tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82524487572936916392024-02-19T01:17:02.161-05:00Banana and CheeseBanana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-83615693192524204362013-04-24T11:12:00.001-04:002013-04-24T11:13:50.947-04:00The Matinee<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One
cold, Saturday morning, Banana watched as Gale walked, back and forth, across
the backyard. Back and forth, back and
forth she went. She appeared to be
carrying things, but mostly Banana noticed the back and forth motion, and the
footprints Gale was leaving in the snow.
Soon a little path was worn in the snow, and Banana began to wonder
if….maybe…she could sneak out…and…skip along the head-high (for her) snow
tunnel Gale had made…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxQILWuUIrQMf0Laqq88xEbQtv5KLQAWZZtNiX-m0HdfY-4VkUrVOza-4oGP4Q1fjVT2lLCdgjMlDvajCfpBxizfENhoklAsm519mloAMilS0BHS2zHfT09i057aBWiNuNw8qClvjf7M/s1600/Banana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxQILWuUIrQMf0Laqq88xEbQtv5KLQAWZZtNiX-m0HdfY-4VkUrVOza-4oGP4Q1fjVT2lLCdgjMlDvajCfpBxizfENhoklAsm519mloAMilS0BHS2zHfT09i057aBWiNuNw8qClvjf7M/s320/Banana.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">All of
a sudden, it made sense; Banana knew what Gale was doing, and she ran off to
find Cheese. She knew right where he
was—snoozing in the sunbeam—and, because she was so excited, Banana rolled to a
stop…on top of Cheese. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Ooooooph!”
Cheese snorted. “Get. Off. What is wrong with you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“No
time for chit-chat, Cheese!” Banana
huffed. “You know those treats you have
hidden in your secret place on the bookshelf in the basement?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“What?!”
Cheese exclaimed. “How did you….Banana!
I thought I hid them really well this time!”
Cheese’s whiskers twitched; he was angry and surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“No
time to talk about your lack of imagination now! Hurry down and get them, then meet me back at
the big window.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Ok,”
Cheese stretched. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Banana
“helped” him along by giving him a shove.
“Get all of them! We may be there
a while!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">5.3927
minutes later, Cheese struggled up to the floor-to-ceiling window where Banana
was already sitting, tail twitching behind her.
He gently dropped the bandana full of cat treats on the floor beside
her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Now
will you tell me what’s going on?” Cheese demanded. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Banana
shushed him. “Quiet! The show’s about to start!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cheese
looked around. “Where??”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Banana
slowly brought her paw to the window.
“There! And be quiet. And hand me a tuna one.” Her paw slowly moved from the window to
Cheese’s bag of cat treats. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cheese
looked in the direction of Banana’s point.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Ooooooh…”
was all he could manage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Squirrels...I’ve
missed them so!” purred Banana.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Indeed,
it was quite a show outside the window.
Gale had put fresh corn cobs on the Squirrel Wheel. The cats watched as the squirrels spun the
wheel round and round, in an effort to get kernels off of the cobs. Cheese noticed the hungry look in Banana’s eyes,
so he handed her another tuna treat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Gale
had also filled the bird feeders. The
two cats didn’t know which way to look as the window suddenly filled with the
speckled brown birds (Starlings). As
they landed, Cheese tried to count them, but they were hopping and flitting
around too quickly. “3, 4, 5…11! Drat!”
In his frustration, Cheese hit his paw on the window. The starlings scattered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Well,
thanks to you, it’s Intermission!” Banana growled at Cheese, “I’ll be back in a
minute….I’ve got to use the litter box.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When
Banana returned 3.896 minutes later, it was Cheese’s turn to shush Banana. “Slowly come up to the window, and quietly
look toward the string line.” His paw inched toward the clothes line, where
Gale had hung the suet cake. Banana’s
eyes grew bigger as she looked at the black and white spotted bird (Downy
Woodpecker) hanging off the wire feeder.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I
haven’t seen one of those in ages!” Banana excitedly whispered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As the
afternoon wore on, the cats enjoyed quite a show. They nibbled treats as they watched all the
birds flying up to, and off of, the rapidly emptying feeders. The cats couldn’t name them, but there were
White-Breasted Nuthatches, Chickadees, House Finches, and House Sparrows. Occasionally, their gaze was drawn up into
the trees, where the bright red male Cardinals were resting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0wt-xrAgrc9Mq2lnb_p_BnV1wAg93mkTaCLNVK7aaRcW3HtjgzvuaZX0E7KAMArsLPPCdxjfxZ8Y8HnUWLylXWuB-ZRrWzlk2fdN8u5z265AJ0pxK_3F7yKTCRaGS8HgHvLpQZh7kjg/s1600/Girls+of+Summer+Art3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0wt-xrAgrc9Mq2lnb_p_BnV1wAg93mkTaCLNVK7aaRcW3HtjgzvuaZX0E7KAMArsLPPCdxjfxZ8Y8HnUWLylXWuB-ZRrWzlk2fdN8u5z265AJ0pxK_3F7yKTCRaGS8HgHvLpQZh7kjg/s200/Girls+of+Summer+Art3.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As the
shadows grew longer across the yard, and the cats began to feel drowsy, Cheese
reached for one last treat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Hey! What???
Banana! Did you eat them
ALL?” His paw moved all around inside
the bandana, but all that was left were the crumbs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Well,”
Banana started to explain, but Cheese’s frantic movements had frightened the
birds, and there was a flutter of feathers.
“Cheese! Drat! I think our show just ended!” Banana looked sadly out the window.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Oh,
cheer up, Banana.” Cheese pointed at
some slow-moving birds under the feeder.
The pair of Mourning Doves were joined by some very fat Robins. “There are still a few to keep you occupied
while I….um…look for a new place to hide…errr…store…THESE!” With that, Cheese jumped up and ran toward
the basement, three small treats clutched firmly in his teeth. They had been hidden under his back paw all
afternoon, because, well, Cheese knew how much Banana loved treats. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Distracted,
Banana thought about following Cheese, but in the end, she turned back to the
window. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m
too full,” she burped. “Besides, it’s
time for the next show.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And
indeed it was “time for the next show”, as four squirrels scampered down from
the back fence and up to the Wheel. </span></div>
<br />
Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-50770199493725943952012-10-29T09:12:00.000-04:002012-10-31T08:49:12.763-04:00A Ghost! A Ghost?<div class="MsoNormal">
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It was late on a rainy fall afternoon; the sun was setting, and Banana was restless. Today was Halloween--one of Banana's favorite holidays. She loved greeting the kids that came to the door, dressed in their funny costumes. She loved watching Cheese as he hid under the bed, because that meant she would get all the head pats from the kids. And she really, really loved sneaking out to the Cat Halloween party that was held after the people had gone to bed.</div>
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</div>
But it would be awhile until the excitement. The people would not be home for at least 127 minutes, Banana
had already eaten her second lunch of the day, and now she was bored.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
Cheese was quietly snoring in his favorite autumn napping
spot--in the corner, behind the chair.
Someone had left a blanket back there, and it was just soooo..soft...<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Banana decided to roam the house, carefully inspecting the floor of each
room for toys, but found only dust bunnies.
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As she turned the corner into the living room,
she noticed a movement in the window.
Glancing up, she saw...a white cat peering back at her.</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYC7reyVnGUpyZ7pKTTPk_4rBOlNHVKCd_QeRVhlqwggowXjnTmlylLONX0JkJv5_rUU2UHt6Qm90wWUVP32i33G-ud_9UffaMeSgAb13LsncLF1MfkaQHEUYGuXQb9DmZbXBthJMs2M/s1600/Ghost10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="505" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYC7reyVnGUpyZ7pKTTPk_4rBOlNHVKCd_QeRVhlqwggowXjnTmlylLONX0JkJv5_rUU2UHt6Qm90wWUVP32i33G-ud_9UffaMeSgAb13LsncLF1MfkaQHEUYGuXQb9DmZbXBthJMs2M/s640/Ghost10.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a><br />
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"Hey!" she shouted. "Hey!"</div>
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</div>
As she looked around for something...anything...that would help her get up into the window (she couldn't quite make the jump from floor to bookcase anymore), Cheese poked his head out from behind the chair.<br />
<br />
"What?!" he sleepily demanded.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPa2MKrWzJ9oIazfghV02f_0d0UrBFBXRoZ4dYBlKC3UCnNCLafeuIAlH4grN4ENnUN9jNSFLVRqvwjrBQeLuP6KwHd6z-FV3sRnlZCcpxaQxDrSYojvZJPeO4sfnu7zlvsm6JPFLJv8/s1600/Ghost11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPa2MKrWzJ9oIazfghV02f_0d0UrBFBXRoZ4dYBlKC3UCnNCLafeuIAlH4grN4ENnUN9jNSFLVRqvwjrBQeLuP6KwHd6z-FV3sRnlZCcpxaQxDrSYojvZJPeO4sfnu7zlvsm6JPFLJv8/s400/Ghost11.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
"Look!" Banana pointed. "That white cat...at the window...she's looking at us! I think she wants to play!"<br />
<br />
Cheese looked, stretched, looked again. <br />
<br />
"What cat? Where?"<br />
<br />
"THERE!" Now Banana looked toward the window.......<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZij-DkGCjd5CMbi3kJEIMS0RGNsBpZDStwgtqqZHlKUWQmuTfcZB47JEj1f9tRPUflXWIHNqBV9Dr5d65LnPRS7g6_9rgZupD4dxfqoweMcY16EUbhBb3or4vWGk-mBtnGV8rHyjZpk/s1600/Ghost13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>"That cat was there, I know she was."<br />
<br />
"Uh huh," Cheese ducked back behind the chair and turned around so he was facing the wall. He just knew it was going to be one of those evenings, when Banana was restless and he was not going to get a good nap. AND, it was Halloween, which meant...shudder....visitors!<br />
<br />
"Hmph....I did see that cat....I did...she was looking at me....." Banana muttered as she trudged toward the kitchen. "Looking at me with one blue eye and...one green eye?" Banana shook her head. "No! That's silly. I've never seen another cat with one blue eye and one green eye." Banana burped. "Maybe....my lunches didn't agree with me....Maybe....the cat...wasn't real?"<br />
<br />
Banana sat down by the food dish, thinking. She reached down for a piece of kibble, and chewed and thought some more.<br />
<br />
Before long, the kibble was gone and Banana was sleepy. It was dreary outside, but the porch was dry and she thought maybe the fresh air would help improve her mood. And, there was that one chair that was a lovely napping spot...<br />
<br />
Banana slept for 58 minutes, and when she woke up, she felt much better. She was surprised to see that evening was settling in and the moon coming up was full and bright.<br />
<br />
Banana wondered what she should do until the people came home. She had already looked for her toys, which were probably hiding from her. She had already eaten.<br />
<br />
Maybe there was a squirrel or two out by the feeder that needed chasing? <br />
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<br /></div>
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As she looked around the yard, thinking her deep thoughts, she spotted something on the fence. That cat! That white cat! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMChRtrtHo6paQ3maSJN9npNnLiVOwvJZyXJo9TLLe4mtDajqfGBrLc6p5G_w7QOuCLw5OUSKZgvN0h8QCQcbdGSRLmHRus3PiWYJt8NkX1JpjR-8pVLFT_TkjffxUmmiIn4ku0ndk0dI/s1600/Ghost8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMChRtrtHo6paQ3maSJN9npNnLiVOwvJZyXJo9TLLe4mtDajqfGBrLc6p5G_w7QOuCLw5OUSKZgvN0h8QCQcbdGSRLmHRus3PiWYJt8NkX1JpjR-8pVLFT_TkjffxUmmiIn4ku0ndk0dI/s640/Ghost8.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
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She jumped down and was ready to push through the cat door, when...<br />
"HEY!!!!" She heard Cheese yell, "Where's all the food?? BANANA!!!!" <br />
Cheese was so angry, he ran out onto the porch and right into Banana. <br />
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<br /></div>
"Ooooooof! Get off, Cheese!" Banana pushed at Cheese.<br />
<br />
"What's your name?" Banana turned back to the other cat on the fence.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCn5Gqu5-DyerpnTWqXSyuFFQ2yezgeSknT7JhJc_Srf5N9T77IDDq5IJMPRaxesj7X6szO7hr5Y0cOG83qcKlkpx0AN7gjU_QLJwZhAG57hpv7uAuc-Mw1KDwk3rczzPEgfkGKNt_ecY/s1600/Ghost9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCn5Gqu5-DyerpnTWqXSyuFFQ2yezgeSknT7JhJc_Srf5N9T77IDDq5IJMPRaxesj7X6szO7hr5Y0cOG83qcKlkpx0AN7gjU_QLJwZhAG57hpv7uAuc-Mw1KDwk3rczzPEgfkGKNt_ecY/s400/Ghost9.jpg" width="400" /></a>Banana blinked. She blinked again.<br />
<br />
"Who ARE you talking to?" Cheese looked over at the fence, because that's what Banana was looking at too, and if there was a squirrel up there, he wanted to be the first out the cat door. <br />
<br />
When Cheese looked back at Banana, he noticed she was shaking.<br />
