Winter is coming. I feel it in my bones.

I’m afraid another year is almost done, and I still don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing.

I looked for rats and mice in the house, but there are none.

I tried shredding all the cardboard boxes, but it only left me feeling empty.

I want comfort, but I’m afraid of being close to you.

I can’t jump up on the kitchen counter anymore.

I know I’m getting old.

Treat?

Thanks for making the garage a no-Sheba zone. I liked the two bassets (sorry about Floyd - he was cool), but that damned German Shepard is just too rowdy. I know she means no harm, and I could shred her if I wanted to, but I just don't want to come into the house anymore. The two young cats you have are okay - it's just Sheba that keeps me from getting closer than the garage. I guess I'm just too old to make friends with boisterous large animals. It's starting to get colder. I appreciate it when you warm up the hoods of your cars for me. But when they cool off, they're not much good for anything. You think you might check on them once in a while and re-heat them for me a little more often?

after she'd moved out of my brother's house and lived outside for two years after he got a Shar-Pei. When it became clear that she really wasn't ever going to move back inside, I took her home with me.

What's that? I want somma that.

Move the computer. I want up there.

You gonna eat alla that?

Move your arm.

There's a squirell out there. Right there. Look. Right there. On the deck. Struttin' around like he owns the place. Look!

Gimme somma that yogurt.

Leave those eye boogers alone. Quit messing around there.

I didn't do that. It was Clovis.

Is that something to eat?

Pick me up. Now put me down. Now go open the door to the spare room.

Is that ham sandwich for me?

pickmeuppickmeuppickmeup

kissmekissmekisskisskiss

ikissyoubackmmmkissyoukisskiss​kiss

scratchmychintheretheretheremm​mm

mmmmrubmyfacemmmhardermmmm

mmmbellyneedsrubbinbellyrubsmm​mm

whatchooeatin?wuzzat?cheese?mm​mm Sweet Pea is all irresistible cute cuddliness. Scooter's the existential angst cat. We love him because he's so much like us.

Quit kicking around in my bed, disturbing my sleep. It is my bed, and get that stinky little mutt off the other side.

Well, I'll tolerate that fluffy furball for a while, maybe even that tiny yap-factory downstairs, but don't push me, or I'll rip the carpets and curtains and everybody's faces to shreds.

When I say I want out I mean now, and when I say I want in I mean immediately. Sheesh! You wonder why I shred the woodwork and insulation!

"Meow" means feed me. 12 years and you haven't learned that? I'll wander all over the kitchen counters as I please, eat your wretched thawing food, your middling uncovered leftovers till you learn proper Siamese.

The stairway carpet and piano-stool legs are mine! Don't ever chastize me for ripping them up or I'll fix you again with that blank, dismissive stare till you understand who owns what around here.

Thank you for your consideration. Feed me. NOW!

Smokey: Mummy, what is that ugly nasty looking "thing" doing eating my leftoveres in my bowl?

Mummy: Smokey, darling...that is a nice little doggie that is a Shih Tzu and he had to be taken away from my brother because he needed some medical care and my brother coldn't afford it, so I came to the rescue instead of having him put to sleep and go off to Rainbow Heaven before he needed to.....*sigh*

Missy: But Mummy,, you always keep him away from us...is he a bad doggie?

Mummy: No luvvies...since you are kittens and I have had you both for only two months, I want you to get used to another animal around, and those odd noises you hear outside this room is his jealousie because I don't let you little girls go up and give him a scratch and hiss. He is too old to be frightened by little upstart kittens telling him off...*sigh*

Spanky: Mummy...where is my soft food? You are late again this morning!

Pookie: Mummy...where is my soft food? You are late again this morning...how many times do Spanky and I have to whine and jump up on the kitchen counter to get you to hurry up?

Mummy: OH...my big sweet darling muffin puffs.... Mummy is getting worn out just running around for you big old fat cats and my two new little kittens ! Mummy is going to have to go away on a vacation just to rest up a bit from all you lil whiners ....*siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh *