What?!? Wednesday ... What kind of doughnut are you?

I got an email from Daisy the Curly Cat asking me (as a member of the super-sexy Pink Ladies) to stop by a new blog and welcome the authors of "The Morning Scratch", Bogdan, Katrina, and Sara, to the blogosphere ... And I did. At their site, I found a quiz to find out what kind of doughnut I am.

Being a cat with a sweet tooth (don't tell Mom, but I licked off all the frosting on her Toaster Streudel this morning while she was in the bathroom heating her curling iron ... Oops!), I am a fan of doughnuts. I've had Krispy Kreme and Yum-Yum and the occasional Hostess gem ... But I've never had a Dunkin' Doughnut (and Mom said that I wasn't gonna get one, either. Yeah, right ... ). Anyway, I took the quiz and found out that I'm a Boston Creme doughnut. Yep, that sounds about right ... but I'd rather be a jelly doughnut with razzleberry filling. Mmm ... razzleberries.

So, if you get the chance, stop by "The Morning Scratch" and make the newbies (Bogdan, Katrina, and Sara) welcome like only we bloggin' cats can!
DMM

You Are a Boston Creme Donut

You have a tough exterior. No one wants to mess with you. (Well, duh ...). But on the inside, you're a total pushover and completely soft (yet spicy!). You're a traditionalist, and you don't change easily. You're likely to eat the same doughnut every morning, and pout if it's sold out.

What Donut Are You?

Tuxie and hearts ...

Since it's nearly the end of February, this is my parting shot at the month: Me languishing atop my pink heart blankie on the back of the couch ... Smooches, efurryone (especially Jake)!
DMM

Mom told me not to mention it ...

Mom said, "No."

But I have to tell 'cuz it's my duty as doyenne of the Feline Americans and official feline spokes-mouth.

So here goes ...

In nine months, Mom will be forty.

There. Nobody died. The earth didn't blow up. No hailstorm of frogs. It's been said.

If anyone needs me for anything, I'll be hiding under the bed ...
DMM

Tabby 'n Tummy Toozday featuring Sparky Fuzzypants (as himself)!

Mom loves to tell people about Sparky Fuzzypants and his love of modeling ...



Spark's a natural ham (no, Miles ... not THAT kind of ham!) and he'll pose for any camera that flashes.



Back before Mom got a digital camera, she'd turn the flash on her old camera and take pictures of Sparky without any film in the camera.



"Flash": Strike another pose, Spark!


So, for Tabby Toozday ... Here are some of the more lovely photos from our glamorous modeling shoot featuring Sparky Fuzzypants as himself ...



Cue wind machines!



Make-up!



Work it, Mr. Spark!



The camera LOVES you!

"Time Out" Toozday!

We've been experiencin' a strange phenomena here at my house ...

Lately, Lucky Charmz has been hangin' out in the corner actin' like he's done somethin' really awful. What could it be? Has he been a bad boy? Not really. Accidents outside of the litter box? Nope ... Blowin' chunks on the livingroom carpet? Nope. Not that either. What could he be punishin' himself for? I don't really know, but I can guess ...

Mom bought five pink silicone "Breast Cancer Awareness" bracelets for Charmee a week ago. He LOVES his bracelets, but he's really rough on them. He's already broken two and nearly destroyed a third.



There are only two bracelets left and Mom told him to "play nice with {his} toys!"




Charmee can't help it. He breaks toys. He's been punishin' himself by standing in the corner to show Mom that he's sorry. Sigh.

Cat Diaries vs. Dog Diaries, or Why Cats Are Better Bloggers ...

Mom's dear friend Pat sent her this message in the context of an email fully aware that I am keeping a diary of sorts on my blog. I'm publishing this email as a public service announcement: They're on to us!
DMM

My Diary -- The Dog:
0800 ... Dog food! My favorite thing!

0930 ... A car ride! My favorite thing!

0940 ... A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

1030 ... Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

1200 ... Lunch! My favorite thing!

1300 ... Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

1500 ... Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

1700 ... Milk Bones®! My favorite thing!

1900 ... Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

2000 ... Wow! Watched TV with my master! My favorite thing!

2300 ... Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!



Excerpts from a Cat's Daily Diary:

Day 683 of my captivity: My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and myself are fed hash or some sort of dry kibbles. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again blow chunks on the floor.

Day 684: Today, I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about "What a good little hunter" I am. The audacity!!!

Day 685: My captors assembled some of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies". I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.

Day 686: Today, I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around her feet as she was walking. I must try this again tomorrow ... but at the top of the stairs.

Day 687: I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released ... and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded! ... The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports on my every move. The captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell. So, he is safe ... for now ... Bwah, ha, haaaaaa!

I Got In!

I'm now a member of the Pablo of West Hobart, Tasmania, Australia FAN CLUB! Whoo hoo! I can't wait to attend my first club meeting!

Here is my pledge:

I, DAISYMAE MAUS, do solemnly swear to remain faithful to the Pablo Fan Club purpose, which is to admire the exceptional qualities of the great feline leader, Pablo of West Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. I will heed his wise counsel in feline social causes, defend his honor to any detractors, and strive to follow his example in my daily life.

Phoebe and Monica are the two feline co-chairs of the United States chapter of Pablo of West Hobart's Fan Club.



As you can see from the photo, Pablo is a dashing young tabby and he's got all the girlys' tails in twists! Although I'm now a member, I am still devoted to my Valentine/boyfriend, Jake, and I'm still Rocky the Gutter Cat's NUMBER ONE Spicy Vixen.

A girl's gotta have options ...

Bonnie's Meme!

This is Bonnie Underfoot's Meme, but I got tagged by Rocky the Gutter Cat and Jeter Harris ... So, here are my answers!

A) Four places I have lived:
Up the street with the tribe of human heathens who painted my buns magenta
On Mom's cold, wet, metal bicycle shed ('til she 'dopted me)
The old house
The new house

B) Four things I love to watch:
Hummingbirds
Cat Television!
Mom eatin' stuff (that I can MAKE her share)
My fish

C) Four places I have been outside my home:
The porch (and I got in so much trouble!)
The mobile pet vet when I got spayed
Dr. Jacque's at South San Diego Pet Hospital
Inside the grandparents' SUV

D) Four websites I visit daily:
Skeezix the Cat/Mao/Rocky (and Tripper)
Kukka-Maria
Daisy the Curly Cat
Cox.net for email

E) Four of my favorite foods:
Temptations Seafood Medley
Sheba (mostly lobster)
Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys with egg soufflé
Eukanuba for Adult Cats

F) Four places I would rather be right now:
On the back of the couch
On grand-dad's lap if he's takin' a nap
On my satin pillowcase on MY bed
On Mom's lap

G) Four toys I have owned and played with:
Whirly Bird®
Cat Dancer®
Wooly Bully®
Kitty Hoots® "Itty Bitty Kitty"

H) Four nicknames my staff have tried to assign me:
Mousie Butt-Cheeks (don't ask)
Honey Maus
Miss Meece
Beautiful Girl

I) Regarding Catnip:
Love it
It's nice
Could take it or leave it
Don't like it or can't have it
Answer: It's Nice ... I tend to get carried away if I get myself invested in the 'nip

J) Regarding Cat Grass:
Love it
It's nice
Could take it or leave it
Don't like it or can't have it
Answer: Love it ... It's currently languishing in the 'fridge 'cuz I got a little carried away

K) First four things I'd buy after winning the lottery:
An automatic water fountain with ice dispenser
Wider cat doors into the bedrooms 'cuz Puffy doesn't fit too good now
King-sized bed for ME and Mom; the boys can sleep on the "old" bed
First Class plane ticket for Jake and Rocky the Gutter Cat to come and visit me

L) Four things I do besides eat, sleep, and litterbox:
Blogging and visiting my boyfriend, Jake
Testing all beverages placed in my line-of-sight
Keep running calendar of days left 'til Mom's on vacation again
Prevent Feline Americans from throwing a bloody coup to unseat me at "Housecat of the Quarter" (my quarter ends on 3/3/2007 ... Unless I'm re-elected!).

M) Four things I want to do this summer:
Eat Temptations® efurryday
Take naps with grand-dad
Taunt neighborhood children with my beauty and visible softi-ness
Hide Charmee's pink silicone bracelets ... and watch him go CRAZY trying to find them (bwah, ha, ha ...)

N) My four most prized possessions that have limited value to anyone else:
Mom
Mom's bed
Minty Maus (my catnip sock)
Wicker chair near Mom's bed

O) What I’m going to do before tomorrow is over:
Play Whirly Bird® making Charmee jealous
Make biscuits on the back of the couch
Have some porky goodness
Eat Temptations®

P) Which of the following is your favorite place to hide and play?
Paper bags
Plastic bags
Boxes
Other (please describe)
Answer: Other -- I like to hide under Mom's bed behind the bedskirt where I can jump out at the Feline Americans or grab Mom's feet

Q) Four other "pets" your staff have kept with you:
Fish: tetras, danios, cooley loach, clown loaches, catfish, cory catfish
Aquarium Snails: snacks for clown loaches
A plecostamus (sp?)
Assorted Feline Americans including Percy, Dolly, Meemaw, Huckleberry Finn and the current boys

R) Furriends I tag to respond (four or more):
Cousin Suzanne from Under the Bed
Jake from Jake & Bathsheba
Monica and Phoebe
Millie from Darling Millie
Brach Lee (Kukka-Maria's brainiac brother)
And anyone else who wants to play!

You know the drill. Copy this list and paste it into a new post. Insert your own answers, pass it on, and leave me a comment. I like comments. Yes, it's long. So skip some questions - you're a cat and don't have to do what anyone tells you.

How does one define "DaisyMae Maus"?

I was over at Hootin' Annie's readin' her posts and enjoying her "Irish/St. Paddy's Day"-themed wallpaper when I came across an entry on her blog where she'd been "defined" like in a dictionary.

Being a literate and highly curious sort, I clicked the link to try it for myself.
I entered my name: DaisyMae Maus.
I clicked the button.
Here's what came out ...

DaisyMae Maus -- [adjective]: Smells like teen spirit 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Now to casual observers, this would just be a silly little cast-off reference to an early '90's grunge anthem by the band Nirvana: "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was a huge hit. You can hear it here ...


But to Mom's family, it's a little bit more, 'cuz Mom's great step-aunt was married to the uncle of the late Kurt Cobain, lead singer of Nirvana. Interesting ...
DMM

300th Post Contest WINNER: Tara, Princess Meezer!

I just made my 300th post (in fact, this one is 301!) with my Saturday Photo Hunt offering, so it's time to check the 300th POST CONTEST guesses to see who will be the winner of either a genuine Whirly Bird® with two replacement birdies OR a fabulous Temptations prize pack OR some other prize if the winner is a hamster or turtle. Hmmm ... Lots of guesses.

Well, since I made my post today, February 23rd, I have three possible winners! Let's check to see who had the time closest to 8:27 PM PST ...

Oreo the Cat guessed 2/23 at 6:23 AM ...

Midnight (our 200th Post Contest WINNER) of Grr, Midnight & Cocoa
guessed 2/23 at 6:45 PM which is pretty close ...

But the winner of DaisyMae Maus and the Feline American's "300th Post Contest" is ...

TARA!

Tara, Princess Meezer guessed 9:15 PM PST and my actual post was at 8:27 PM PST. How's that for close? She very wisely chose the WHIRLY BIRD! Not that the Temptations® prize pack isn't an awesome prize, but if you don't have a Whirly Bird, you're just not livin'!

Concatulations, Tara! You're a furry good guesser and now, you're also a WINNER!
DMM

Oh, and here's your prize-winner badge to put on your bloggie to show off your prestigious winning status!

Photo Hunt #8: Soft

Hey! It's my 300th post!



This week's theme is "Soft".

As a participant in the weekly Photo Hunter Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, I found a favorite item to represent "SOFT". In all of Mom's experience with cats, none has been quite as soft as Dolly Pop. Miss Pop went to the Rainbow Bridge a few years ago after a lingering illness. Even while she was wasting away, she never lost the luster or silkiness of her beautiful fur. Dolly Pop was furry special in that her superlong fur didn't get matted like Fudge Ripple's does ... A little brushing would make her fur stand out like a halo all around her.

Supersoft girlie and much-missed Feline American Dolly Pop!

Friday's Feast #9

Appetizer: Where on your body do you have a scar, and what caused it?

