Shine Challange: Pet Stories

This week's The Shine Project prompt isn't so much a challenge as a request to link up our pet stories.  You know, share personal pet rescue or cute pet stories.  Ashley, over at The Shine Project, just rescued a cute little dog, Oliver, from the pound last week and she's IN LOVE. 

It seems a bit kismet that I did the Kitties Series the same week as this Shine "Challenge".   It's sorta cool since the work is done for me.  At the same time, it sort of sucks because the work is done for me . 

I'm not sure I can come up with new stories about my loves.  At least, none that I can properly articulate in a post.  I, also, have no new photo's to share.  My 3 cats are not fans of photo shoots.  Most of the photo's I tried to take this week are all blurry because no one would sit still long enough for the camera to snap a shot.  Yes, 2 seconds is TOO long.  *Sigh*

So for the curious who are new or didn't stick around to read this weeks posts here are the links...

Parker

Cyrus

Remington

 

Getting To Know the "Kitties" Series: Me {Kerri}

Me {Kerri, KittyKerri}
33 years old
I've known me since the day I was born.  Hee!

I know I've shared a lot of things about myself on here already so far but I'm sure I can eek out some more.  Okay, lets see...

Just in case you haven't noticed, I cannot pass a clearance section without stopping and looking.  Possible even buying.  A good deal is something I cannot pass up.  It's something I'm working on but at least when I'm spending money I'm spending a little instead of spending a lot.  I get giddy when I find clothes for less than $5.00.  Giddy!  So much so I buy just about whatever I can get my hands on that fits.  Which is possibly why I have several tank tops, shirts & sweaters that are all the same only in different colors.

I cannot get enough of scarves, shoes, purses and jewelry.  I have far too much of each, yet I need more.  If I like it and don't have it, I must get it!  It gives me a way of staying interested and changing things up instead of wearing the same old thing everyday.   My scarf collection is so bad that I can't even guesstimate how many I have.  I just know they are hanging on a hook rack on the back of my bedroom door and they totally block out any signs of a door being behind them. 

I am obsessed with all things birds & cats.  There is not a room in my apartment that does not have both in them in decorations.  The obsession flows into my jewelry, accessories & clothing selection. 

Will once told me I was like a Disney Princess (I can't remember if he referred to me as Cinderella, Snow White or someone else) because I "talk" to animals, take in strays, and will notice a animal when walking, driving or doing something that does not involve looking for animals.  I think it was the first time (possibly the only time) someone commented on that habit without calling me weird or making fun of me.

If I'm afraid of something or afraid to do something I ask myself why.  If the reason does not involve me getting hurt, I challenge myself to do it to get over my fear.  I started to do that after I realized I was afraid of too many things and was missing out on too much. 

When that doesn't work I have someone Triple Dog Dare me to do something.  It's the only dare I can't say no to.  And by someone, I mean Karie.  She's the only person who can TDD me. 

I refuse to bend to peer pressure.  Always have.  There's only been a couple of occasions when I was younger that I have and that was only with my BFF's.  Even if I want to do something, if I feel you are trying to pressure me into it, I won't do it.  Ask me repeatedly if I want a drink after I say no, I will not take a drink the whole night, just because it feels too much like pressure.  I could be dying for a drink/beer but it won't matter.  It makes me uncomfortable.  Cajoling, begging, pleading, and calling me names will not change my mind either.   

I love to make lists.  I carry them around but rarely remember to use them.  Usually, it's the grocery list I forget the most.  If I'm trying to make a decision, I make a list.  If I want something, I make a list of why.  If I have things to do, I make a list.  I don't know what it is but making lists are calming.

I am in love with the color of purple and all its hues.  It's one of my favorite colors but my other favorite colors are blue & green and all of their hues (or the mix of the two).

I get cold if there is air blowing on me or the temperature is below 78.  I almost always have a sweater with me so I don't freeze to death in places (like movie theaters, restaurants & office buildings).  