<br />
"I did. I did see a cat up on that fence. A white cat, Banana murmured. "Not a ghost. Not a ghost. Not a ghost." Banana was staring at the fence with a strange look on her face. <br />
<br />
Cheese waived a paw in front of Banana's face. She didn't blink. <br />
<br />
All of a sudden, Banana jumped up and ran into the house. When Cheese found her a few minutes later, she was covered in dust bunnies.<br />
<br />
"A ghost. A ghost. I saw a ghost." Banana said, looking wildly in all directions. "Is she here? Inside?" <br />
<br />
"Calm down, Banana." Cheese stroked her head. "Tell me exactly what you saw."<br />
<br />
"I. Saw. A. Ghost." Banana yelled. "She was all white. All white. You couldn't see her. She had one blue eye and one green eye...."<br />
<br />
"Hmmmmm...." Cheese was listening, stroking Banana, and trying not to laugh at Banana being so scared. "Hmmmm....a ghost...one blue eye...hmmm...and....what? One green eye?" Cheese couldn't help it, he started to laugh. <br />
<br />
"Don't laugh at me! I'm scared of that ghost!" Banana squeaked.<br />
<br />
"Ghost? That's no ghost!" Cheese rolled on to his back, and tried to stop laughing long enough to explain. "That's my friend, Peanut! She comes to visit me. Let's go look." Cheese pushed Banana out from under the bed and down the hall. <br />
<br />
Sure enough, there was Peanut, looking through the front window.<br />
"Banana, meet Peanut. Peanut, this is Banana." Cheese said with one last giggle.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZij-DkGCjd5CMbi3kJEIMS0RGNsBpZDStwgtqqZHlKUWQmuTfcZB47JEj1f9tRPUflXWIHNqBV9Dr5d65LnPRS7g6_9rgZupD4dxfqoweMcY16EUbhBb3or4vWGk-mBtnGV8rHyjZpk/s1600/Ghost13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZij-DkGCjd5CMbi3kJEIMS0RGNsBpZDStwgtqqZHlKUWQmuTfcZB47JEj1f9tRPUflXWIHNqBV9Dr5d65LnPRS7g6_9rgZupD4dxfqoweMcY16EUbhBb3or4vWGk-mBtnGV8rHyjZpk/s640/Ghost13.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-58555527408260258272012-07-26T13:59:00.003-04:002012-07-26T14:02:10.253-04:00It Was Hot!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It was a hot
day in summer. Truth is, Banana and
Cheese couldn’t remember a day it hadn’t been hot, but then, the cat’s memories
were not very long. Probably because of
the heat. Or, because they were cats…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
What was I
talking about?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Oh yes, the
heat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It was a hot
day. Everything…was…moving…slowly. Cheese was moving so slowly, he had stopped
moving completely, and was in the full out “nap position”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Banana was
busy watching a bug move…slowly…across the floor of the porch. She was hoping the bug would help her find
the last crumb of the treat she had eaten last night. She planned to be patient; when the bug
finally found the piece of cheese and tuna nibble, she would pounce: eat the crumb…and then the bug….Yes, it was
a perfect plan. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
But Cheese
kept distracting Banana. She <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thought</i> he was asleep, but she kept
hearing Cheese murmur things like:
“45…no, 52…no, 38.6….” Cheese would stop for a while, Banana would
concentrate on the bug, and then Cheese would start in again: “72.1…no, 55.6…no, 68…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Cheese went
on and on like this, until lots of things happened at once!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<br />
The bug
changed course, and started walking up Cheeses’ tail…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
Banana got
angry at the bug for getting distracted….</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
Banana
reached out her front paw, to swat the bug…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
Cheese
exclaimed, “66.7! Yes!” He jumped up…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
The bug,
caught in a bit of flying Cheese fur, sailed away….</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
And
Banana? Well, Banana looked silly,
pouncing on nothing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<br />
So she yelled
at Cheese: “Cheese! What ARE YOU <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">DOING</b>?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
But Cheese
was gone!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
He had run
out the cat door, and was heading (quite quickly for such a hot day) toward the
green plastic chair Karen and Gale had left in the yard. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x-JSQfFQESK9otdxqsoVbfBnpioMQff-yZ8dwL5Kf9H_jGmNlGmyyudLtX0QwKp4NuN5StQwhMljQyOMy0Xh5PhyphenhyphenvZcbnHrAEcQ2BVGqmAGgw00RLu-fmI3VHzLHvXu-gR1dejxFdSc/s1600/P1090149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x-JSQfFQESK9otdxqsoVbfBnpioMQff-yZ8dwL5Kf9H_jGmNlGmyyudLtX0QwKp4NuN5StQwhMljQyOMy0Xh5PhyphenhyphenvZcbnHrAEcQ2BVGqmAGgw00RLu-fmI3VHzLHvXu-gR1dejxFdSc/s320/P1090149.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Green Chair</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Cheese leapt
into the air!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Cheese
landed on the chair, and swiftly scaled the chair back!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The chair tipped,
and Cheese…!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Cheese
landed, with a satisfied splash…in the birdbath.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Ahhhh…,”
Cheese said as he shook the water off his head, “I was right! I knew I could take a dip in this pool!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-43933780668121359372012-01-11T22:56:00.000-05:002012-01-11T22:58:02.268-05:00Banana's TeethCheese woke up just in time to save himself from rolling off the comfy blue and… chair. For the 754th time, he wondered why such a lumpy-in-all-the-right-places chair was left in the basement. He was glad it was here though, because he felt safe when he snuggled down in its’ blue and brown and yellow stripiness. Nobody and nothing bothered him here, which was just the way he liked it. <br /> But now he was wondering 2 things: <br />1) What caused him to need to come to his safe place, and <br />2) How long had he been there?<br /><br />Cheese pondered these questions as first he stretched, then gave himself a good, long bath. He knew that for some reason, a good ear-cleaning seemed to lead to good answers. <br />He thought back, way back, to this morning? Yesterday? No, he definitely remembered having dinner last night, then having a long, quiet sleep in darkness, so it must be a new day….<br />He suddenly stopped licking and began shaking…he remembered why he had had to run to his safe spot! Just after the sun came up, he heard the sound—the horrible, awful, terrifying sound of what his people called “cat carrier”! The sound of that beast meant just one thing—he was going to the vet, and he hated the vet! [To be fair, he didn’t hate the vet—she was very nice and kind and gentle. No, what Cheese really hated was the cold, slippery table. And, it always smelled of dog! Yuck! And also, truth really be told, Cheese was not very adventurous outside of his own yard. “Out there” scared him a little.] As soon as Cheese heard the first teeny, tiny creak of the door of the “cat carrier”, he ran as fast as he could, down the stairs, across the basement floor, to the safety of his chair. <br />But wait a minute! If he was here, then who did the “cat carrier” trap inside its door? <br />Banana? Banana!!!! <br />Cheese jumped off the chair, ran across the basement floor, and up the stairs. He skidded around one corner, raced through a doorway, and slid to a stop in the biggest room in the house. No Banana. He sniffed the air. He could not smell Banana. He meowed a little as he left this room and headed to the next room…and the next…and the next. Banana was nowhere to be found. <br />He had an idea…he rushed to the big, glass doors, and looked into the back yard. What? No Banana there either! <br />Just as Cheese sat down to think some more, he heard the familiar noise from the garage that always came just before his people walked in the door. He heard a car door slam, and a teeny, tiny creaking noise…the BEAST!! That “cat carrier” was coming his way! He ran as fast as he could down the stairs…..to his safe spot. <br />He heard footsteps overhead, and then the “cat carrier” squeaked—he knew that sound was the opening of its’ door. It was quiet for a moment, then Cheese heard Banana’s bell, jingling. <br />“Cheeth….Cheeth…wheh ah oo, Cheeth?” Cheese heard something calling him—it sounded like Banana, and yet it didn’t.<br />“CHEETH!!” Oh yes, he could tell Banana’s yell anywhere. He crept out of the chair, slinked across the floor, then quietly padded up the stairs. He peered around the corner, just as a beam of sunlight came through the window. He squinted into the bright light, and saw….Banana’s teeth! Her mouth was open, and her TEETH sparkled in the sun!! <br />“Cheeth! Do oo ike mah teeh?” Banana smiled. “I uss ad em cleaned!”<br />Cheese had to admit, Banana’s teeth did look nice…and clean…and….bright!<br />“Ow,” Banana asked, “Ut’s oo eat? I’m sarvin!”Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-3633592267473586522011-10-13T14:20:00.014-04:002011-10-13T14:48:41.915-04:00The Humming...bird<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicClpqaJF9R0Ca5wwebirGaveHqUos0dcGVUIovB4FWfA0xgx6OFcvjeazMLD67CDCAcQUnrEEIQK6Ej6QI-6qv9OMSjZ1XzD4FieynRQiQ7dcQ6tXp0raG9hMVyb0jkPEl9AwUoDGB_I/s1600/P1050048.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicClpqaJF9R0Ca5wwebirGaveHqUos0dcGVUIovB4FWfA0xgx6OFcvjeazMLD67CDCAcQUnrEEIQK6Ej6QI-6qv9OMSjZ1XzD4FieynRQiQ7dcQ6tXp0raG9hMVyb0jkPEl9AwUoDGB_I/s200/P1050048.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663044862575305106" /></a><br /><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> “Cheese, is that your stomach?”<span> </span>Banana looked disgustedly at the other cat, who was lying on his back in the sun, as sprawled out as a creature can be.<span> </span>It was late summer, and the cats were on the porch, soaking up as much sun as they could.<span> </span>They knew autumn was coming, and then winter, when the nice warm sun would be hibernating (or so it felt).<span> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span></span> “Huh?”<span> </span>Cheese looked confused.<span> </span>“I just ate 3 minutes ago, Banana.<span> </span>You might be hungry again, but I’m not.”<span> </span>Cheese rolled over and gave the other cat his full attention.<span> </span>“What are you talking about?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span></span> Banana tilted her head and listened again.<span> </span>“What IS that noise?<span> </span>It’s getting louder.<span> </span>Now it sounds like a buzz bug [cicada], but not really.<span> </span>Do you hear it?<span> </span>Now it sounds like Twitch when she’s happy.”<span> </span>Banana jumped up on the window ledge, excited to see their friend.<span> </span>“Hey, Twitch!<span> </span>Where are you?”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span></span> But Twitch was nowhere in sight.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "> The sound was getting louder, and Banana was getting more curious by the moment.<span> </span>She ran around the porch, stopping lots to look out the screens.<span> </span>Cheese watched her while he stretched his body from one end to the other.<span> </span>She didn’t know it, but he was laughing at her…on the inside.<span> </span>He was a smart cat, and knew how angry she could get, and how much she weighed when she pounced on him...</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoLqq7Xmgftw2zE4jAKGlHzm2KgC8-XuPbdPqSSVC48SIPYvkY0KzR7ZHDPE4pKDoOyhFehVs659f_sWwdXV0qiPuvzhR__czDlPP3mt0dksHJ-yVgu-xunzlm6Q7DP1K7RUIUUr9sWY/s320/Banana_Tackling_Cheese1.jpg" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; ">He let her run and wonder a little bit longer, and then he couldn’t hold the laugh in anymore.<span> </span>He snorted, “You really don’t know where that noise is coming from?<span> </span>Ha!<span> </span>Look up!”<span> </span>He pointed with his paw at a red object, hanging on the outside of the porch on the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">rain-runs-down thing [gutter].</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; ">Banana stopped her running, and looked toward the red object.<span> </span>There was something hovering there in the air, but it was moving too fast for her to get a good look at it.<span> </span>For 5.84 seconds, it sat on the edge of the red thing, and she could see it was a…bird!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; ">“Cheese!<span> </span>I see it!<span> </span>Let’s go get a closer ‘look’ at it!”<span> </span>Banana started to drool a little, because her idea of looking was to watch the bird fly into her mouth.<span> </span>She could almost taste it.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; ">“Good luck, Banana.<span> </span>Those birds fly faster than all the other birds in our yard [25-30 mph actually].<span> </span>That’s a hummingbird, Banana.<span> </span>It likes the sugar water that Gale and Karen put in that red thing.<span> </span>That sound is the noise its’ wings make when it flies—I sat here yesterday and watched it all day!”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; ">“Hmmmm….” Banana considered this.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; ">“No, humming…hummingbird.”<span> </span>Cheese explained.<span> </span>“But you know the real reason hummingbirds hum, don’t you, Banana?”<span> </span>Cheese put his paw over his mouth, trying to hold in a laugh.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; ">“No, why?”<span> </span>Banana sat down, waiting for the explanation.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; ">“Because they don’t know the WORDS!!!”<span> </span>Cheese rolled over and gave in to the laugh that exploded from inside of him.<span> </span>It felt good.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in">For more information about Hummingbirds:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; "> <a href="http://www.hummingbirds.net/about.html">http://www.hummingbirds.net/about.html</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; "> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJNRqqXRHEpIF_5ycs5xmBAT-dJsYYifo8H6CDGvSbU6qNqRVpL-dyKy4Zp5adPhTTVr63RpcV6c7Y6Eu7ZC2JbE9Mwr_Q3LFYvIAZDb4Oim_27V2S80C_45JKEdZbzvk4nM011pNA2s/s200/hummingbird.jpg" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"><br /></p></div>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-4212175128326923062011-04-07T11:24:00.000-04:002011-04-07T11:25:29.699-04:00SpringWatch Out Cheese! Spring cleaning is on the way!Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-48695593139143808532011-04-04T12:46:00.002-04:002011-04-04T12:50:07.870-04:00We're Getting There!Words have been put on paper, sketches have been made, ideas have been presented and discussed, and we're that much closer to the dream! <div>I'm not sure Banana and Cheese are as excited as we are; they're completely focused on the screen door and the backyard beyond. It's good to have a goal, no matter how small.</div>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-58176033681900507192011-03-11T00:58:00.004-05:002011-03-11T14:34:28.111-05:00I Am Sad<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I am sad now because a friend of mine has died, from a disease called cancer. [Parents--a very good book about death is</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tenth-Good-Thing-About-Barney/dp/0689712030/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299855145&sr=1-1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The Tenth Good Thing About Barney</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">by Judith Viorst].</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I am sad because I will never see her again. I will miss having lunch with her, inviting her to my house, and I will miss sending e-mails to her. I will miss her smile--she especially smiled when she was around children and cats, because she loved both. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>She was a very good person; she was always doing things for other people. She did not say mean things about others. She was always willing to help me and to help others. She made me feel good about myself. I will miss her very much, and I know lots of other people will miss her, because she made them feel good too.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Because I am sad, I am crying. Not all the time, but alot. It's OK to cry when someone dies. It's also OK to smile and even laugh, because sometimes you remember silly things that other person did. What's </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">not</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> OK is to laugh when someone else is crying--that's a very hurtful thing to do. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>When I cry because I miss my friend, Karen gives me a hug. That makes me feel better. Even when I am not crying, other people give me hugs and tell me they are sorry, because they know I miss my friend. And, when I see my other friends crying, I hug them too, because I am sorry they are feeling sad. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It also helps me to talk--to talk about how I am feeling, and to talk about my friend who has died. I especially like to tell stories about the fun things my friend and I did together. Sometimes telling those stories even makes me smile, even if I'm still crying a little. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Tomorrow will be a hard day, because there will be a Memorial Service for my friend. All of her family and friends will be there, and we will say good-bye to a very special person. We will cry, we will smile a little, we might laugh together, and we will hug each other. But most of all, we will remember all the good things about my friend.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>And there were a lot of good things.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Later this spring, Karen, Banana, Cheese, and I will plant a magnolia tree, as a way to remember my friend. That will be a good thing to do, because every time we look at that tree, we will remember our friend. And, when it blooms every Spring, we will be reminded of that beautiful person who is not here any more.</span></div></div>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-85741186894732245832011-02-23T03:51:00.004-05:002011-02-23T15:34:52.908-05:00Gale Charlotte Website<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCJeY_CZ_N_HpT_Oc5p4Nzg90rlY5Z6AaDW2uzbQ-Bdq9Y0gOV4ebwVCnbdmT7SMif3CfebmZBMfeKccoVEBCv_uJHwNLewwvdxWz20FRMPY2GeFMDU7HOCB0fu0sujEPVz6W4ce4Zt4/s1600/Gale+Charlotte+Website3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 382px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCJeY_CZ_N_HpT_Oc5p4Nzg90rlY5Z6AaDW2uzbQ-Bdq9Y0gOV4ebwVCnbdmT7SMif3CfebmZBMfeKccoVEBCv_uJHwNLewwvdxWz20FRMPY2GeFMDU7HOCB0fu0sujEPVz6W4ce4Zt4/s400/Gale+Charlotte+Website3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576807726919504226" border="0" /></a><br />OK, the time has come to unveil the news! Gale is writing a children's book about Banana and Cheese!<div><br /><div>Go to Gale's new website and read all about it!: <a href="http://www.galecharlotte.com/galecharlotte/home.html">www.galecharlotte.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Look for the special link to some of our kitty friends. </div></div>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-82142712736996563602011-02-16T22:56:00.004-05:002011-02-16T23:13:19.552-05:00Banana and Cheese wanna-be!<div>We taught her everything she knows! B&C</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.annarbor.com/pets/dusty-the-criminal-klepto-kitty-steals-neighborhood-belongings-and-brings-them-home/">http://www.annarbor.com/pets/dusty-the-criminal-klepto-kitty-steals-neighborhood-belongings-and-brings-them-home/</a>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-52494192455870892802011-02-14T10:36:00.005-05:002011-02-14T10:43:50.402-05:00Happy Valentine's Day!!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Happy Valentines Day to all of our Lovely Fur Friends!</span></span></span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUO_g066X_XxzhVJSF48PHGBjrd0zaZnOlA4jdEKk89Nf9wdTeeyt6zW7TaEftb0ouKej2_n9Kv0AmBaDstTPp2Va25qtRJ45VQmY118C6hC_YEzfepFQTPCxyZqqKaJ7Q0esHYpYa-M/s1600/Valenties+Day.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUO_g066X_XxzhVJSF48PHGBjrd0zaZnOlA4jdEKk89Nf9wdTeeyt6zW7TaEftb0ouKej2_n9Kv0AmBaDstTPp2Va25qtRJ45VQmY118C6hC_YEzfepFQTPCxyZqqKaJ7Q0esHYpYa-M/s400/Valenties+Day.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573570406776993074" style="text-align: center; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px; " /></a></span></u></span></div>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-54482537627932140792011-02-11T12:38:00.004-05:002011-02-14T16:09:39.871-05:00Yes, We're Still Here!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Yes, we're OK--we haven't frozen solid. We haven't been buried in snow. Banana and Cheese are not hibernating! <br />Banana is eating, sleeping, and eating some more. Cheese is eating, cleaning himself, and sleeping, then taking a nap after that--you know, the usual stuff.<br />But Gale and CD? They are very, very busy....on things that we can't tell you about just yet.<br />So, stay tuned.<br />And Twitch---get that mess cleaned up!</span>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-7920027313983784682011-01-25T19:28:00.004-05:002011-01-25T19:34:38.159-05:00Lazy Twitch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_xNTt_htYkNmxz8l9fpdQ76zZlRY6-b_HVLHAbj4b5Ao9KP6-IFN4KVYrbkkePywsPSiNgQsY7GZevHeTy0N9qIuuKQc22s3Od596_NzyaYrn3T5ocXlOcJSNIZ3FYcu_ifx7_i7y8o/s1600/Lazy+Twitch.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_xNTt_htYkNmxz8l9fpdQ76zZlRY6-b_HVLHAbj4b5Ao9KP6-IFN4KVYrbkkePywsPSiNgQsY7GZevHeTy0N9qIuuKQc22s3Od596_NzyaYrn3T5ocXlOcJSNIZ3FYcu_ifx7_i7y8o/s400/Lazy+Twitch.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566285733143634642" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Twitch! Get to work! Clean up this mess!” Banana roared. “We need this space for our next adventure!”</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; min-height: 13.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Yeah, Twitch,” Cheese agreed. “You’ve been rolling around in these holiday bits for far too long. Every day, Karen and Gale look out here and say, ‘Same old stuff. You would think the cats would have done something more exciting by now.’”</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; min-height: 13.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Ok,” yawned Twitch. “I’m going, but your next adventure had better be worth it.”</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; min-height: 13.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Oh, it will be,” purred Banana and Cheese….. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></p>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-11225806393199479052010-12-25T07:23:00.022-05:002010-12-25T20:07:37.108-05:00“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!”<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7AtII5jnQmdc7HNW6cRWBa4SfpFVHvQ_hQs__B2YJG4DEciiXbIEEFfqKASUDoidWsTgmXnI1pqXI8gHu-F_RlazK-Sb0DB83FgNy0JhsBj4MbcyG9oerqFZljnxs7HKR7-EXLWhSgY/s1600/Kitty+Klaws.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIg6dCkoDE-aBfCD0FwSyH09WmLk5hXZPhdynscEoJOsKxoqwXjWqd1GVGFynNwLgV93Zc1Bw3L9AOk-s2cDaIbrHXnbnyFtv3Axv_brymjXeu6Ul_qhzALCBY7IdNSTzaS9Dbo0Yyf0/s1600/The+General.jpg"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSngywIIiy2beTwi4FQKABHblWCdMF8XFaZwUY_OP-lp6YYeyereNs6tJVnNgCMxg8VgxONRiwciyebQ0I5ZNuCLwwI_dMhmw5T80mYtW6NggeI7gVXbsyvzU3QSZFGDGur8ypLiBmc8w/s1600/The+Catnip+Lounge.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8izaiAkVOUPSa8L6jMO6CxOyQTc4Y-qpyUomcZC1mlJ1XltDWAj4Wvj6dbfHU9aPpkXcRnWF82ZC2ZFf7qBDVjkZ9QMJ_GWfLJ7mZWRFMjBVyYjUgH8rAIJFhJmUsNTZyEZgdMlSvZ0/s1600/miss+kitty+Christmas.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnEd2E2jhTGffQr9AJRayo1ICMlBLrzmezKPgxtP9MmdtQS13BXQiyjnJjZz6ZElDjjzvvoOQ3CncRJGgt4ihSa3E3BWNqUz6MKj0vQFfc-Qhx2F_f-sHuulLi5Bt5EDhtibesHsjphs/s1600/freya+teego.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcM4_EphsYMSm_8VFxYkgopk-PpdtQq6I44J28eJjlf7aEprfZS92DGNifT9TxarKYRmSrD3KAVHmB1XQBtxMH-GZfow0CiM0YPuYHLuZl_PYvT3qFL5tY0TNGXmLt68s_6_tcdp00YNE/s1600/Charlie+Christmas.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqbIXPaYKvo2MSCaEt1ABNRarNkn8nwiaMSSD2nRAiIexrQ0vO4VzuF4MSExaJbPH97rgp89g9a58QzCCoDI1Sy8XOlLriV5KIxC4Q_vP3Up3liggam-03TS6LOOoGM2ChFtwCAASzdM/s1600/Charlie+Christmas.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReLCbwMjQBq6naRHs-GcHtF1Jsh3nKvJtWXQ_QYYDrvffTjVGG3NRJetZF2IJmSgtFKdeIjoEMzsGj5sffxmnltlKVA15fCOcJ-XgYn29NU7d0PTJyHn21OeIPzZoBq1rpZenBuoNZEo/s1600/Angel+Kirby+Mac1.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7ptdVrFliSMEl0n9_oHUkCx4if8oy_f4cpQwDt_6v8jH0Hf4cmsXrG-M7dl0BH_C6OhIiY7T6LdqESNHbIMBWrPubZ70NBpnB81YN82bp9Wu3E4fph_66N3x3BEwSJ4wf-XcfKUOZ1w/s1600/Santa+Kitty.jpg"></a><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwstH0DwBdM3JTT2B40W8iugqJIwJSAew1eNxSlqc1YOvwOj3iCO3RoWMjj7fRPix3zGIa2aJ6yJa-x64HU3P1o4FwaQf3LS0wV4_R14gxddsmk5W1zmNSmqS-_e-EkX72SQyhjn5AxM/s1600/Snowman.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwstH0DwBdM3JTT2B40W8iugqJIwJSAew1eNxSlqc1YOvwOj3iCO3RoWMjj7fRPix3zGIa2aJ6yJa-x64HU3P1o4FwaQf3LS0wV4_R14gxddsmk5W1zmNSmqS-_e-EkX72SQyhjn5AxM/s400/Snowman.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554596595790656178" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwstH0DwBdM3JTT2B40W8iugqJIwJSAew1eNxSlqc1YOvwOj3iCO3RoWMjj7fRPix3zGIa2aJ6yJa-x64HU3P1o4FwaQf3LS0wV4_R14gxddsmk5W1zmNSmqS-_e-EkX72SQyhjn5AxM/s1600/Snowman.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Part Two, in which we discover why there are scratching posts in homes with cats….</span></b></i></span></a><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Cheese had fallen asleep while thinking about all those human holidays of the winter, but Banana had just had a great idea and needed to share it with him. One more teensy nudge, and Banana watched as Cheese fell from the bookcase and landed with a thud on the floor.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> “Grrr!!!! I’ll get you, Banana!” Cheese chased her from the room, which was just what Banana had planned all along. They needed some privacy so Banana could explain her brilliant idea to Cheese. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> An hour later, they were taking turns at the scratching post. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Awww…look at the two cats! They’re being so cute together, using the scratching post…” Gale laughed at the earnest faces of Banana and Cheese. “I’m going to get the camera and take a photo—they look so serious!”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Banana and Cheese were so focused on their scratching, they didn’t notice the flashes of light. “OK,” grunted Banana. “I think that’s the last of the message to Kitty Klaws! I hope she gets our wishes </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">in </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:large;">time."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> “Don’t worry, Banana! We’ve sent our message with days to spare! She works magic on all those wishes!” Cheese tried to sound confident, but he was a little worried too.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“I know, but there are just so many cats in the world…maybe she won’t have time to get to our wish!” Banana sat and thought for a minute. “Maybe we should scratch it again, just in case?” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“She’s got it, I can feel it!” Cheese felt so happy, he twirled in a circle, chasing his tail, until he got dizzy and fell over. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Did you get a photo of our silly cat?” Karen asked Gale, as they watched Cheese tumbling around on the rug.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Now, what follows has been, up until this moment, a secret to all beings except for cats, but Banana and Cheese have given me permission to tell the story…..</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The story of the winter cat holiday, Felidae Whiskermas!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">What, you ask, is Felidae Whiskermas?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Well, you’re familiar with what happens on the night of December 24</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">? Better known as Christmas Eve? When Santa Claus pays a visit to the homes of good children? Even adults look forward to Santa’s visit (it’s true!)—they can’t wait to see what gifts he’s brought down the chimney or through the door. It’s a magical time for humans, and even grown-ups can’t really explain how Santa gets to all those houses, all over the world, in one night. AND, he brings gifts and fills stockings at each and every stop! AND, nobody ever sees Santa, even though some try and others say they hear Santa, or his reindeer, just outside….yes, all very magical indeed.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Well, there’s other magic on Christmas Eve—magic you’ve probably never even noticed. It happens in the blink of a human eye, and it’s easy for humans to miss—it’s just that quick. Just 47.3 seconds after Santa leaves, when everyone is rushing around, eager to see what gifts have been left for them, what goodies are in their stockings—that’s when the magic happens.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">47.3 seconds after Santa leaves your house, your cat vanishes. Yes, all the cats, from all over the world, gather in one magical place to celebrate Felidae Whiskermas. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">[Sorry, the place will remain a secret to humans; besides, humans don’t really care that much; they’re too busy with their own celebrating!]</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7AtII5jnQmdc7HNW6cRWBa4SfpFVHvQ_hQs__B2YJG4DEciiXbIEEFfqKASUDoidWsTgmXnI1pqXI8gHu-F_RlazK-Sb0DB83FgNy0JhsBj4MbcyG9oerqFZljnxs7HKR7-EXLWhSgY/s400/Kitty+Klaws.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554791050840447538" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 343px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">In this magical gathering place, there are treats, games, and…catnip! But best of all, Kitty Klaws (ever wonder where Santa Claus got his name?!) comes to visit too! Kitty Klaws has spent months carefully listening to the scratches of cats from all over the world. And in this magicalplace, the wishes the cats have scratched to her come true. That is, the wishes Kitty Klaws has </span><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">heard </span></u></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">will come true, for Kitty is just like every other cat we know, and sometimes she just doesn’t listen at all. That’s why you will sometimes see your own cat, frantically clawing their scratching post; they have a great wish to send to Kitty Klaws, and they are really, really hoping she will hear it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnEd2E2jhTGffQr9AJRayo1ICMlBLrzmezKPgxtP9MmdtQS13BXQiyjnJjZz6ZElDjjzvvoOQ3CncRJGgt4ihSa3E3BWNqUz6MKj0vQFfc-Qhx2F_f-sHuulLi5Bt5EDhtibesHsjphs/s400/freya+teego.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554600466769296946" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">On this particular delightful, magical night, Banana and Cheese are having great fun with their friends: Pekeo, Earl, Kona Kitty, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><a href="http://www.freyacat.co.uk/"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Freya and Teego</span></i></a></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSngywIIiy2beTwi4FQKABHblWCdMF8XFaZwUY_OP-lp6YYeyereNs6tJVnNgCMxg8VgxONRiwciyebQ0I5ZNuCLwwI_dMhmw5T80mYtW6NggeI7gVXbsyvzU3QSZFGDGur8ypLiBmc8w/s400/The+Catnip+Lounge.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554601756486887458" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 295px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The Baby, Grayce, Tiny Johnson, Felix, Rupert, Scouty, CC, Sweet Pea, Maui, May Ling, Salem, Sylvester, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIg6dCkoDE-aBfCD0FwSyH09WmLk5hXZPhdynscEoJOsKxoqwXjWqd1GVGFynNwLgV93Zc1Bw3L9AOk-s2cDaIbrHXnbnyFtv3Axv_brymjXeu6Ul_qhzALCBY7IdNSTzaS9Dbo0Yyf0/s400/The+General.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554602937934029346" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 364px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><a href="http://katniplounge.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The Katnip Lounge</span></a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Admiral Hestorb, Teego, Charlie, Kiki, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReLCbwMjQBq6naRHs-GcHtF1Jsh3nKvJtWXQ_QYYDrvffTjVGG3NRJetZF2IJmSgtFKdeIjoEMzsGj5sffxmnltlKVA15fCOcJ-XgYn29NU7d0PTJyHn21OeIPzZoBq1rpZenBuoNZEo/s400/Angel+Kirby+Mac1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554598030689448834" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Tabbouleh, Joey, Orange, Vegas, Angel, Kirby, Mac, Freya, and Twitch.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><a href="http://admiral-hestorb.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Admiral Hestorb</span></a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Cheese is munching on some chicken, and Banana is chasing a little blue light around the circle.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><a href="http://awizardandanangel.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Angel, Kirby and Mac</span></a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcM4_EphsYMSm_8VFxYkgopk-PpdtQq6I44J28eJjlf7aEprfZS92DGNifT9TxarKYRmSrD3KAVHmB1XQBtxMH-GZfow0CiM0YPuYHLuZl_PYvT3qFL5tY0TNGXmLt68s_6_tcdp00YNE/s400/Charlie+Christmas.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554599973294692898" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 352px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">All at once, the cats stop what they’re doing, sniff the air, prick up their ears, and begin purring….</span></span></span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8izaiAkVOUPSa8L6jMO6CxOyQTc4Y-qpyUomcZC1mlJ1XltDWAj4Wvj6dbfHU9aPpkXcRnWF82ZC2ZFf7qBDVjkZ9QMJ_GWfLJ7mZWRFMjBVyYjUgH8rAIJFhJmUsNTZyEZgdMlSvZ0/s400/miss+kitty+Christmas.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554601050552702178" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 357px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Kitty Klaws has arrived! Kitty moves quickly and quietly from cat to cat to cat, and then, with flick of her tail, she’s gone. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><a href="http://ten-lives-second-chances.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Charlie</span></a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Shortly after, the cats make their sleepy way back into the human world. While it’s just been a blink of a human eye, they’ve been celebrating for most of a cat day, and they are very, very tired. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><a href="http://acatsgoldenyears.blogspot.com/">Miss Kitty</a></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Sometimes they’re so tired, they take extra cat naps every day until the next Felidae Whiskermas (and that explains why cats seem to sleep so much, doesn’t it?) .</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">On this particular Felidae Whiskermas, Banana and Cheese head back to the human world with big smiles on their faces and packages tucked under their collars. Kitty Klaws heard their wish!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The next morning, Banana meows and meows to go out. Karen opens the door, and Banana rushes out, Cheese following close behind. They run after the squirrels, sit under the bird feeders for a while, and even have a roll in the snow with Twitch. Karen and Gale watch them play for a while, and then Gale turns to Karen, a puzzled look on her face.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Karen,” she asks, “where do you suppose Banana and Cheese got those mittens?!”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Happy Felidae Whiskermas to all our furry feline friends.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7ptdVrFliSMEl0n9_oHUkCx4if8oy_f4cpQwDt_6v8jH0Hf4cmsXrG-M7dl0BH_C6OhIiY7T6LdqESNHbIMBWrPubZ70NBpnB81YN82bp9Wu3E4fph_66N3x3BEwSJ4wf-XcfKUOZ1w/s400/Santa+Kitty.jpg" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Happy holidays to all our human friends—we wish </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">you all the best in 2011! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-27313812580068313822010-12-24T14:02:00.017-05:002010-12-24T20:54:41.727-05:00“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!”<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKgPPhBylizxJrE0CwiXXo61J67sH4K-g3XTw4umWbSGydziTO_Letu5twHw5mizP9r8MeqtYF8PbRAjMWHIwEQwl-dLpqhidk6zjvI5qYiBn8vE5hKirJud8GyigeUvRsdOY_m5SD10/s1600/Kitty_Fire.jpg"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9uvFXofv6uDJyTKeHMpAWcN9StZ7qoOElQ5lybBAyO_GrRbDl8cChZp0ClMf8fi1c-TlXXzPqWYGy4Ee-nijD_zyN9YxLLrl-oPWGMgizzU49y0HUeoQ-mqizCCYit3UKWAYoa-zF6E/s1600/Banana_Cold.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7q7e3PqTXi4KCmUEqc8oKFLExx9Tyb-zIYP872cBafRzqDcLdzQ2PkLiW6L_vtzDZ4HCp3W69W5m0kInDc9cI5cyXXrIKZ73y1yahbFRz4CUoYdQzwj8A4LzseQeECppXRf-ph9Zm9C4/s1600/Doggie.jpg"></a><i><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; display: inline !important; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Part One, in which we learn about Human Winter Holidays….</span></i></p></i><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVi9f-2sq6OC_mn41UC7sffymyB-rSswI304FLFaeYda-zGhVRym__WDHXJCQzXTrTb4MOcqSCive7Nn1A6MK-oetlnhExRbC8DPnXMWNWYDT9azJRe3ox36tSjpWKWi46LBzBPnqAKpo/s400/winter+sq.jpg" /></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Banana and Cheese were sitting at the patio door, watching the snow fall. Banana sighed deeply, flopped onto the floor, and put her head on her paws. “Well Cheese, that’s it. No mores squirrel-chasing for a long time!”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Cheese looked questioningly at Banana. “Why can’t we chase them? They’re right out there at the feeder, eating corn and shaking their tails this way!” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9uvFXofv6uDJyTKeHMpAWcN9StZ7qoOElQ5lybBAyO_GrRbDl8cChZp0ClMf8fi1c-TlXXzPqWYGy4Ee-nijD_zyN9YxLLrl-oPWGMgizzU49y0HUeoQ-mqizCCYit3UKWAYoa-zF6E/s400/Banana_Cold.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554345618861311810" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Well, duh, Cheese—our paws will get too cold in the snow! I’ve tried to walk through the snow, and I’ve lasted about 20.6 seconds—Karen had to come out and get me because I was stranded under the picnic table!” As Banana remembered her ordeal, she shook herself, then started licking her white paws. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Well, some animals aren’t so delicate—here comes that dog from across the street!” Cheese peered through the glass door, then looked again in surprise. “What’s that on her tail?!” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Dog-from-across-the-street walked toward the patio door, tail held high in the air. “Hey cats! <a href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=76">Happy St Nicholas Day</a>! Did you remember to leave a shoe out last night? I borrowed one from my person (don’t worry, it wasn’t his best-tasting one), put it outside the door, and look what was inside this morning: a tail bell!” Dog-from-across-street wagged her tail, and there was a loud jiggling sound. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“THAT. Is THE MOST frightening thing I have ever SEEN!” Cheese turned and ran.</span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Ignore Cheese, Dog-from-across-the-street,” Banana explained. “He ran and hid during the loud <a href="http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/dday.htm">Diwali</a> celebration hosted by the Roys last month too. He just does not enjoy noise very</span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7q7e3PqTXi4KCmUEqc8oKFLExx9Tyb-zIYP872cBafRzqDcLdzQ2PkLiW6L_vtzDZ4HCp3W69W5m0kInDc9cI5cyXXrIKZ73y1yahbFRz4CUoYdQzwj8A4LzseQeECppXRf-ph9Zm9C4/s320/Doggie.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554344336022819842" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 243px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> much. Candles make him nervous too, so even though Comet Cohen invited us to tonight’s <a href="http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday7.htm">Hanukkah</a> celebration, I will have to go without him.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">But Dog was not listening anymore; “Squirrel!” she barked, and off she went. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Banana sighed and settled down for another long winter nap….</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">One week later, Banana and Cheese, still sleepy from the night before, when they celebrated the <a href="http://www.inside-mexico.com/guadalupe.htm">Festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe</a> with Blythey Soto and her people, were stretched out on a heat vent. They took turns wandering from window to window and wishing they could be outside. But there was still snow everywhere, and even though each cat tried, they couldn’t last more than 20.6 seconds outside—their paws just got too cold.