into the mail!