Well, being a spayed female, I have a scar on my belly from the surgery to remove my "feminine parts" and save me from pregnancies. However, Mom has better stories about two of her scars:

Mom says, "I have a scar just above my upper lip. Here's the story ... My closet used to have a single shelf above the clothes rod on which I stacked my shoes ensconsed in their matching plastic boxes. One evening, while trying to get a pair of gray snakeskin pumps down, I accidentally caused ALL of the shoes to come cascading down in an avalanche of plastic boxes. The first box knocked my glasses off. The other forty squillion boxes smashed me right in the face. One cut me above my lip. Very gross. Tons of blood. No broken teeth. No broken nose.

The other gnarly scar is on my left knee. It's small and old. I got it at a sixth grade beach trip. A friend dropped her glasses into the water and I kneeled down to reach for them. I kneeled onto a plastic fork and when I stood up, it was sticking ... out of my knee. Very gross. Tons of blood."

Soup: What is something that has happened to you that you would consider a miracle?

The fact that my life intersected with Mom's and she let me stay eventhough it took me a couple of tries to get the concept of "litterbox." I was, afterall, an "outside cat" before I became Mistress of the Manor.

Mom says, "Being a passenger in a Toyota pick-up truck during a barrel-roll and end-over-end rolling incident back when I was twenty. The driver broke his arm in three places. The passenger in the middle got a concussion. I broke my glasses. The two-day-old truck was the only casualty ... Thank goodness!"

Salad: Name a television personality who really gets on your nerves.

Hmmm ... I've never been very fond of that white cat in the Fancy Feast commercials. I mean, c'mon ... Who eats catfood out of a crystal goblet! I want my food! I'd eat it in the can if Mom would let me! In fact, who needs a plate? I'd eat it off the floor!

Mom says, "I don't like that annoying infomercial guy who cleans stuff and advertises the "Hercules Hooks" (although that hooks are AWESOME!)."

Main Course: What was a funny word you said as a child (such as "pasketti" for "spaghetti")?
Uh ... cat? I don't speak much ... I call myself "Maus."

Mom says, "'Eempeedeemps' were elephants and 'foddies' were horses. Otherwise, I was rather swift as a kid." My friend from kindergarten, Dorothy Elizabeth, had much cuter ones ... We were tykes before "Happy Meals," but she liked to go out for "mongagers, fee-fis and cocoa." Oh, and it was said with a slight lisp.

Dessert: Fill in the blank: I have always thought ______ was ______.

Mom says, "Oh, I've GOTTA take this one! I have always thought that Wayne Newton singing "Danke Shoen" was a WOMAN singing!"


OH, AND THIS ... BY THE WAY ... IS POST #299!

Look what I found!!! Potentially YUMMY!

Daisy the Curly Cat had one of these on her bloggie. Being a "Pink Lady," I had to 'dopt one for myself. Check him out! Doesn't he look tasty? I heard that SeaMonkeys® were actually tiny brine shrimp ... and I LIKE shrimp.

"Future Shrimp Taco" My adopted Sea Monkey®!

Thursday Thirteen #9

Thirteen Things I Heard Mom Say About Cats Bein’ Better Than Dogs

1. We don’t drool all over the place!
2. Our kisses aren’t slobbery ones and we don't tend to want to kiss you after we lick our nether parts.
3. We don’t have to be walked before we can go potty.
4. We don’t have to be walked IN THE RAIN before we can go potty.
5. We cover our poop.
6. No doggy breath.
7. We’re (MOSTLY) quiet and NEVER harass the man in the bloo shorts with tirades of hysterical barking.
8. We smell NICE after we bathe.
9. A big bag of cat food lasts MUCH LONGER than a big bag of dog food.
10. We don’t stick our noses in your crotch when we meet you for the first time!
11. We don’t need the window open when we ride in the car.
12. We don’t walk in circles before we lay down.
13. We PURR and “make biscuits” ...

Thank you, Jake!

My boyfriend, Jake, sent me a Catster "star" today ... Isn't that the most? Isn't he dreamy?
Smooches!
DMM

Tabby Toozday with Fudge Ripple!