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Cheeeeeeese! Think!” Banana whined. “There’s got to be something we can do to get outside! Maybe we could ask Karen and Gale to build us a….” Before she could finish her thought, Banana heard the doorbell. Cheese had started running for the basement, but Banana ran to look out the window to see what friend was coming to visit. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Cheese! Stop! It’s just Lucy Carlson and her people. Ooooo….wow….” Banana stopped talking as Lucy walked in, wearing a bright red sash. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtIUyPJH5Xnq0mUKrx6FNf5-pVKxN3Kwd6GXaoaEzdO5SCJwh03AQeAhvjxxoMOGjDTeine0FC-2lipSKl4EGPzbtrI87eQhw8d8tym05VVGSw_MXLgLJx-SLHDqjdaEjYIToum3XIJs/s400/Kitty.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554331653693487042" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 316px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Do you like it?” Lucy asked. “Today is <a href="http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/sweden.shtml">St. Lucia Day</a>, and all the young girls in our family get to wear these this morning. It’s so soft and makes me feel so pretty…” her voice trailed off as she stroked the sash for the 22</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">nd</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> time that morning. “But enough chit chat! Have you two scratched your message to Kitty Klaus yet?” Before Banana or Cheese could answer, Karen called them into the kitchen so they could try the tasty Swedish cat treats Lucy brought to share. Yum! There was plenty of fishballs for all!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Another week passed; it was a busy week of birthdays—first Erika’s birthday, and then Peter’s birthday. The cats were thrilled with the smunchy wrapping paper and the licks of ice cream they stole from dishes when nobody was looking. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">On this day, the whole family had gathered in the living room. They were napping, reading, wrapping gifts, batting at decorations on the Christmas tree, chasing balls of ribbon, but in the midst of all the activity, Banana was doing what she had been doing for weeks now—staring outside, wishing she could find some way to be playing in the snow and visiting her birds at the feeders. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Cheese, who as taking a break from decoration destruction, was startled when Twitch jumped up on the ledge on the other side of the window.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Hey!! Cheese!! <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/december-solstice-customs.html">Happy Solstice</a>!!” Twitch looked so happy, but Cheese just looked….puzzled.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“What is Solstice, Twitch?” Cheese made himself comfortable, for he knew this would probably be one of Twitches’ long stories.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Well,” Twitch began, “Solstice is a holiday some humans celebrate—for them, it’s a time to celebrate the Return of the Sun. And, as all outdoor cats know, tonight will be the longest night of the year, BUT beginning tomorrow, each day will be a little longer…and warmer!’ Twitch purred in happy anticipation. “Evergreen Marsh has invited me to his humans’ bonfire tonight…he says they will be burning a Yule log. There will be food and heat! Want to come?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Ohhh….no thank you,” Cheese shivered at the thought of all that fire. “Banana and I have….um…we’re….uh…scratching our wishes to Kitty Klaws tonight! Yeah! That’s what we’re doing—scratching our wishes…” Cheese was relieved he had thought of something to do, so he wouldn’t have to tell Twitch that he was really afraid of the fire. Besides, they really </span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">did</span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> need to figure out what to say to Kitty Klaws.</span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKgPPhBylizxJrE0CwiXXo61J67sH4K-g3XTw4umWbSGydziTO_Letu5twHw5mizP9r8MeqtYF8PbRAjMWHIwEQwl-dLpqhidk6zjvI5qYiBn8vE5hKirJud8GyigeUvRsdOY_m5SD10/s400/Kitty_Fire.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554360411552975522" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 323px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Well, suit yourself,” Twitch shrugged. “I plan to be warm tonight, and then tomorrow, it will stay light a little longer, and before we know it, Spring will be here and there will be lots of little ones running through your back yard! Yes indeed, this is a very important night for all wild animals like me. Well, see you in a few days—I can’t wait to see Kitty Klaws either!” With a happy flick of her tail, Twitch was gone. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Cheese sat at the window a little longer, thinking about all the human holidays that were celebrated this time of the year—there had been so many already, and Cheese knew of even more holidays to come: <a href="http://www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm">Christmas</a>, <a href="http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml">Kwanzaa</a>, <a href="http://homepages.tesco.net/~derek.berger/holidays/boxingday.html">Boxing Day</a>, <a href="http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3211">New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year</a>. Each holiday was special to some group of humans, and the humans had unique traditions for each holiday. But no matter what holiday the humans celebrated, they were convinced their cats should be included, because of course cats did not have any holidays of their own, and would probably be sad this time of the year if they weren’t included in whatever the humans were doing. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">But! They…would…be…WRONG!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p> </o:p></p></div>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-19066074939502428952010-12-13T13:03:00.007-05:002010-12-13T14:00:13.567-05:00Christmas Party!<span style="font-size:130%;">To all the kitties out there! Our Halloween Party story was such a success that we have decided to throw a Christmas Party story.<br /><br />If you plan on coming, please RSVP by Saturday, December 19th!<br /><br />Pass it on!<br /><br />Banana and Cheese</span>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-66107444001356180542010-11-25T11:56:00.003-05:002010-12-13T13:08:19.353-05:00Thanksgiving<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> It was the 4<sup>th</sup> Thursday in November; one of Banana’s favorite days in the whole year, because Thanksgiving Day was a time for feasting and people and feasting and friends.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Oh, the food!</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Banana had watched with great anticipation as Gale put the biggest bird Banana had ever seen into the oven just 2.5 hours before.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Banana had sat right by the oven for a long time, until Karen spotted her and shooed her away, saying, “It will be HOURS before the turkey is done!”</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Reluctantly, Banana left her viewing station, and went to find Cheese.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Cheese was sitting in front of the television, watching as shapes seemed to float by on the screen.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“Wow!</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">What’s that?”</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32Hj3Zaes3l1WucqSlMi38nGY1ZKJJc9vUAM3eAIJMYXGuLrpSqcLG3ceb-mqQ0wAdfwWthj6j4eAvzb2IWXD44w_BfomDLuNIqMWwoNzE_TbF2OBleDrKXwuk0LNoU5oq8MeUKIdsds/s320/garfield.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 194px;" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543533240195660578" border="0" /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Banana pointed to a humongous orange cat hovering inside the big black box.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“Gale says it’s a helium balloon, Banana.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">I don’t know what that is, but</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">look at how small the people are, compared to that cat!</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Hmmm….” Cheese peered more closely at the screen.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“That cat reminds me of you, after you’ve eaten your bowl of food AND mine!”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“Hrumph!”</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Banana turned and left the room.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">She called back, over her shoulder, to a still-laughing Cheese.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“I’m going to take a nap…in front of the stove.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">That way, I’ll get the first bite of bird!”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Cheese was torn; he wanted to watch some more of those “balloons”, but he also wanted some of that turkey.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">As he rocked back and forth, trying to decide, he heard a familiar rumble in the distance.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Banana heard it too, and she came running back into the living room.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“CD!!!”</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">The cats pawed at the front door, each trying to be the first to greet their friend.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“Hey cats!”</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">CD fairly burst through the front door, she was so excited to see Banana and Cheese.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“Look what I brought for you!”</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">CD held up two little, teeny, tiny…Native American and…Pilgrim costumes?!</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Banana and Cheese sniffed, then started backing away.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“Oh, c’mon…you two will look great in these!”</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">CD used her most convincing voice.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“Just try them on.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Then, I’ll draw your pictures.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Pleaaaase?”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">How could the cats refuse CD?</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">They put on the pilgrim hat and the beads and the coats and had to admit—they DID look good!</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Later in the day, as Banana and Cheese joined the rest of their family…Karen, Gale, Erika, Peter, and Joey…and many people friends…for a wonderful Thanksgiving feast, CD captured it all.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Banana didn’t even notice; the turkey was just too…yummy.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">As each being sat back, feeling very full and very blessed, there was a loud crash in the kitchen.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Banana and Cheese were first to reach the scene, and found Twitch…covered in what was left of the pumpkin pie!</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“I…well…the back door was open, and well…I slipped,” Twitch sheepishly admitted.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">She raised her paw, to start the long cleaning process.</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“Hey!</span><span style=";font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">This not-tuna is pretty good!” </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p>We wish all of our friends and family, near and far, a very Happy Thanksgiving…we are very thankful for each and every one of you!</span></p>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-64063982433992837762010-11-16T06:19:00.007-05:002010-11-16T06:31:45.420-05:00The Sky is Falling…A Nature Lesson<span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4UO0KLeEWqi8GiQhYMdv5oY0FbRmI5RSMfKJSP8a8N2-GbWFesGHu2ffnpcWcWdqYtfRZwmbFbxO9HgGiM8dPBu8HM9gClbzm9lPZ0HvItqFpilCTAYafaBAQ5Ks21DP4U9MTKsbX3U/s1600/banana_birds.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 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mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">It was a beautiful autumn day.<span style=""> </span>Banana was, as always, crouched under the bird feeders.<span style=""> </span>Today, she was waiting for those really ravenous, radically red cardinals.<span style=""> </span>Cheese had been tracking the sunbeam all morning, and he was now sunbathing in it.<span style=""> </span>He was being nice and sharing it with Joey, who was visiting for a while.<span style=""> </span>Some things are hard to share (like your favorite toys, your bed, your food bowl), but sunbeams are usually big enough for two or three beings to lie in; in fact, Cheese was expecting Gale and her book to come in and curl up in the sunbeam at any moment.<span style=""> </span>Cheese was staring at this…smudge on his paw…and…his eyes…were slowly….closing….when all of a sudden, he heard a big gust of wind.<span style=""> </span>Shortly after that, he heard Banana.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6uCg-4gYN1-RHLf22ewbjWyK_KFZmBrCMovXKhiB33zteak1XR-PJokYlT5UZrV_qLGVweG7fCbIWoo1R6516-Zui4WcCU-zw19lvIfkz8dWR6OMD3-JQKDXZBxqyLrKhSnbORfFBts/s1600/banana_scared.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6uCg-4gYN1-RHLf22ewbjWyK_KFZmBrCMovXKhiB33zteak1XR-PJokYlT5UZrV_qLGVweG7fCbIWoo1R6516-Zui4WcCU-zw19lvIfkz8dWR6OMD3-JQKDXZBxqyLrKhSnbORfFBts/s400/banana_scared.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540107514103379826" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;">“The sky is falling!<span style=""> </span>The sky is falling!<span style=""> </span>Cheese!<span style=""> </span>Joey!<span style=""> </span>Run for your lives!”<span style=""> </span>Banana was shouting as she ran as fast as she could across the yard and through the wide-open patio door.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">She slipped on the throw rug just inside the door, regained her “dignity”, and then scurried underneath the sofa.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“Hurry!”<span style=""> </span>Banana panted.<span style=""> </span>“We’ll all be safe under here!”<span style=""> </span>Banana was shivering with fright, and covered her eyes with her paws.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cheese and Joey just stared at her.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnT270eg-D4iyDjVek7GbiA0Jvi-YATt1X1BPXdC8tvbkCHgRtxwP4zit1oZsruqz6SF60Qzi_5CwyZ_U2mc1mF6H9hKWsdmjc9D6rvrTsloyyL7YNzeDYQVuImeXigYeL2NcfU-_x1Y/s1600/banana_hiding.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnT270eg-D4iyDjVek7GbiA0Jvi-YATt1X1BPXdC8tvbkCHgRtxwP4zit1oZsruqz6SF60Qzi_5CwyZ_U2mc1mF6H9hKWsdmjc9D6rvrTsloyyL7YNzeDYQVuImeXigYeL2NcfU-_x1Y/s400/banana_hiding.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540107216866986882" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;">“Quick!<span style=""> </span>There’s no time to lose!” Banana took one paw from an eye, and motioned toward the cats, then towards the sofa.<span style=""> </span>“The sky is falling, and we’re all in danger!<span style=""> </span>Even the squirrels!<span style=""> </span>Good thing they don’t know about this safe sofa, or we would have quite a crowd in here…”<span style=""> </span>Banana suddenly became quiet as the thought of SQUIRRELS…in her HOUSE…passed through her mind.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cheese used this moment of silence to really <i style="">look</i> at Banana.<span style=""> </span>She didn’t appear to be hurt, but maybe something hit her head?<span style=""> </span>He and Joey got up, stretched, and then wandered out to the patio doors, to see if there really was something dangerous happening outside.<span style=""> </span>It also crossed his mind that, if Banana were correct and the sky WAS falling, that a squirrel MIGHT land right…next…to…his…mouth……</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cheese was drooling as he peered outside.<span style=""> </span>Another gust of wind blew through the trees, and a large number of yellow, orange, and red leaves rushed past.<span style=""> </span>There was another, smaller breeze, and the leaves swirled through the air.<span style=""> </span>They landed, rustling, on the patio outside.<span style=""> </span>Joey jumped into the leaf pile made moments before.<span style=""> </span>His head popped out when Cheese started to laugh.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“Banana!”<span style=""> </span>Cheese shouted.<span style=""> </span>Banana’s head popped out from under the sofa.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“Banana!<span style=""> </span>You are so silly!”<span style=""> </span>Cheese laughed.<span style=""> </span>“The sky is NOT falling.<span style=""> </span>You thought the exact same thing last year.<span style=""> </span>Remember?”<span style=""> </span>Banana tipped her head to the side, and looked at him skeptically.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“The <b style=""><i style="">leaves</i></b> are falling.<span style=""> </span>From the trees.<span style=""> </span>It happens every year.<span style=""> </span>That’s why our people call it FALL.<span style=""> </span>Because the leaves…fall.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Banana still looked unconvinced.<span style=""> </span>She had trouble remembering when she last ate, let alone remember something so long ago!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8-KWPhMi7WoVm7nxNCSvnu6iuPz0PesNzWWnOAVXsK-GTubGvMkgdUuvrM1dwHgVb8zggi7uS8Ws7Bqba3qjSAkibvEXzB-U3zbC6AEGAHw1blMOy7IHbPM_HuUdc_fw7qAf8qTdskY/s1600/cheese+teaching.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8-KWPhMi7WoVm7nxNCSvnu6iuPz0PesNzWWnOAVXsK-GTubGvMkgdUuvrM1dwHgVb8zggi7uS8Ws7Bqba3qjSAkibvEXzB-U3zbC6AEGAHw1blMOy7IHbPM_HuUdc_fw7qAf8qTdskY/s400/cheese+teaching.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540106454483455074" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Cheese went on, patiently explaining.<span style=""> </span>He loved knowing things that Banana didn’t.<span style=""> </span>“Like I told you last year, when you were such a young cat:<span style=""> </span>leaves fall from the trees in the fall.<span style=""> </span>It’s a scientific fact…” Cheese raised a paw.<span style=""> </span>“The days are getting shorter, and the nights are getting longer.<span style=""> </span>The leaves love to dance in the dark…we know this because we can see them moving at night, making shadows in the house that we love to chase.<span style=""> </span>Remember last week, when you bumped into the wall when you were chasing one?”<span style=""> </span>Cheese giggled, and Banana scowled at him from under the sofa.<span style=""> </span>“OK…anyway—the leaves dance in the trees at night.<span style=""> </span>As the nights get longer, they dance longer.<span style=""> </span>Banana, pay attention!<span style=""> </span>This is the most important part!”<span style=""> </span>Cheese raised up on his hind legs and waved his front paws in the air.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“And so, Banana, the scientific reason leaves fall from the trees every year is because they get so tired from dancing all night long!”<span style=""> </span>Cheese finished with a flourish and bowed when Joey and Banana burst into applause.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></span></p>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-53057593854825027742010-10-31T23:20:00.037-04:002010-11-16T21:51:34.351-05:00The Halloween Obsession<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnr8BO9yBJO9ca5cqrL5hyhcIsRqrDln4y_VRP2x6e5HB29Wou7w1mNY67XsdSQ1lL2mOLpsNPXNFyV26J8LKMHxGBmK6HLdtf-TUe2yTeE2S8IE1uPY1MGf-8VRc8ftpzB8XRzmwUYrc/s1600/Mr.+Orange.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0V2KPHbbYT2GyHbpEVre0r96XFHnR2f5jqO4-u3Yix1J_Ajz9uoX5NOm14hke1wvJKCb07Y-jjKXRk2oWA70-IY1Pz7lbbSPGmEbdrGhxNFNhLv8USXyzHNMz_2BNMgVDRY2zqoLtDQ/s1600/TwitchCat.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfNZh5mGqWyTbbEZsDaYg7XSXo5SD2YwUYAfDPer5_gGdnrbLYGMPmYlKGJhWx0BbveIKjHwA7WVD4RszDeTKAaBPs0qtqZN0JA9ELmWCs3hll3sR3Iwmawknf9dhyphenhyphenJOFnYf4PUxXl-I/s1600/TwitchCat.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3YNtapCdJR4jognTpX69IvIOy1Gwr4aN8foqjHNpofRGZeDdS-RVEFggIKa6hfnGoXtG3uZIjUtAQDbT8TIzqVoWUoKZjeXdX6quAhshq4ksNTiJejofbpcmgoXYGIKbzJC21WUm15Q/s1600/Twitch_Art.jpg"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivipWlHU-V451ixCv7eG9q9FkzimMBltPBfGJMqLFetIelihRlEnV02vK6H0ia9uJvbwEXlovmw5Sb9PGFRqLQ2IBdYOQ35id2DpBSm3fjddbFvxbFVdcyHP6j3l4OUpLyqRTQEOyRqxw/s1600/mean+boys.jpg"></a><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 32px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The prelude to our story is here:</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 32px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 32px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=201010130304"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">http://</span></span></a></span></span><a href="http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=201010130304"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=201010130304</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 32px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 32px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); line-height: 32px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">With anticipation, Charlie, Mike and Nick started to knock on the door….</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 32px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Hold on, hold on—wait a minute….there’s more back-story to be told. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0V2KPHbbYT2GyHbpEVre0r96XFHnR2f5jqO4-u3Yix1J_Ajz9uoX5NOm14hke1wvJKCb07Y-jjKXRk2oWA70-IY1Pz7lbbSPGmEbdrGhxNFNhLv8USXyzHNMz_2BNMgVDRY2zqoLtDQ/s400/TwitchCat.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536099073983514178" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 380px; height: 400px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Twitch had been working on a project, </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">and was very eager to show it off. She ran to the sliding door at the house next door and batted on the screen until Banana and Cheese, who were stretched out on the floor soaking in the sunbeam, woke up and raised their heads.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Now what, Twitch?” yawned Banana. “I’ve only been asleep for 83 minutes. Leave me alone.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Listen, you two! I have a very special ‘project’…I call her Ms. Whisp…to show you, and I want you to leave your house and come to my house [the empty house at 311 Walnut] and see it! It’s important, and can you come tomorrow night (that’s when it will be all dry), and have some mouse bits with me and some others I’ve invited? I think it’s a party? Pleee</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); ">eeeease?” Twitch was talking so fast and was so excited, she fell backwards and knocked right into the Jack-o-Lantern on the bottom step.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnr8BO9yBJO9ca5cqrL5hyhcIsRqrDln4y_VRP2x6e5HB29Wou7w1mNY67XsdSQ1lL2mOLpsNPXNFyV26J8LKMHxGBmK6HLdtf-TUe2yTeE2S8IE1uPY1MGf-8VRc8ftpzB8XRzmwUYrc/s400/Mr.+Orange.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536101020867601426" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 370px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Oh! Pardon me, Mr. Orange!” Twitch was a very polite cat after all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Well,” Cheese stretched and yawned, “I think we can make it. Our people are having a party too, and it will be really noisy here.” Before Cheese could finish asking, “Do you know what the other cats will be wearing to your…,” Twitch was running off, shouting over her shoulder, “Great! Gotta go! I’ve got tons more cats to invite!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Well,” Banana noted, “Twitch seems a little more bizarre than usual. Do you th</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">ink she even realizes that tomorrow is Halloween? Oh, never mind…..now, how are we going to sneak through the fence, AND, more importantly, what are we going to wear?”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3YNtapCdJR4jognTpX69IvIOy1Gwr4aN8foqjHNpofRGZeDdS-RVEFggIKa6hfnGoXtG3uZIjUtAQDbT8TIzqVoWUoKZjeXdX6quAhshq4ksNTiJejofbpcmgoXYGIKbzJC21WUm15Q/s400/Twitch_Art.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536092237541523586" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 337px; height: 400px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The next night, as the streetlights came on, Twitch was adding the final touches to her creation. Her nana, a beautiful all-white cat named Switch, was perched on top of the dress form, “supervising”. “Twitch, give this contraption another push around the room! That will help it dry faster!” Switch neglected to add that, when Twitch would give her that “ride” back and forth a</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">cross the room, she loved feeling the breeze blowing through her own fur, and the great view out the window of 311 Walnut St. One more push across the room, and Switch jumped down. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Twitch, I’m impressed by your masterpiece.” Switch squinted. “You know, it almost reminds me of some human, wearing a dress!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Oh, don’t be silly, Nana!” Twitch scoffed, but secretly was pleased. Her creation, made of white plastic shopping bags, and her special “glue” of: axel grease from that auto repair place down the street, tuna fish oil, and cat spit, was holding together nicely. She didn’t have time to complete</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); ">ly admire her artwork, because the other cats had begun to arrive through the broken back door. But, why were they all dressed so funny?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ02ArvXZ1_CEt8H4Upuu01u-RhoO2fuMoYHeqCFsIswawENBKOtjVqQl5csz8eZtS9Ly6vc_jjXzQaOwy3ieeRkCqIwL9JdrfZ5lPXSfCmcxBMMV2hxsEyF66Y0dLk5NkE47ag4DZPIs/s400/banana+and+cheese.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534417656951255810" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">In they came</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">: Banana had been practicing being the scary vampire</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">—and she was! Cheese </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">had rolled in…cheese </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">(he was terrible at being original!). </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyCePlgwgcY7_9Y_NDbRkwqk3LSPP1qY-Z3e4q_1ZS_n-uY9eoFSE1QuREEYHI8Cg3Q-_F871UA-bAC7boZJY1vvvwkSnGsA17298mE8FBClq-unp9h6czqeroEI0pSxaAsjX6Np7hZ4/s400/zippy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534417955612613010" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Zippy, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Sadie, and Speedy were dressed as those famous monkeys: See No Evil, Speak No Evil, and Hear No </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Evil.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><a href="http://kattoniccats.blogspot.com/"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Zippy, Sadie and Speedy's Blog</span></span></i></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhOodMhjyqAZdBCirTt4H0xoBDskQEGgEfVg-Epgo9HafGX0K8Sbks5uUki0Fq5eHoAUUq5E_YrdlXOK-puVOwTqvQw2s47wDjmVNyrbb6wPIdsVU7SgdTHPke1gB_y7nxZoi0JQDiEY/s400/catman+robin.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534418679092501794" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Freya and Teego’s people had dressed them as Catman and Robin</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> (not the bird). </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><a href="http://www.freyacat.co.uk/"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Freya and Teego's Blog</span></span></i></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72XS6-AutsFQeJ8ym7FePCDSQbMNrpZUmk5b9-IraEUYSR_4BxerLisJOJGUMxdwktbfu9e39W4W8oOxrecVs4hVFDSgfCN49ibW7tcEq9lNu51TSyhfC4foinfirrqqTueKxmXmalNk/s400/Charlie+and+Tab.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534419043486165042" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Little </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Tabbouleh snuck in wearing a baby bonnet</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Charlie the cat had a long, grey beard. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><a href="http://ten-lives-second-chances.blogspot.com/"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Charlie's Blog</span></span></i></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-O6BjdCG73bXESIeGVlMXudcDRkVZbqBQgevmIJVMCn5f4F-tX4B05LL562cWny5eX96aBTKGApiq51Q2DHgEfOPxuX2__CoMu-cdpashO7D21ZFQk_7ktAY-fnEpX-gqlyK6gBjUf2E/s400/Admiral.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534419485566861122" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The honorable Admiral </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">wore a few of his medals and ribbons.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><a href="http://admiral-hestorb.blogspot.com/"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Admiral Hestorb's Blog</span></span></i></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vURTb9BWYS19eSEbMQildRgDlvuTMhgMGOs61T5S1YpsrMrY_Q7QmfmTxvRdIq8mGYbJybECtvob8sMcKAQCw9_5lv4VbZtPueEdFKWjNxCUgPvMEb75vnVXDBhke4WRs3TtCIlyH2k/s400/kirby+and+angel.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534420402105043442" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Angel came as a ghost with a pumpkin head and Kirby came as Frankenstein. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://awizardandanangel.blogspot.com/">Angel and Kirby's Blog</a></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMO4ODKG9y7lYN-QHvNtAKvF04bTf4jxcxBFHnWBhXp9-38DoJ4f02cXZUQ7E5CcDqkxztK2LLAc8I12ClPH5oqMZzOtvQx1Z_xhp4tjVtC8XUpDDZ6Xs9cwNQKPL-Ga1mWBSwUYP3ww/s400/Cokie.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534420717250225250" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 381px; height: 400px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Cokie came as a witch. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><a href="http://cokiethecat.blogspot.com/"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Cokie's Blog</span></span></i></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYmN1c6KfIhmuzVrWPg9NeUGwnwAzN4aIGOXInz4D2KUVxjzaOsUdBjrXVYNREl6NtXI7OKUKoLW8-WrRphZ-pUOI5YGAAWboc2GdbG93YsaH_hiNfSKH7UVLqCPcWU7DdNYt8F_S9Ow/s400/Lucy+Hanna.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534421007227356626" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Hanna sported a frightful costume-dog mask and ears!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Lucy wore a Charlie Chaplin moustache stuck to his whiskers. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><a href="http://myblogoffurrycreatures.blogspot.com/"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Hanna and Lucy"s Blog</span></span></i></a></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCfHTHpl1eepWBcVZsdhW3jxjl1hj2rTllSo7wfLl8VKzC8LWDo_mNRwPo2fAx4G-vEIuL9Zm5LiZIHyLxKye2X53DsKgKYFkBtv7ydx2Lx4eicJQp7v64ijuY-svrV-Jpc_Y8LmYRs0/s400/Miss+Kitty.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 339px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535992445829141346" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">And Miss Kitty? She photographed it all!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><i><a href="http://acatsgoldenyears.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Miss Kitty's Blog</span></span></a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> Unfortunately, Amy’s cats couldn’t make it; they had told Twitch they were having a party of their own.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Happy Halloween!” the other cats yelled. Twitch was so pleased with all of her company, she neglected to properly admire every costume.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“Great!” Twitch exclaimed. “Now I’ll be able to start work on Ms. Whisp’s ‘dance’ partner!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Just then, there was a knock on the door, and then the doorbell rang. The doorbell? It had never rung before, and Twitch looked bewildered, because she didn’t even know what it was. Banana pushed her to the door; “It’s the thing that makes Cheese run from our living room! Go open that door and see which friend is behind it!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivipWlHU-V451ixCv7eG9q9FkzimMBltPBfGJMqLFetIelihRlEnV02vK6H0ia9uJvbwEXlovmw5Sb9PGFRqLQ2IBdYOQ35id2DpBSm3fjddbFvxbFVdcyHP6j3l4OUpLyqRTQEOyRqxw/s400/mean+boys.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534570883895838178" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 215px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Twitch was a curious cat, and was interested to see who was behind that door. She jumped up and grabbed the doorknob. The door swung open, and there stood three little people. They were dressed funny too, and each one was holding a bag. Twitch looked at their faces; their eyes were opened wide, and their mouths were hanging open. Before she could invite them in, the little people turned and ran away…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The boys ran all the way back to Charlie’s house. “Crazy cats!” “White, plastic bags!” “Old, white cat!” “Smell!” Until they could fully catch their collective breath and wits, those were the only words they could choke out. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> Minutes passed, and then Charlie whispered, “Did you two see what I saw back there?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“I saw a bunch of cats!” Nick began, with some confidence. “They were…were…wearing bits of cloth, twigs, leaves,…a medal?” he sounded less sure now. “One had…was wearing cheese? One was wearing a vampire cape? OK—two were wearing those costumes that people sometimes put on their pets! They were Batman and Robin!” He hurriedly finished his part of the story, “Did you guys notice they were all carrying trick-or-treat bags too?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“I saw…I saw…a white cat sitting like the head of a mannequin, and the mannequin-thing was wearing a dress…made of plastic bags?” Mike shook his head, not really sure that that was what he saw. “Could that be? Naw…” Mike shook his head, refusing to believe the “old woman of 311 Walnut” was really a bunch of bags stuck together. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“I’m not sure I believe all that I saw back there, but I sure know what I smelled,” Charlie started.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“TUNAFISH?” The three boys whispered. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“TUNAFISH!” They giggled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">And they never again went to the door of 311 Walnut again. Especially not when they started seeing TWO figures moving in the window!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQ5WloLVOy45tGdkvqziL64MXbeGVIYmmczVVBDBCRfooonqbsk2PU79apjSwhl76LT4OxsBF0xY0kBmaVEByYZQiMrPlQXJ4vbaznSgiit1U41sxKxGQSMkSc6Dtu95z2I1GZJFfB6Q/s400/Group.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534422941508734338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px; " /></span></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#996633;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></p></div>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-74873046316648326962010-10-29T17:57:00.005-04:002010-10-29T18:11:29.928-04:00Halloween Edition with Guest Spooks!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhyJp8s9LFauonOZoYbkAvPz0IUVp0wDYh-DBiTA1Hw8e44AvS9BKgsWmCzNvvl_YjifhQ6yHNhsMgOwtXhLLuhbosy-Unta43hcK-c1xJJqFbpy_eW9svuKkEFZ4Z7MsQjtwPGyPzYY/s1600/Pumpkin.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 398px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhyJp8s9LFauonOZoYbkAvPz0IUVp0wDYh-DBiTA1Hw8e44AvS9BKgsWmCzNvvl_YjifhQ6yHNhsMgOwtXhLLuhbosy-Unta43hcK-c1xJJqFbpy_eW9svuKkEFZ4Z7MsQjtwPGyPzYY/s400/Pumpkin.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533592771833166274" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />Halloween Sunday.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yes, that is the day. Screeching and howling-quite grueling I'd say! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you have the courage, take it from me. Stop </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">by our blog, spooktacular fun it will be!</span></div>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-7158462589599486162010-10-24T23:43:00.009-04:002010-10-25T02:31:48.309-04:00“The Wind in My Fur…Er…Hair”<span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> 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mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Banana and Cheese were in the backyard, enjoying the early autumn weather.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“Oof,” exclaimed Cheese, as he reached…way…up…the tree.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“I’ve almost got…that…BZZZZZ…bug…rats!”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">He flopped down.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“Stop it, Cheese,” scolded Banana, “you’re disturbing my nap…er…bird watching!”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Just then, the quiet was interrupted by a “Vroom, vroom,” and the purr of an engine; it was faint at first, and then grew louder.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“CD!!!”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Both cats jumped up and ran with great delight through the house and to the front door, which was opened just for their viewing pleasure.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">A final “Vroom”, and then the motorcycle was silent.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">CD, pulling off her helmet, strode up to the door.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixt2VKDWxdKWMcILxnhLcMYrQTV1aBN6LvuWb1ivL8VnXkyqAgJgqvSKkmox_QG0E1ENvXbwSA7e24cMLj7qmkOpWnDzQf72_w2CxU-Zwm1fbx08iSJg24STagTJjXMDfG6ln7K8K2qfk/s1600/CD_Banana_Cheese.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixt2VKDWxdKWMcILxnhLcMYrQTV1aBN6LvuWb1ivL8VnXkyqAgJgqvSKkmox_QG0E1ENvXbwSA7e24cMLj7qmkOpWnDzQf72_w2CxU-Zwm1fbx08iSJg24STagTJjXMDfG6ln7K8K2qfk/s400/CD_Banana_Cheese.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531824976396299410" border="0" /></a>“Hey Cats!”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">CD bent down and scritched each head.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">The cats, who loved getting some of that CD attention, begged for more scritches.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">CD patiently patted and scratched ears some more….and some more.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“So Cats, I’m off on a great adventure tomorrow!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">I’m going to ride my motorcycle as far west as I can!”<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The cats, who didn’t know directions or distance, but could sense that CD was excited about something, looked up at her.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">They were fascinated by her words, but at the same time, were distracted by her cool boots; they smelled so good.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Sniff…sniff…was CD seeing another cat?!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“Aw…you two don’t even look like you’ll miss me.”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">CD was hurt, but at the same time was pleased that the cats were showing an interest in her black boots.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“Well, <i style="">I’ll</i> miss <i style="">you</i> <i style="">guys</i>!”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span 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mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“Whoa!<span style=""> </span>Stop so I can strap this on, Banana! “ CD laughed.<span style=""> </span>“Ok, let’s go, girl!”<span style=""> </span>She picked up Banana, and carried her out to the motorcycle. "Hold on tight, Banana!"<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjDoiT-xojYzuvEsZCDUQNE_E8PDfx4toYuBPgPrzH2xrxLe_dBO9Ht04DcWeFdN3agKeoXtzW2DpNhaWj2YApqgmHy9A7sm0VqkOg4Czw-LVNfbf0kWf8FAoHIdS67Cu40-2MCUtRhM/s1600/Banana_Motorcycle.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjDoiT-xojYzuvEsZCDUQNE_E8PDfx4toYuBPgPrzH2xrxLe_dBO9Ht04DcWeFdN3agKeoXtzW2DpNhaWj2YApqgmHy9A7sm0VqkOg4Czw-LVNfbf0kWf8FAoHIdS67Cu40-2MCUtRhM/s400/Banana_Motorcycle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531825390646186786" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“Vroom, vroom.”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">CD started the noise machine (as Cheese lovingly called it), and the two buddies were off for one more ride around the block.