rascally kitties

right behind me...sort of curved around me. you can't see him because he got up about 45 seconds before mama showed up with the camera.

ben2 and i were cuddled on the bed...almost like we meant it! (tee hee)

mama's proud of us.

mama's going shopping

costco opens in 32 minutes. mama's going to be there to buy us a new camera! yay!

update: costco opened in an hour and 2 minutes. although the website indicated opening at 9a, they changed last week to 9:30a...and didn't update the website. grrr. the one good thing is that it's a beautiful day today...so standing around outside talking with other impatient costco customers was a little ok.

unfortunately, mama didn't find the camera she wanted there. so off to video only, circuit city and best buy. at best buy mama bought a kodak easyshare c743 along with a 2g sd card. it was a fairly decent deal.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer

How fast can you type?

as a kitty, i don't type all that fast. when my transcriber is at work (my mama), we're probably at around 75 to 85 wpm

Soup

What is your favorite online game?

my favorite online game is trying to get mama to pay attention to me. i sit on her hands, interfere with her view of the monitor, lick her nose. i'm pretty good at getting her to pay attention to me! off-line, mama's a scrabble hound!

Salad

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as highest), how intelligent do you think you are?

i have just the right amount of kitty smarts. enough to know what needs to be done and how to get someone else to do it.

Main Course

Name three of your best teachers from your school years.

as i didn't go to school, i defer to mama: Mr. Frojen, junior high Spanish teacher. Mrs. Wahto, second grade teacher. Miss Bell, my high school child development teacher.

Dessert

What are your plans for this upcoming weekend?

my plans include lots of naps--as many as possible with mama. Mama's plans are: Return a few things to my soon-to-be ex-husband, and pick up some money from him. Maybe...(fingers crossed)...buy a digital camera so there will be pictures of the kitties again.

computer problems under the bed

(cue the music for mission:impossible) the spyware checker found a couple of suspicious things last night...after mama had noticed that the computer was getting slower and slower.

it appears that the spies were knocked out, trussed and booked. hopefully it'll get back to normal. i dislike having my blogging activities impinged.

there've been lots of guesses for my 100th post contest! will there be more?

deadline is 11:59 pm 4/27/07!

wednesday morning

i just found out that our limerick writing friend, karen jo, is having foot surgery to remove her both big toe toenails (owie!).

i'm going to teleport over later for an hour to keep her company. i'll apply my healing purring skills and hope that i can help. will you do the same?

Leave your guess here for the Contest

this is it:

leave your guess in the comment section for when--date and time...in pacific daylight time--you think the 100th post will happen!

good luck!

100th Post Contest

mama's working on a contest (details to be posted on tuesday) for guessing the date and time of the 100th post to Under the Bed. this is post 91.

we'll post all the details tomorrow: the rules, the prize, etc.

i do know that we're going to be somewhat smallish for this contest, and then the next one will be slightly bigger (etc., etc.). so far, we're thinking about a temptations prize pack: all the flavors, plus dentabites. what do you think?

voting will start tomorrow--after the details are posted.

excitement

at lunch time, i was with mama in the living room. she was channel surfing. i was looking out the window.

a tiny bird landed on the deck. i made my 'let me out' noise: ack, ack, ack, ack, followed by sincere meow. i was ready to pounce!

before i could convince mama that it would be good exercise for me (besides lots of fun!), the little bird flew away.

i know i could have caught it! and then mama wouldn't have to share her cheese with me.

a new week

mama says that there's a small audit this week (to go with the licensing visit and big audit in may). you'd think that it might mean more hours at the office. but she gets to work from home! yippee! tummy rubs and temptations for me!

ben2 here: tummy rubs and temptations for me2, please!

i want out

the sun is shining and it's warm outside. i want mama to let me out.

she finally did. i got to go onto the deck. it smells good out there...fresh and clean, and very much like spring.

then a jet flew over. i want back in.

cute kitties and no camera!

oh my, ben2 had the cute kitty thing going on today. mama was putting away her knitting supplies, and he jumped into the smallish drawer to see what was going on. he turned around a time or two, and then curled into a kitty ball. mama said he earned some cute kitty points. after he hopped out, i hopped in. the view was nice. again, mama wished she had a camera!

mama's been playing with my blog. what do you think?

friday evening

lilly lu's home, although still quite ill. (get updates at her brother's blog: http://mushue.blogspot.com/)

there's approximately 90 minutes left on princess tara's commentathon--she's raising money for lilly lu's v-e-t bills. if you haven't left your comment, stop by http://taraprincessmeezer.blogspot.com/

please keep purring for her...(and every other kitty/human who might need our love and support)

*******

while i don't really like live music of any kind, i was happy to hear mama sing the friday song today: friday, friday, friday is our favorite day! we've got a weekend without big plans except to unpack the last 4 boxes (office supplies), nap, and spend time with friends. maybe we'll make some gluten-free peanut butter cookies*.

i can't remember if i told you that mama bought a new printer before we moved. she started to unpack it at the old place and then decided not to. after we moved, she couldn't find the software and cords--anywhere! so tonight, mama tells me that the software was in the very last box (of every single box in the house!). the power cord and usb cable were in the second to last box. i don't get it...i don't EVER lose anything (ok, i don't really have anything to lose, but still...!).

another thing mama found tonight was the 'clapper' she got for christmas. up until now, she has to disturb me and ben2 as she reaches over from the bed to turn off the lamp. now, she can just clap. oh, sweet dreams are made of this...

*****

i just had a little chat with mama and she agreed to make the cookies. so if you're out and about tomorrow, feel free to teleport on over around 3. there'll be cookies for our beans (diet coke, diet orange, fresca, water, and regular coke and pepsi...maybe even milk if someone wants some), and i'll score some primo nip for us. i might even let you play with my whirly bird!

maybe i'll see you tomorrow?


*mama's gluten-free peanut cookies are so yummy...you won't even know they're gluten-free. here's what to do:
preheat the oven to 350 degrees
combine:
2 cups peanut butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
(recipe can be halved)
drop by tablespoonful onto non-stick, or greased or parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
bake for approximately 12 minutes and until golden brown. (in the oven at our new place, 350 is actually closer to 400, so be aware that your oven might not be 350 when you set it. mama will bake these at 300 instead because heat that's too high will make them tough.)
cool slightly, remove from cookie sheet and enjoy!
(mama frequently adds peanut butter chips and chocolate chips for extra zing)

getting to be friday

we're still pink for lilly lu. if you haven't been to tara's blog for her commentathon, head over now to add your good wishes. her royal highness is collecting comments and will make a donation of $.50 per comment--up to $50--toward lilly lu's v-e-t bills. all hail princess tara!http://taraprincessmeezer.blogspot.com/

you can check in on lilly lu at http://mushue.blogspot.com

mama had a cortisone shot in her left knee yesterday. today, her knee is sore. the underlying pain seems better.

her v-e-t says he doesn't know what's going on with her kidneys, and he is sending her to kidney v-e-t. she has an appointment for 2 weeks from now. mama's working hard to stay focused on positive things. in between purring hard to lilly lu, i'm purring for mama. i know my purring helps keep her calm. (sometimes in the night, if she's agitated, i'll sleep on her chest. she calms down with that, too.)

it's time to put mama to bed. i've got lots of purring to do over night. if you're awake, stop by and say hi.

pink for Lilly Lu

i'm joining with lots of friends in turning my blog background pink for Lilly Lu. she's a sick girl, and pink's her favorite color.

you can check in on her at mu shue pooh king's blog:
http://mushue.blogspot.com

deep and sustaining purrs to everyone who needs them today...

156

hey, guess what? i'm moving up the 'Top 100 Cat Sites' rating list! now at 156. pretty cool.

we were warned about nasty weather, and it has yet to manifest. i'm not sad about that. in fact, i'm kind of tired of the eurhythmics song 'here comes the rain again'. it seems like we should have spring.

can you tell when your mama (food lady, lap lady, tall man, etc.) is coming home? i can. i hear mama's car pull into the parking lot. somehow i know it's hers. even with the jet traffic, i can still tell it's her.

anyway, i usually meet mama at the door. lately, i've decided to see if i can make it out the door before she comes in. so far, i've not been successful, but at my age, i know to keep trying. (the building's secure, so it's not like i could run far.)

so what's going on in your life...?

funny girl

mama went to a bookstore earlier today, and then headed to the fabric store. while she was at the bookstore, she noticed that the cashier had an accent that seemed to be british. the cashier was quite young (may be 18?). when asked, the cashier told mama that she's from here. she practices her accents while she's at work! and then--of course--it becomes 'well, why not?'

mama's still chuckling!

--suz

seattle weather

today started off with clear skies and warm sun. by 2pm, it was raining. got to say we're getting tired of it here.

a friend of mama's at work brought her some daffodils on thursday. they opened yesterday. they're the lovely kind that have the orange centers. i'm tempted to eat them.

had a little fur ball issue last night, and now mama is doing laundry. fresh bedding is good! (meee hee hee)

today, while mama was out with uncle jerry, she bought 4 four FOUR bags of dairy-flavored Temptations®. i think she gets worried when she can't find it at our local grocery store. now we're all happy!

ciao
--suz

ben2 and the bitey

ben2 is snoopervising mama while she works on the computer (she's been working on Sweet Sixteens). and he just put the bitey on her! for no reason. his ears are swiveled sideways. wonder what's up? mama let him send an email to another grasshopper with his signature saying 'grasshoppers rule'.

hmmmm.

whooo boy!

we've been busy here getting Sweet Sixteens off the ground. if you leave us a comment in the 'talk to us' section there, we'll put you on our blogroll...unless you tell us you don't want us to. (the link to Sweet Sixteens is currently in our blogroll. mama's learning html and will figure out a way make a cool link with a button...)

mama's been doing more doctor stuff, and it looks like she has kidney disease, active diabetes (after being in remission for about 3 years), along with celiac disease. i'm a little worried that she won't be able to eat anything with sour cream any more. i LOVE sour cream, and can hardly stand the thought of it not being in our refrigerator.

ciao

--suz

Sweet Sixteens

hi there...
we had a peaceful night. when mama woke up this morning, she got right to work on a new blog for those of who are sixteen years old or soon to be. please stop by to check us out. if you're sixteen, send an email with your name, birth date, and a picture if you want. you can also ask to have yourself added to our friends list.

please get the word out!

http://sweetsixteensforkitties.blogspot.com/

--suz

stuck

mama got stuck this morning...redoing some blood work. she also worked from home today because she's got to do a '24 hour collection', and her boss didn't want her to do it at work. i'm not really sure what it is, but as long as she's at home with me, it doesn't really matter.

when she takes the stuff back to the lab tomorrow, she's going to get stuck again. she says 'as long as they use a butterfly, i'm ok'. i like butterflies. maybe she'll bring me one.

while mama was at the clinic this morning, she discovered that the xray tech (checking the shoulder she fell out of bed on--it's not broken) lived in her dorm--on the same floor!--when she was a sophomore in college. lutes rule!

i'm thinking of starting a club for us older kitties...calling it 'sweet 16'. what do you think?

--suz

there are only 13 left

there was lots of snuggling today. we read lots of kitty blogs. had a long nap. it was a nice quiet day.

mama unpacked more boxes (after moving the filing cabinet last night, there's more room to sort). there are only 13 left. it's less than 2 months that we've lived here!

the last time, it took 18 months to unpack everything. there was so much stuff! mama and uncle jerry have sorted and pitched so much that we're down to just the stuff we want to have. (not to worry...our toy box is FULL!)

anyway, it was a good day...in fact, i'd give it four out of five (i'm trying to think of something clever for it to be five of. any ideas?)

suz

the thing

about sleeping late is not being tired enough to go to bed at a 'normal' time that night. so we're still awake. thanks to vicodin (for the shoulder she hurt when falling out of bed last week), and the super sliders, mama just moved a full four drawer file cabinet. she says to tell you that--while it was somewhat noisy as the metal bent and twanged--it was surprisingly easy!

our easter plans have been canceled due to the stomach flu (not here, but our friends' house). tomorrow, then, mama will do a little more work in the second bedroom with books, craft supplies, and office supplies. some laundry--it's sunday after all. there's a roasted chicken in the fridge, along with a bag of stir-fry veggies, and jasmine rice just waiting to be steamed. tomorrow sounds like a peaceful little day.