I'm extremely klutzy but I've only broken one bone during my life so far.  *Knocks on wood*  In 2008, I broke the pinky toe of my left foot by walking my foot into the door frame of the laundry room of my old apartment.  I'm a rock star though, it was Jessica's 25th birthday that day, and we were going out dancing that night.  I just went and bought a pair of wedges that held my toes snug together and danced the night away.  And by dance I mean hobbled because even with the shoe brace, the mass amounts of alcohol, and all the fun, it still hurt like a #*&%@.

I didn't meet my sister, Beth, until I was in the 5th grade.  She's 14 years older than I am and was not raised by our mom so she didn't have much of a relationship with her.  Circumstances and life kept us from meeting until then.  I'm pretty sure the moment we meet we were totally SISTERS and it didn't matter about that missing time.  She's the sister I have the most common with so I think that helped, even back then.

Apparently 5th grade was a BIG year for me.  It was also the year I got my ears pierced.  My sister, Beth, took me to get them done when I was out visiting her in California for summer vacation.  Or maybe Spring vacation.  All I know is it was the second time we'd met and I thought she was the coolest person of all time.  She introduced me to Adam Ant & Oingo Boingo. 

That's all I've got for now so thanks for sticking with me on this.  Hope it wasn't too boring. 

Getting To Know the "Kitties" Series: Karie

Karie
33 years old today (Happy Birthday!!)
I've known her for 23 years

Karie and I met on the first day of 5th grade.  We were seated alphabetically (Fletcher, Hill) and because she was nervouse Karie kept kicking the back of my chair.  By the end of the day I just turned around and said, "I'm missing my General Hospital!"  Yeah, as opening lines goes it may not be the best but it broke the ice.  Oh, and I did watch General Hospital.  I lived with my grandparents and Nana was an avid soap watcher!  I apparently got hooked over the summer break.  Anyway, from those words on we became BFF's!  We figured since we have the same first name we needed to stick together.

There was a dark time in 6th grade where we were not friends.  We were in different classes so that didn't help matters.  We just sort skip over this year and pretend it didn't happen.  The first day of 7th grade we shared a bus route and decided to ban together to conquor the great unknown of Junior High.  We had 3 of our 6 classes together so it was easy.

Devil's Martini 7/2008

Because of our name people started referring to us as Karie Rae & Kerri Lee.  To this day our old church friends & Karie's family still referr to us that way.

She's the mother of 4 beautiful kids, who just happen to be 4 of my favorite kids ever.  She's been married for 14 years.  She excells at one of the hardest jobs out there...a stay at home mom. 

The only physical fight I've ever been in with a girl was with Karie.  We were hanging out (far too much) and I have no idea what set us off but we were in my grandma's kitchen baking cookies or something and we ended up in a kicking fight.  I told her to go home & she called her dad but by the time Karie's dad came to get her we had made up.  I ened up staying the night at her house that night.  She lived right around the corner so it was less than 5 minutes.  I think her dad wanted to kill us.

She is part of the reason I got Parker.  To this day Karie has probably touched Parker a handful of times.  She's deathly allergic to cats.  For this reason alone Parker adores her and tries to love on her every chance she gets.  Karie accepts me even though I have "a zillion" cats and I accept her even though she isn't an animal person & can't pet my cats.  Or visit with out doping herself up & me furiously cleaning my place beforehand.

Christmas Eve 2008

She's the ying to my yang.  My better half.  My hertrosexual life partner.  She's the Matt Dameon to my Ben Affleck. She's a neat freak who thinks nick-nacks are clutter.  I'm messy and have an apartment overfilled wiht nick-nacks.  She's laid back and I'm high-strung.  She's a Cancer & I'm a Capricorn.  Yet somehow we balace eachother out.

When my grandfather died (we were 14 years old) I called her and asked her to meet me half way (between our houses).  As we were walking back to her house I blurted out "Pop's dead" and started crying.  Her reaction...to bust out laughing.  She'd never seen me cry & didn't know what to do.  It ened up being exactly what I needed. 

Disneyland 5/2011

When we were kids and we'd go on vacation together we'd always have matching outfits.  They were never the exact same but only because we had different colors.  People always thought we were fraternal twins since her parents introduced me as one of them.  To this day when on vacation we usually have an outfit that "goes" together.  It started out as an accident and we figured we needed to stick with traditions so...  It's not as bad as when we were in school but it's still bad considering we are adults. 

Most of my most daring and silly adventures have happened with her by my side.  People always assume I'm the bad girl in our relationship but she's usually the rule braker and has been the "devil on my shoulder" more than I have been on hers.  The first time I ever drank alchohol I was talked into it by her (and another friend) while we were in 9th grade.  Having said that she's totally a good girl and the trouble we got into was really nothing big. 


Drift 2010

We've been discussing getting a matching BFF tattoo for our 20th anniversary.  It's been an extremely LONG talk.  We can't decide on a design and my adversion to needles hasn't helped much.  I figure by our 25th...or 30th anniversary we'll have it figured out.

I was the maide of honor at her wedding and she was the matron of honor at mine and 9 months pregnant.  Her son, Jaden, was born 3 days later.  The poor thing had to be cut out of her bridesmaide's dress because the zipper broke (it was handmade) and my sister had to sew her into it 15 minutes before the ceremony.  If that doesn't prove she was my BFF then I don't know what does.

She's been my go to person after each and every one of my broken hearts.  She's totally my therapist and should probably get paid for it but doesn't complain because she doesn't.



At the Jack's Mannequin & Fun concert.

She loves music but doesn't have a clue who sings what and has no music knowledge.  She's game for any concert I ask her to go to.  If I ask & say it's good she goes.  She listens to any band I ask her to.  I don't understand how she can love music and still know nothing about it.  She's the total polar opposite of me in that regard. 

We're pretty spot on movie wise.  It's the one thing we usually click on and always want to see the same of.  Although, she likes more "man humor" movies than I do and I like more "big explosions & eye candy" movies than she does.   On those we compromise.  It always surprises me the humor she finds funny.  Most of what I call "stupid guy humor" movies I see are because of her. 

 

Getting To Know the "Kitties" Series: Remington

Remington
11 months old
I got him when he was 6 weeks old

The story of how Remington came to live with us is a bit convoluted.  Long story short...I wanted a kitten.  I eventually got a kitten.  It was when Will & I were still together & he was sorta supposed to be Will's cat.  End game...I won.  He's my cat.

When I went to pick Remington up Will's only instructions was "don't get a white cat!"  Remington was the last kitten, as all his brothers & sisters had already been taken.  Will was lucky he wasn't white because he was all cute, tiny and alone.  Anyone who knows me knows that if I go to get a cat and there is one there it's coming home with me.  Who can say no to a poor homeless cat, especially a kitten.  The moment I picked Remington up he nuzzled in close to me & settled in. 

Since the moment Remington learned to claw his way up the bed he's slept on my pillow.  In my hair.  It was cute when he was so tiny.  It's still cute now but not as much so considering he's about 5 times larger than he was and about 10 lbs fatter.  He takes up most of my pillow space & for a time thought that it was something he was not going to have to share.  He learned quickly that if he wanted to be near my hair he had to give me pillow space!  He buries his head into my hair, usually with his nose behind my ear, and purrs us both to sleep.  When he's restless I just have to throw my hair over his head and he settles down.  When I pick him up & hold him like a baby, which he is growing to hate now that he's almost too big to hold like that anymore, he paws my hair to his face and covers it.  I'm not sure what it is about my hair but he loves it.

Remington probably has the most nick-names of any cat I've ever owned.  Which tends to be a lot.  Here are his names: Remington,  Remi, Rem, Remi Rue, Dude, Ruby, Ruby Rue, Rue, Rueber, Turdy, Turdy McTurdison (of Turdisonville), and there are more but they aren't as PG as those listed. 

Remington pants like a dog.  When he plays, he pants.  When he gets excited, he pants.  When he gets scared, he pants.  It's the weirdest thing.  He is also the loudest, most vocal cat I've ever met.  He purrs on an octave that can be heard when you are in a different room.  He is constantly making noises, which is where Rue comes from.  It sounds like he's rueing sometimes.  He also makes noises that sound like the the noises the velociraptors in Jurassic Park made.  It's usually when he's looking for or is getting into trouble.

He's extremely stubborn & does not like the word no.  He will do something just because you tell him not to.  If he gets scolded he gets mad and goes and takes his frustration out on one of the other cats.

If you are close to him or pass by him he has to reach out and touch you.  He does it to people and the cats.  It's like he just can't help himself.  He's extremely friendly and loves attention.  He will play with you at a drop of a hat.  He's constantly on the move.

He has a very distinct M marking on his forehead.  I've heard that it is the sign on a tabby but I think it's his emblem.  It stand for Menace.  Which is a term he takes very seriously. 

He's totally a tabby cat but I swear he's a "mutt".  He looks part bobcat (head), squirrel (tail), skunk (tail markings), rabbit (feet).  He flies through the air & leaps on things while looking like a flying squirrel. 

He's deathly afraid of closets.  Which in no way keeps him from staying out of closets.  He's constantly wandering into one when I have the door open but when I go to chase him out he FREAKS out if I touch him.  It's like he goes in & looses his hearing & if I touch him it startles him and he wigs out.  When he was younger he freaked out & ended up cutting my hand up so badly from it one of his claws detached when it embedded itself into my palm.  It looked like Freddy Kruger took a swipe at my hand.  I'm not sure what scares him about being in the closet but something does.

Remi is obsessed with the laundry basket.  Not the normal laundry basket of old (like Cyrus) but the tube kind that folds up.  Will had one when he lived with us and Remington would fold the side down, jump in and sit there as content as could be.  It got to the point where we'd have to make sure the basket was put in the closed closet so he'd stay out of it.  Otherwise he'd end up knocking it over & making a mess.  He would even enjoy when it was empty & you'd put it over him upside down.  My only wish was that it was made of stronger material so it was a cage instead of a bendable play toy for him.  Joking!  Well, sort of.  He was so unhappy that the basket was gone when Will moved out that I went and bought one.

Remington is very territorial of the litter box.  Has been since the day we brought him home.  He tries to climb in, even if someone is already in it.  He has to go in & inspect after someone has come out of it.  He is practically in the box when I am cleaning it to insure he is the first to use it.  He even follows us (humans) into the bathroom to insure we aren't messing with or using HIS box.  It's funny but I don't think Parker & Cyrus think so.

When Remington was about 4 or 5 months old he attacked a mirror I had hanging over the couch.  It's a fairly heavy mirror and looks like a shuttered window (with the shutters open) and is hung on two heavy duty nails.  I had all sorts of little nick-knacks like birdhouses, birds & cats setting on the two ledges & hanging from the shutters.  At least I did until Remi attacked it while I was at work one day.  He knocked everything off it.  After the 3rd day of fixing everything on it and having him knock it all down again I decided enough was enough.  Now the mirror is bare save for 2 ceramic birds & 1 wooden cat I have slowly added to insure Remi doesn't knock the whole thing down again.  I think they are big enough to not peak his interest as toys.  The last time he knocked everything off the mirror he had the actual mirror knocked down & only hanging by one nail.  He's so lucky it didn't come completely down because had it fallen on him it would have killed him.  Now if he knocked it off the wall and onto himself I don't think it's heavy enough to kill him anymore but I do think it would do some damage.

Remington has only been outside on the back patio a few time but he LOVES it.  I usually don't let the cats out in the Summer because it's so blasted hot but when I have to go out here I do leave the door open so they can venture out if they want.  Rem hasn't learned that it is TOO HOT to wander around and not stay in the shady areas.  He paces in the sun and I end up having to make him go in so he doesn't over heat.  He pants & drools like a dog when he does that.  He loves all the dust & dirt on the cement & the swishing of his tail sweeps clean fan spots on the cement.  I'm not sure if I can continue to let him go out because he can leap onto the wall (about chest high for me).  He almost took off the last time he was out there after a hummingbird.  I have no idea what he'd do if he got out.  He would probably book it and not look back until it was too late.

Remington is a total character & I wouldn't have it any other way.  Even if I want to kill him most days. 

Getting To Know the "Kitties" Series: Cyrus

Cyrus
10 years old (will be 11 in December)
I got him when he was 6 weeks old (to the day)

I was married at the time I got Cyrus.  We had two other cats at the time (Parker & a 6 month kitten named Bacon) and on Christmas Eve we went to Petsmart to buy them a cat condo.  While walking out I saw a lady standing outside the front doors with a little kitten in her arms.  He had a little brown leather collar on and looked like a tiny white tiger (all white with light gray stripes).  I walked closer for a better looked & said "Aww...how cute!"  The lady literally shoved him into my arms & said "He's 6 weeks old.  Merry Christmas" and started to walk away.  I looked at my ex-husband & he said, "Okay, fine."  I sorta yelled to the lady, "Are you sure?" and she said "Yes, he looks like he'll have a good home."  I have no idea if she really thought that or if she just wanted to get rid of him but I didn't care.  It was L.O.V.E. at first sight.  He was mine the moment I laid eyes on him.  Jason knew it (the ex) and I'm guessing the lady knew it.

His nick-name is Bubba Lou.  He's had it for so long I don't even remember how it came about.  He sorta always seemed like he was more Midwestern than Southwestern.  When he was younger he was extremely laid back.  I used to say it seemed like he should have a piece of wheat grass (or whatever it is) hanging out of his mouth. 

As you can see in any picture of him his eyes are always dilated.  He doesn't have normal cat eyes.  I have no idea why but I do know it makes it extremely hard for him to see when he's outside (on the enclosed patio, no wild roaming for my kitties!).

The only time he's ever not used the cat litter box is when I had my niece, Elizabeth, over for the night & she was sleeping on the couch.  Cyrus had only been with us a couple of weeks but knew the litter box routine from day one.  Beth grabbed Cyrus & put him up on the couch with her and was playing with him.  After a while he started scrambling all around the blankets & she thought he was playing until he pooped on her.  I'm not sure who was more horrified & shocked.  Him or her.  He was trying to figure out how to get down & ended up having an accident when he couldn't figure it out.  Had I been watching I would have known the signs of panic on his face (an occurrence that happened often when he was really involved in playing & lost track of the urgency of bathroom breaks) and would have ushered him towards the laundry room where the litter box lived. 

Since the day we brought him home he's never been able to fully retract his claws.  You could hear him walking everywhere.  He was almost impossible to play with since he would scratch you to pieces, whether or not he meant to.  That reason alone was why we decided to have his front claws removed.  He never scratched anything but the cat condo or cat scratches we had.  He'd attack Bacon (still not declawed at the time) whenever she'd go to the couch or whatever wasn't a cat scratch and start clawing.  He'd also attack Parker when she'd go and "scratch" the couch arms.  She was declawed but he didn't seem to know that, he just knew she was doing the actions in a place that she wasn't supposed to.  No joke, he was the best kitten EVER! 