This is our "elder statesman," Fudge Ripple, posing for Tabby Toozday. Isn't he pretty? He's a Maine Coon cat with frootbat ears and some of the most easily matted fur EVER! Mom and grandma brush him for hours and he still gets matted. Does anyone else have this problem? There have been Feline Americans with long fur, but they have NEVER gotten matted like Fudgie does.
DMM

And the verdict is ...

GUILTY!

Those of you who have been following Mom's adventures in the legal system will be heartened to know that a modicum of justice was served today when Mom got a voicemail from the assistant district attorney handling the case against the man who mugged Mom last May 22nd.

Mom testified on Wednesday and the jury heard other testimony on Thursday. After some deliberation, a verdict was submitted on Friday afternoon. The mugger was found guilty of one count of armed robbery. Let's hope that his sentencing (March 19th) results in some prison time. Apparently, the penalty for robbing someone at gunpoint and threatening to kill them is a maximum of three years. In my mind, he needs more "punishment" than that ... But, I am a cat, so my opinion doesn't hold much weight with the legal system.
DMM

Photo Hunt #7: Antique

This week's theme is "Antique".

As a participant in the weekly Photo Hunter Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, I found a favorite item to represent "ANTIQUE". Being a cat of thirteen years, I don't have many possessions and none of them are antiques. Therefore, I had to raid Mom's stash of stuff looking for things that look old. I found three items: a Singer sewing machine from the 1930s or 40s; a Bulova wristwatch given to Mom by her great-grandmother (it looks like it's from the 1940s); and a book that was published in 1919. I went with the book, 'cuz it's the oldest. It's a leather volume of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "Tales of a Wayside Inn" published by Macmillan Pocket Classics. This book is important to Mom because it was given to her by our Aunt Montie.

Longfellow's Tales of a Wayside Inn

Friday's Feast #8

Appetizer
What sound, other than the normal ringing, would you like your telephone to make?
Gosh ... I really don't know since I don't tend to answer the phone. Mom lets the masheen pick up any calls and then she determines if she wants to return the calls ... or not. She has one of those pink cell phones that has a special ring: It plays the SpongeBob Squarepants theme song so she knows that HER phone is ringing and not someone else's. That's pretty smart, right?

Soup
Describe your usual disposition in meteorological terms (partly cloudy, sunny, stormy, etc.).
Mostly sunny with chance of isolated thunder showers with a high of 72˚ and an overnight low of 54˚ with patchy fog.

Salad
What specific subject do you feel you know better than any other subjects?
Um ... I'll take "Delicious, Yet Expensive Catfood Kibbles" for $1,000, Alex?

Main Course
Imagine you were given the ability to remember everything you read for one entire day. Which books/magazines/newspapers would you choose to read?
Others would assume that I'd read something like Italian Vogue or some other fluff, but I would choose to read for 24-hours straight to commit to memory the entire Harry Potter series. Of course, this would have to happen AFTER the release of the seventh book on July 21, 2007. We cats love our Harry Potter!

Dessert
If a popular candy maker contacted you to create their next confection, what would it be like and what would you name it?
For the past month, I've been watching Mom make chocolate rose pops for her school club to sell for Valentine's Day, so I'd want to have a chocolate and vanilla swirled Tuxedo Cat pop made in my image. I'd call it a "Spicy Vixen" pop and I'd sell them for a dollar each so that many, many of "me" could be sold. They'd be addictively delicious, just like me ... with just a hint of spice, 'cuz I'm a spicy vixen.

McKenzie and the Rainbow Bridge

It is with heavy hearts that we report that our cousin from Oregon, McKenzie, went to the Rainbow Bridge on Tuesday. Mom's cousin buried him near another beloved family member, Bogie, on her parents' property atop a hill. His absence is felt deeply. His family and his companion, Zoey, have our condolences.
DMM and the Feline Americans

Thursday Thirteen #8

Thursday Thirteen #8
Shows I’m Gonna Watch With Mom This Long Weekend!

Mom has a DVR that she uses to record television shows for us to watch together. She watches the show and I get to cuddle/spend quality time with her. Sometimes I get a piece of cheese ... Yum.