for you, i hope easter is exactly the way you'd like it to be!

suz

sleeping late

i'd say good morning, but a quick check of the clock shows it be well after noon. the life of a kitty, and a mama who stayed out too late visiting a friend. i've been insinuating myself into ben2's sleeping space as i want to cuddle. he looks up somewhat crossly and then lets me drowse next to him.

uncle jerry's coming this afternoon. there's some furniture moving to do. one of mama's supervisees offered an idea for how to make the living room seem bigger with room for more people. mama did some measuring, and it should work. may need to buy a longer coaxial cable, but that's ok.

i've been thinking about the strollers that some of my lucky kitty friends have (daisy looks like she has so much fun). i'm pretty sure that i wouldn't like one, but i think ben would enjoy getting out with mama. i think i'll suggest that...maybe she can get one for his birthday (november).

mama says i've got to get off the computer. there's housework to be done, and she requires my snoopervision.

suz

oooh, ben's been got

ben got clippy claws tonight. you should have heard him complain! like mama was cutting off his feet or something. he doesn't get that a pawdicure is a nice way to spend some 1:1 time with mom. she'll sing a bit, give some good love in between clipping each claw, and then maybe even give a treat afterwards. he's--i think--a fussbudget.

i already had my pawdicure...on sunday. every kitty needs a little pampering. have you had yours?

suz

smells good in here...

i know brownies aren't for kitties, but mama's trying a new gluten-free brownie mix...and they smell so good! there's another woman at mama's work who has celiac disease, so mama will share some.

for my part, i plan to spend my day doing what any respectable nearly-16 year old kitty would do: napping, dozing, snoozing, drowsing, snacking. a balanced diet of rest is important for health.

have a good day efurryone!

suz

luna - tic

does the full moon interrupt your sleep? it does ours. mama's not gotten much sleep the past few nights. you know what that means: not much sleep for me either!

after dinner, i was cuddled on mama's lap, dozing peacefully. she'd stroke me every now and then and i'd purr. then do you know what that ben did? he climbed up on her chest and usurped my place! i'd say 'that dirty rat', but it's more like he's raccoon sized! anyway, i moved and he settled in. she's MY mama first. sigh...

ciao

suz

did you see...?

karen jo wrote a limerick about me! please go see. she does such good work!

mama worked from home today. she got lots done and we even had time to spend together. ben always wants to get into the middle of her papers...and she doesn't want him to. the pile was so big today that if he got into it, it would have gotten majorly mixed up!

we've been listening to norwegian hardingfela music tonight. have you ever heard hardingfela music? it's pretty neat. the instrument has a set of strings like a regular violin--played with a bow. and then there's set of strings underneath that vibrate in sympathy. built-in harmony. some of the music makes mama want to dance. she's been faithful to her paperwork, though. and now it's almost bedtime.

thanks for stopping by!

love
suz

happy

it's sunday evening. mama's had her shower, trimmed her toenails and my claws. the last load of laundry is in the washer. the kitchen is clean. it must be almost monday.

mama's going to make turkey taco meat tonight so she can take stuff for lunch this week. part of the frugality plan (as long as she doesn't skimp on our temptations!). she's also got left-over chicken curry.

do you have trader joe's where you live? they sell little packets of lavender to use in the dryer instead of a commercially scented dryer softie. mama likes to use those with the bedding. the scent lasts for nearly a week. mmm.

trader joe's also sells a bunch of other really great things that we almost always have in our house: corn salsa, pineapple salsa, curry simmer sauce--no wheat!, frozen fruit--inexpensive!, fresh mozzarella, thai rice sticks. for a person with celiac disease, they have some good stuff at reasonable prices, although labels still require careful perusal. you'd be surprised at some of the stuff that has wheat/oats/barley/rye! almost anything that's thickened uses some form of gluten-containing product. soy sauce has wheat (wheat-free tamari is an excellent substitute). white vinegar is not safe, although cider vinegar is fine.

probably funny that a kitty knows this much about celiac disease. but it's my job to watch out for my mama, so i read right along with her. got questions? drop me a line. i'll be like professor daisy and answer questions about how to eat with celiac.

suz