I do regret having him declawed because he didn't react well to the medication they had him on and instead of calming him down & making him sleepy it amped him up.  When we got home from picking him up I let him out in the bathroom and had to keep him in there over night, while I slept on the floor with him to try to keep him calm because he came out of his carrier like a bucking bronco and ended up busting just about every toe open.  There was blood everywhere but he would not calm down or stop jumping & standing on them.  To this day you cannot touch his feet, he will freak out.  I know they don't bother him but he does have scar tissue for toe pads. 

Cyrus is a very friendly cat.  He loves to come say hi to anyone who comes over.  At least, he used to BR....before Remington.  When I'd have girls over he'd end up flirting with them & strategically laying himself on the floor in front of them in cute positions to try & gain their attention.  He loves to be praised.  Up until the last couple years you could only touch & pet him with ONE hand.  Two hands would have him running off.  He is still a bit squirrelly with two hands but when he's in the mood to be pet he loves it.  He even lets me snuggle sometimes.  He really loves his ears & cheeks scratched. 

He is no where near a lap cat.  He won't even sit on the same couch as anyone.  He tolerates sharing a bed but only if there is ample room between him & you.   Unless he wants to snuggle & what I call nuzzle.  He buries his head under the blankets close to you & marches his paws on you & purrs...and most of the time drools.  It's so cute as long as the blanket is between you & his drool. 

I swear for the first 7 years of his live I never heard him purr.  He purrs a lot more now.  You can't hear him unless you get right next to him or put your ear to his stomach because he's so quiet.  It seems the purring and the two hand petting came around the same time.  I'm guessing is a mellowing of age thing.

Cyrus has never been one for treats.  There are two type of cat treats he'll eat.  One is not made anymore but was a rice treat (like a rice cake but broken apart) and fish flakes.  He rarely will take people food as a treat but sometimes will depending on what it is.  He sometimes eats wet food but mainly sticks to dry food.  If its something he doesn't eat he will act like you are giving him something poisonous & will run like the hounds of hell are after him.

He's slow to pounce or play, he always sits back & has to evaluate the situation first.  When he was a kitten I was crafting a birdhouse using small river rocks (for the roof) and the little booger stole a rock.  He still has it to this day.  I found it a few days later in the pile of toys he was playing with.  We keep it in the cat toy basket & he will pull it out from time to time.  He carries it around in his mouth.  I've caught Remington doing it too.  Parker, on the other hand, won't even acknowledge its existence.

He loves to play blanket monster.  He's ferocious!  I can only play when I have a thick blanket on the bed otherwise he tears my hand up biting & kicking.  I don't think he realizes it's your hand under the blanket.  He loves to get the blanket monster and it's the only time he's quick about anything.  He could play for hours.  I think part of it is it's on the bed.  He loves the bed. 

If Cyrus escapes he doesn't go far.  He immediately drops the second his feet hit "outside".  He loves to roll around in dust & dirt.  I just keep the door open & tell him to get inside & he goes back inside.  He has never bolted or ran away from me, he always runs back to the door if something scares him or if I yell at him (while outside).

He loves to lay on clothes.  Dirty clothes.  Clean clothes.  The minute you set it down he will be on it.  Like a ninja!  You won't know he's even around but if you lay clothing down he's magically there.  His favorite place in the whole world is in the laundry basket...or when I have piles of laundry on the floor (while doing it).  He just burrows into it and goes to sleep.

Cyrus isn't one for catnip, never has been.  I don't know if he just doesn't like it or if it just doesn't effect him.  He does, however, LOVE the smell of tobacco.  When Will & I were together Cyrus was Will's buddy!  Cyrus would go to Will after he came in from smoking and get all up in Will's business, rubbing on him & licking his hands.  I swear it would make him high.  He'd get all crazy or end up passing out.  One night Will went to pet Cyrus while he was on the bed and they ended up falling asleep because Will laid down next to Cyrus and Cyrus started cleaning Will.  He started with one hand then the other and then promptly passed out.  They slept together for a few hours.  It was hilarious!  Cyrus has never bonded with anyone like he did Will and I doubt he ever will again. 

As he's gotten older Cyrus has become more vocal.  He growls like a dog most of the time, especially now that Remington has come to live with us.  Remington bugs Cyrus to no end!  Cyrus is so hyper sensitive to Remington that if Remi walks into the same room Cyrus immediately starts growling, which of course makes Remi go and bug him.  I think if Cyrus would just keep quiet & ignore Rem he wouldn't get so much crap from Remi.  He acts like he hates him but when he doesn't think anyone is looking I catch them sleeping together or Cyrus will be cleaning Remington.  Once they realize I'm there or noticed it's back to fighting.

Getting To Know the "Kitties" Series: Parker

Parker
17 years old
I got her when she was 3 months old.

I couldn't start this series without starting with Parker.  She was the first pet I had that was actually 100% mine.  I got her when I was 16 1/2 years old.  Yes, that 1/2 (or 6 months) is important.  See the only reason I got her was because one of my high school friend's (ex-friend now)  and I decided that for my BFF, Karie's, 16th birthday she needed to have a cat.  It was probably the stupidest idea we ever had (and trust me there was a LOT) but we ran with it.  We got permission from Karie's parents and then we went out and found her the perfect cat.  In the process we also found ourselves the perfect cat.   There were 3 cats left and each one fit what we wanted perfectly.  Parker was mine the moment I set eyes on her. 

The adjustment period once I brought her home was a bit rough.  She wasn't too keen on the dog we had at the time (Tinkerbell) and would terrorize that poor old dog.  She gained the nickname of Houdini because she'd climb the curtains that my grandma had hanging over our windows and sit on the metal rod that they hung from.  We had a piano with a two level shelf above it and a stereo speaker mounted next to (but above) the top shelf.  Nana had all her nicknack's on the shelves and each speaker had a ceramic bird in the middle of them.  Parker would somehow climb her way to the top of the speakers and arrange herself around those damn birds WITHOUT ever knocking anything down.  How she did it I'll never know.  I wish I had a photo I could share to show how difficult it must have been for her.

She's know for dodging out the door the moment you open it.  She books it as far as she thinks is safe and then rolls around on the ground.  She prefers grass and dirt but will take cement if it is all that is available.

She knows when she is in trouble and hides before you even yell at her.  She usually tells on herself before I have a chance to find out whatever it is she has done wrong.

For as long as I can remember Parker has slept with me.  She learned early on that sleeping by my feet was dangerous so she's always been up within touching distance.  For the past 10 years (maybe) she sleeps in the crook of my arm while I lay on my side.  I call it "spooning".  She always gets the outer edge of the bed and I get any space left over from her stretching out from there.

When she was about 2 years old I took her to the vet because she had this increasing habit of peeing OUTSIDE of the litter box.  She's would balance herself on the lip of the box, stick her head inside the box and pee right in front of the box.  The vet suggested I put down some tile as cats don't like peeing on hard surfaces.  When I told him we had tile he diagnosed her with a behavioral problem.  This behavioral problem is one that I've learned to deal with since then.  It comes and goes and usually would pop up when she was unhappy about something (or someone) or if she felt the box was just too dirty to pee in.  Why sticking her head into the too dirty litter box to pee outside of it was better than climbing in & peeing in the dirty part with her head outside in the clean air is something I'll never understand.

Recently (within the last 6 months) her behavioral disorder has changed from peeing outside the litter box to peeing on the carpet right inside the front door.  She now pees on a rubber mud boot mat with puppy pads on it.  She's quite content with the arrangement.  She still uses the litter box for both needs but likes the extra area for peeing. 