This is the line up that we’ve got planned:

1. “Medium”: We have one episode to watch.
2. “CSI: Miami: There are three episodes of this show waiting for us.
3. “CSI: New York”: There’s just one of these waiting in the queue.
4. “NCIS”: We’ve got two of these to watch. Mom likes Mark Harmon.
5. “Veronica Mars”: We became hooked on this show first because it’s taped locally, but more so because it’s really good.
6. “Gilmore Girls”: I think that we’ve gotten way behind on this show ... We’ve got three episodes to watch to get up-to-date.
7. “Cold Case”: Like #6, we’ve gotten pretty far behind.
8. “Shark”: Mom says that she’d watch James Woods read the phonebook for an hour. The man must be starving because he sure does chew the heck out of the scenery.
9. “Supernatural”: Just one episode of this show because Mom tends to watch ‘em as soon as they’ve been taped.
10. “Crossing Jordan”: We’ve got one show to watch from this series, but Mom’s a bit ticked at the writers for killing off Leslie Bibb’s character. There’s too much death in the world.
11. “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip”: Another beautifully cast ensemble. Mom and I enjoy listening to Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford deliver their lines. Poetry ...
12. “Numbers”: Three weeks worth of this show to watch. It’s nice to see Kathy Najimy in a program that showcases her expressiveness. She’s the reason behind Sparky Fuzzypant’s name, by the way.
13. “The Knights of Prosperity”: Two words -- Donal Logue. Mom, for some reason BEYOND my reconning, thinks that he’s brilliant in this show. Go figure ...

Posting UPDATE!
'Cuz you wanted to know:
In October of 1999, there was an episode of an NBC show called "Veronica's Closet" with Kirstie Alley featuring a character played by Kathy Najimy (Olive Massery) who's having a birthday. Veronica ends up getting her a sweet little kitten with long, fluffy fur. At the end of the episode, Olive scoops him up and nuzzles him addressing him as "Mr. Fuzzypants."

When Mom and Grandma found Sparky Fuzzypants, Grandma wanted to name him Sparky because he was found on July 3rd. As he grew, he developed furry pantaloons. When Mom saw the episode of "Veronica's Closet," Sparky got his middle name. So essentially, Kathy Najimy named him. Get it?

The Happiest of Valentine's Days to Efurryone!

We'd like to take this opportunity to send smooches and hugs out to our Valentines in the blogosphere! Pucker up, efurryone!
DMM and the Feline Americans

Wordless Wednesday: Will justice be served?

Tabby Toozday?

I'm takin' a break from Tuxedo Tuesday to make some room for Tabby Toozday: Here's a lovely shot of Feline American Sparky Fuzzypants.


Oh, and Mom's friend, Lana, sent this photo ... The poor guy seemed like a perfect addition to the whole Tuxie, Tabby, Tortie, Tummy meme ... He'd be warm enough here, but where some of you live, he'd be a Feline Popsicle! Brrrrr ....

At Long Last ... Love!

Wow ... It's seemed like FOREVER that Lucky Charmz was on the market, but the lovely Oreo (the girlie, not the boy) swooped in and snagged herself a little piece of feline hunkdom: Charmee has been spoken for.
DMM

Thanks to efurrybody who was instrumental in hooking the two lovebirds up! Charmee offers smooches to y'all!

ManCat Monday: Feline American Pumpkin

Mom was a little snap-happy this weekend, so she took some photos after she subjected all six of us to a round of clippy-claws.

Pumpkin is the hardest to wrangle ... She had to drag him out from under the bed by his ankles: He's got a manly set of claws and he knows how to use 'em.

Anyway, after she snipped and clipped, she rewarded us with some Temptations®.

Here's Pumpkin looking all studly like the man-cat he is with a grip on his favorite snack: Temptations®. Check out the PAWS on that fine feline specimen. Gosh, if we weren't siblings ... Mee-owwww!

Dazey is a furry lucky girl to have hooked up with our Pumpkin.

DMM

Do YOU Know San Diego? I do ...

You know you're from San Diego if you can relate to the following:

Your high school had a surf team.

You can correctly pronounce Tierrasanta, La Jolla, Rancho Peñasquitos, San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Jamacha, Jamul, Cuyamaca, and El Cajon.

There are four distinct seasons: Summer, Not Quite Summer, Almost Summer, and Oh Hey Look! It's Summer Again!

Chula-juana is a real town.

You paid the $1.00 toll to drive across the Coronado Bay Bridge ... Or you drove miles out of your way to take the Silver Strand to AVOID the $1.00 toll.

You would drive with the windows down through the "S Curve" on the I-5 on Sunday evenings and could smell the Fornaca Family Bakery.

Your house is worth more than some small countries.

The Wal*Marts' "announcements" are in Spanish.

You know what MB, OB, and PB stand for.

Every other street name is either in Spanish or Spanish-related, and you're surprised when other areas don't have this.

You can determine the accuracy of someone's "I'm ghetto" claim by knowing their high school. For example, El Camino High School or Crawford High School.

You see weather forecasts for four different climate zones in the same county, and aren't remotely surprised. The Micro Climate Weather is a fact of nature here.

You've gone to Mt. Helix in July and known you'd still need a jacket.

You've tailgated at Qualcomm Stadium (and for bonus points, also tailgated when it was Jack Murphy Stadium).

You have a favorite: The WAP or the Zoo.

You've been on a field trip to see an Imax movie at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center.

You still call it "the Del Mar Fair."

You say, "I'm going to the track" and people know what you mean.

You understand what May-Gray and June-Gloom are.

A famous skateboarder/surfer lives in your town.

There's a North County, a South County, and an East County, but no Central County or West County.

You know what it means when two guys are walking in Hillcrest.

You know what it means when a girl in a short skirt is walking on El Cajon Blvd.

You've gotten stuck in the Horton Plaza parking structure traffic after a Padres game.

You know what "The Merge" is, and will plan your entire day around not being on it during rush hour between 3 PM and 7 PM.

You've been to Belmont Park and ridden the Giant Dipper.

You've taken the Coaster and laughed at people sitting in traffic on Interstate 5.

You know the difference between Clairemont Mesa, Kearny Mesa, and Mira Mesa -- and maybe you remember Serra Mesa, too!

You've gone to Sea World on a warm day and sat in the "Splash Zone" at the Shamu Show to get cooled off -- and laughed at those tourists who were caught unaware.

You've been delayed at the Border Checkpoints on the 5 AND the 15.

There are more bands than people.

Your house doesn't have air conditioning and you've never turned on the heater.

You know it's San Diegan, not San Diegoan, or San Diegoite!

Everyone has their favorite beach.

No matter what the weather is, there is always someone walking around in a t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops.

You live on, near or are surrounded by hills.

You hate tourists and their bad driving. LEARN TO DRIVE OR GET OFF THE ROAD!

You have family and/or friends who have moved to Arizona.

You used to, and sometimes still do, ride the carousel at Seaport Village.

You know someone who doesn't own pants, and have a neighbor who doesn't seem to own a shirt.

You know what Santa Anas are, and that they have literally nothing to do with the city of Santa Ana.

If the menu doesn't have California burritos on it, forget it, it's not real Mexican food.

If you're NOT from San Diego ... Too bad.

Desperate measures ...

Lucky Charmz went and did it ... Yep, he got a tattoo!

Despondent over being the ONLY Feline American without a Valentine, Charmee snuck out with his piggy bank clutched in his paws, and visited Flesh, a tattoo parlor in Imperial Beach.

As you can see, he is now etched across his distinctive brown tummy spot. What does his tattoo proclaim? Well, the obvious, of course!

Charmee has always wanted to be a member of the famed Tomcat Stable of Empress Kukka-Maria, so he has proclaimed his devotion to our beloved Empress across his tightly toned abs ...

Here's a close-up of his body art ...

Do you think that the Empress will be impressed or will Charmee just come across as another desperate suitor of our super-sexy Kukka-Maria? Only time will tell ...

Making the "telephone" gesture with his right front paw, Lucky Charmz pleads: "Kukka, sweetie ... Call me?"

The 300th post is comin' soon ...

Wow. I guess that I'll have to have another CONTEST 'cuz I'm nearing my 300th post.

You can venture your guess in the comments section of THIS post. Make sure that your guess is Pacific Time.

Any fluffy (or feathery or scaly) can guess: Multi-pet households can leave a guess for each pet SO LONG AS YOU HAVE A BLOG that I can visit.