If I am on the couch watching TV she is right next to me.  If I am eating on the couch she is perched on the back of the couch right over my right shoulder waiting for a bit.  She never gets one but she always holds out hope.  When I'm doing my make-up she sits/lays next to me the whole time.  When I do my hair she's either on the free sink space or sitting on the toilet.  She's totally a people cat with me.  With other people, especially new people, not so much.  She's still unsure of my niece Beth & will hiss at her when she comes over.  Beth used to torture Parker when she was a little kid by chasing her around & cornering her under my grandma's bed yelling, "Kitty Kitty!  Parker!".  They say cats (animals) don't remember things but I beg to differ.  Parker remembers and holds grudges!

She's always been a very talkative cat.  She responds when you talk to her.  Or will talk to you when she wants your attention.  Over the past couple of years she's mostly lost her voice and everything comes out in a squeak.  It's so dang cute.  She can meow when she wants to and it can still be loud.  I'm not sure what or why her voice changed but it works for her.  I just call her Squeakers sometimes now.

Her most favorite, will steal from you if you are not careful, treat is bread.  Yes, bread.  If you give her a chance she will take your piece of bread and gobble it down in one bite.  She'll pass over a piece of meat for bread in a heartbeat.  I do give her treats of bread every now and then but only if it has no butter or anything on it.

She is the definition of lap cat.  She loves to sit on your lap or will lie on your chest while you are laying down.  I've even woken up with her on my back while I was sleeping on my stomach. 

She purrs like crazy.  Just a look will get her going.  She purrs like a little motor boat.  If you touch her she will purr forever afterwards.  She usually purrs me to sleep each night.

When she was younger she ran out of the door and I didn't realize it until I heard her screech.  I caught her tail in the door.  I've never felt so bad.  The door was fully shut.  With her tail fully in it.  I'm guessing it broke the tail end of her tail as there is a huge cyst on it now.  I think for a while after she had a kink in it but she never acted like it hurt.  At least not after I opened the door and got her tail out of it. 

I think the phrase "Lets go nite-nite" is her favorite.  Whenever I say this to her she squeaks and jumps up to run into the bedroom to her spot on the bed.  She waits for me to climb in before she settles down.

When Parker was a kitten (and up to about 5 years ago) we'd box.  I'd hop around her and bat at her and (swear to God) she'd hop around & hop up and bat at my hands.  We'd box.  I've never be able to get any of the other cats to do this. 

Even though she is 17 years old, all but deaf, has cataracts, can probably see less than she should, and has arthritis she can still put Remington in his place.  She gives him a good ass kicking when he needs it or won't leave her alone.

I named her Parker because of two men I loved back then.  Peter Parker and Parker Lewis.  She's not named after either of them but I ended up loving the name because of them.  If that makes sense.

Getting To Know the "Kitties" of KittyKerri Series

I've had this idea since I decided to actively maintain this blog.  Life changed, other posts seemed more important and I just plain sort of forgot about the idea.  I have an idea book I carry around with me and still I forgot.  Story of my life.

Next week is a special week for one of my favorite people in the world (possibly THE favorite) and it got me thinking.  That thinking led me back to my "getting to know the kitties of kittykerri" series.  So next week I will dedicate a post a day to the special people that occupy the content of this blog. 

Sad to say three fourths of this group are not actual people.  They are actual kitties and part of the reason I am kittykerri.  I'll start with Parker on Monday and work my way to myself on Friday.  It's probably a bit egotistical of me to do a post about myself (on a Friday no less) but I figured I could share a bit more about myself with you all.  I know, I'm shocked that there may be something I haven't shared on here yet.  

I'm excluding family from this series.  I figure it's easier that way.  Too many land mines out there should I try to wade through those crazy kittens.  I'm not sure how supportive they'd be if I aired my thoughts & feelings of them on-line.  Not that this series is a bash in any way.  I just get weird looks from a lot of them when I mention my blog or my "bloggy friends".  Until they are excited as I am about it all I figure it's best to keep the two as separated as possible.

Hopefully you are at least a little excited about what is to come.  I know I am excited to share a bit more about the characters that are in my life.