The deadline is 12:01 AM PST on Monday, February 19th, 2007 (Presidents' Day)

The winner may chose ONE of the following as his/her prize:

A. A Temptations® Prize pack (like Midnight won on my 200th post contest)
OR
B. A genuine Whirly Bird® exercise toy with two replacement birdies
OR
C. A snack and toy prize pack of assorted items if you're a woofie, birdie, bunny, ferret, rat, hamster, fishy**, TURTLES, or reptile (so Mystery can guess, too!).

**NOTE: Fishies only get ONE guess per tank 'cuz I'd be counting guesses for the duration of my nine lives if EACH fishy got a separate guess.

I'm not trying to be species-ist, but I gotta draw the line somewhere.

Good Luck, Efurrybody!

I hope that I get more guesses than I did last time (when only seven cats guessed ... I felt furry unloved. Sniff ...)
DMM


PS: I reserve the right to change the conditions and/or prizes in this contest at will, but with a good reason.

To our Valentines ...

You'll find Miss Spooker here.



You'll find Miss Jasmine here.



You'll find super-sexy Jake here.



You'll find Miss China Cat Sunflowerhere.



You'll find Miss Dazey here.

NEWS FLASH! LUCKY CHARMZ HAS A VALENTINE ... FINALLY!


You'll find Miss Oreo here.

Even Feline Americans support our TROOPS!

MOWING THE GRASS IN IRAQ
This Army soldier in Iraq with his tiny "plot" of grass in front of his tent.

It's heartwarming and puts the mundane tasks of our daily lives into perspective!

Here is a soldier stationed in Iraq ... stationed in a big sand box (and who among us can't relate to sandboxes given we use a litterbox efurryday?). He asked his wife to send him dirt (U.S. soil), fertilizer, and some grass seed so that he can have the sweet aroma, and feel the grass grow beneath his feet.

When the men of the squadron have a mission that they are going on, they take turns walking through the grass and the American soil - to bring them good luck.

If you notice, he is even cutting the grass with a pair of a scissors. Sometimes we are in such a hurry that we don't stop and think about the little things that we take for granted.

Upon viewing this, please say a prayer for our soldiers who give (and sometimes give up their lives) so unselfishly for us.

Thank you, Spooker!

Sparky Fuzzypants's valentine ... Miss Spooker ... sent him a wonderful Valentine's Day present. See?



Sparky says, "How furry wonderful! I love catnip ... But not as much as I love my Miss Spooker!"

Smooches!
DMM

Fudge Ripple & China Cat Sunflower: Valentine Sweeties

You can't make a better Valentine's Day match than FLOWERS and CHOCOLATES ... So it makes perfect sense that Felie American Fudge Ripple and China Cat Sunflower are Valentines ...

Now, if only we could find a sweetie for Lucky Charmz ...

DMM

DaisyMae's "Word of the Day": CREME FILLING

Here's another informative vocabulary lesson to build your FELINE LEXICON ...

From DaisyMae's Feline Dictionary of Terms and Phrases, the phrase of the day is:

CREME FILLING (verb) ... kuh reem fill ing ... White fluffy fur found on a feline tummy that resembles the protruding dots of vanilla center of a Twinkie® snack cake when said cake is inverted.

Sentence example:
1. Sparky Fuzzypants rolled over onto his back exposing his créme filling. (see photo)

Photo Hunt #6: Broken!

This week's theme is "Broken".

As an intrepid Photo Hunter in the weekly Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, I found a favorite item to represent "BROKEN".

Mom goes to a take-out place called C J Oriental Express in our neighborhood at least once a week. She doesn't go purely for herself: She goes for Fudgie. Fudge Ripple loves bbq pork, so Mom orders a combo with items for her and the pork for him. She carefully chops up his pork and feeds him before she takes a single bite of her dinner.

With her combo, Mom always gets a single fortune cookie that she breaks and lets us sniff (we love the sniff, but don't taste the cookie).


A BROKEN fortune cookie could bring good luck!

Fudge Ripple and Lucky Charmz: No Valentines ...

Poor Fudgie and Charmee ... Neither was able to find a Valentine for the big dance ...


Fudge Ripple is as sweet as his name. He's not taken ... yet.


Lucky Charmz could be your Prince Charming, ladies ... He's still up for grabs!