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“Wow!” Banana shouted when they returned 5 minutes later.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“That was fun!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Cheese, you should take a ride too!”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“No thank you,” snorted Cheese, trying to act like he didn’t care when really his legs were shaking at the thought of sitting on that machine.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“That helmet would mess my fur.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“But it’s a great way to catch bugs---see!”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Banana smiled and Cheese looked with envy at the gnat on Banana’s front tooth.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“Well Cats, I’ve got to go.”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">CD looked and sounded sad.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“I am off on my adventure, but I’ll be back in a couple of months.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Don’t worry—I will write to you…I mean draw to you…all the time.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Karen and Gale hugged CD, and watched and waved as she rode her shiny red motorcycle down the street and out of sight.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79ZT6nOKBaVIRdXt1ChNjvHSZrRzm7CnGDn6ksX4LNfmnEOpouJlKniVM8wdUtKpN3pmqOxxV6C-Y5rke0ALuklADGvaOxwFPK0VZDzR8htot3J40tWPEUoBAdLIkkmgROqxUot9WaUo/s1600/Postcard1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79ZT6nOKBaVIRdXt1ChNjvHSZrRzm7CnGDn6ksX4LNfmnEOpouJlKniVM8wdUtKpN3pmqOxxV6C-Y5rke0ALuklADGvaOxwFPK0VZDzR8htot3J40tWPEUoBAdLIkkmgROqxUot9WaUo/s400/Postcard1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531847432284056530" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;">One month later, a postcard arrived.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">The cats smelled CD on the paper, so they pushed in for a look.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“It says here that CD has found some new friends to ride with!”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Gale glanced up from her reading.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“Isn’t that great, Banana?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Banana just looked horrified.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">CD…found…a…new…cat?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-71736952263884140372010-10-11T17:10:00.018-04:002010-10-25T02:44:51.080-04:00The Imposter<span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} 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priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">“This is Rakel Madmouse, CNN (Cat Network News), reporting on another dumped dumpster, <u>very</u> <u>near</u> the spot of the last dumpster dumping.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrerUcswUsspeypNAPxtaGqcLniPGi7hLZz0oXNwfjg4OWeq02L7E1EbzSZDbofmRJnhnXUQsd5oCVy1YZG0If8GbK9_CNQ6rvlrfxWsJGd0iy2smPPw1BxesL3RE5uKEXq3DWvDwsec/s1600/Dog_Cat.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrerUcswUsspeypNAPxtaGqcLniPGi7hLZz0oXNwfjg4OWeq02L7E1EbzSZDbofmRJnhnXUQsd5oCVy1YZG0If8GbK9_CNQ6rvlrfxWsJGd0iy2smPPw1BxesL3RE5uKEXq3DWvDwsec/s400/Dog_Cat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526906805191401218" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Security camera footage shows an entirely different dumper, but police suspect this one may be working with the other two…..”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBfJLxORUIr533dLfohg_pZisKzMzlJjK6Hbe2Ek1GSb94qsSUyuA1xf2FVRPJ9U3k-3iYLeWitu9Kg4IpfVlYLSGQ6PD1iAXoo-0WSlTaOnarzlzZOhNtgibUUTw9AhJ1_ojPxXRpYc/s1600/Bandids2lr.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBfJLxORUIr533dLfohg_pZisKzMzlJjK6Hbe2Ek1GSb94qsSUyuA1xf2FVRPJ9U3k-3iYLeWitu9Kg4IpfVlYLSGQ6PD1iAXoo-0WSlTaOnarzlzZOhNtgibUUTw9AhJ1_ojPxXRpYc/s400/Bandids2lr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531869507943714354" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;">"Rats! Someone has robbed our loot!" Banana screeched! " Come on Cheese, we better get home before our people wake up."<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4Ommv_MNx8c4s6TKg-SyHzIO6IeXqO9U_ZjsPUV03OHEU0wS4Ua-0D6AjJXc_n402s_ylQGcH1SvkN9fnizyX8nDD0Q51FscSDRkOEK9yP6YvXohfwsamF4eJwYPE3JyOhNTtNxTcmQ/s1600/Banana+Throwing+Food+Back.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4Ommv_MNx8c4s6TKg-SyHzIO6IeXqO9U_ZjsPUV03OHEU0wS4Ua-0D6AjJXc_n402s_ylQGcH1SvkN9fnizyX8nDD0Q51FscSDRkOEK9yP6YvXohfwsamF4eJwYPE3JyOhNTtNxTcmQ/s400/Banana+Throwing+Food+Back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526960352638595362" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;">“That imposter!”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Banana sputtered, as she threw a piece of c</span><span style="font-size:130%;">at foo</span><span style="font-size:130%;">d at the televis</span><span style="font-size:130%;">ion</span><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“How dare she?</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">That…that…<i style="">DOG</i>!”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Well,” Cheese carefully began.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“It <u>was</u> a good idea.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">“BUT IT’S A DOG!!!”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Banana shouted.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">[Dear reader, we humans just don’t understand quite how insulting this new situation is to our feline friends.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">I can only guess that it’s as embarrassing as showing up on Halloween dressed in the exact same costume as your arch enemy.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Now THAT would be annoying!]</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-70059332978241417422010-10-02T16:26:00.008-04:002010-10-25T02:57:08.526-04:00Be On The Lookout<span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQRYXyxUnlSVdqMirQ5jpaq8Faf2ag2tPSJ08kkK3qqUhlRhrhQTyEO-AxIL6jSrqfPckQatyXhT9KK8GQ2-BvbBzfkRn0HA_WdZE3AEkWOMi5HqPLNWn3W0JHdOr3hvhUeOphcLwtYg/s1600/trash.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 370px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQRYXyxUnlSVdqMirQ5jpaq8Faf2ag2tPSJ08kkK3qqUhlRhrhQTyEO-AxIL6jSrqfPckQatyXhT9KK8GQ2-BvbBzfkRn0HA_WdZE3AEkWOMi5HqPLNWn3W0JHdOr3hvhUeOphcLwtYg/s400/trash.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523555342780211282" border="0" /></a>Reporting: Rakel Madmouse, CNN (Cat Network News)<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br />October 2, 2010 4:31 p.m. EST<br /><br /><br />At approximately 2:30 a.m., two bandits rummaged through several trash cans and dumpsters leaving behind a destructive mess. The two suspects were caught on a security camera and are shown here. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these hooligans can be posted here.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-12068657880099934562010-09-27T16:59:00.006-04:002010-09-27T17:07:04.797-04:00Live Web Cam Feed<div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4:59 P.M. est. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span>Apparently Banana and Cheese have found the cookie jar. Interesting. We always thought that Cheese was the innocent one. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVIXby5ISNqVfhmIWOmJHLDLVUp77z-g5K5e4-_Vm04hv0r5QhdRb47SBwBI5nrc9Cs2hUCex5sc-9wkvqIaAnScyep2OkPb0NZBlK4gySyQjZkjQOhJHaBlvJ1bs3rjP8I1hQoZwj8g/s1600/Cookies.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 315px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVIXby5ISNqVfhmIWOmJHLDLVUp77z-g5K5e4-_Vm04hv0r5QhdRb47SBwBI5nrc9Cs2hUCex5sc-9wkvqIaAnScyep2OkPb0NZBlK4gySyQjZkjQOhJHaBlvJ1bs3rjP8I1hQoZwj8g/s400/Cookies.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521701501625836498" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8252448757293691639.post-58460521385880380772010-09-16T17:53:00.005-04:002010-09-27T23:19:50.387-04:00As The Door Closed...<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Karen and Gale loaded their suitcases into the car, gave each cat one more pat on the head, one more stroke of the back, and closed the door behind them.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Banana jumped up on the window ledge and looked outside.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“They’re gone!</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You know what this means!”</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Yeah,” Cheese responded, “it means you’re going to rush right out and eat all the food they’ve left and we won’t have any more until our other friend arrives to feed us.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It MEANS I’LL STARVE!!”</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“No, no, no…well maybe yes,” Banana looked doubtful.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">She shook her head, “NO!</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You don’t realize what this means, do you?”</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cheese wandered down the hall, his voice trailing back, “I wonder if they remembered to leave 2 cups of water for us? I don't think I can make it until our friend comes to give us fresh water later today. I'm so thirsty! Ack! Cough!</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Do you think they might…maybe…might…have left a faucet runn</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">ing?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; "><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyD2DHuPZ5OVE-Yq7twjGkbEKgZNY3T-aN3Nly4IzX33j5GB5m8FIVZhwSWbIbdZocVYnncsS150y9YU8dTxMJPJSm4ucN-2ZiABx5q01KlK0p8WSr9WmjGyRzhYAI2zIynfVt4cfa38/s400/Banana_Tackling_Cheese1.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 315px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521608703929725234" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"ARGHHHH!”</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The annoyed Banana went running, as fast as she could, down the hall at Cheese, and knocked him over.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“It means we can find that little black box, push the buttons until the television comes on, and then we can watch whatever we want!”</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Banana was panting, but Cheese couldn’t tell if she was excited or just out of breath from running.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">After Banana had a little snack and Cheese had a little drink from both of the cups left in the bathroom, the cats went into the living room, found the little black box, and started pushing buttons.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Pushing Button Number 6 caused the television to come on, and Banana put a little special lick on that button, so they could remember to push it again if they heard their other friend co</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">ming in the door to feed them.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; "><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The cats loved the Discovery Channel, so pushed more buttons until it came on the screen.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">After 37 hours of watching, they decided to push some more buttons.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">During the time Karen and Gale were gone, the cats slept, ate, looked at Twitch through the window…oh wait!</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">CD has already told you all this!</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But, she didn’t know (remember the special lick on the button?) that the cats also watched some cartoons (not enough cats), some soap operas (boring), some game shows (the excited people and all the yelling made Cheese nervous), some reruns of “Mister Rogers Neighborhood” (Cheese loved his voice; it was just so calm!), and after 2 full days of the Food Channel (Banana sat down on the little black box and Cheese could not push her off), the cats decided </span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQcDXErciMygpeGY4wplnzijbt4qN0mWspxk-VaO3PY8Xx8CkVz8lTKKK1BOF08iXO6xmlmBdbD0K-XpTlRn3ybuAFyCNLEbhWHDXf324KbHXFqeZ-o0aw0I3r0ngpyluGyQZ5vux9Ek/s400/The+Cat+In+The+Hat.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 315px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521609285509980162" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">to watch some old movies.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“The Cat in the Hat” was silly—Banana and Cheese loved to see what would happen </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">next to the fish in the bowl.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; "><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” sounded scary, but the cats watched it anyway.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Humph!!!</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The cats decided this one was a stupid movie because it was not about a cat…at…all.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They love the Cheshire Cat in “Alice in Wonderland”—he was mellow, and mysterious, and could even disappear!</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Everything a cat should be.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But by far, “That Darn Cat!” was their favorite—finally!</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A movie with a cat as the star!!!!</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">All in all, the cats are glad their people have come home.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Banana missed her daily chats with Karen, and still has not been able to tell her all the details about the tips for cooking turkey that she picked up on the Food Channel—Banana talks, but Karen keeps going to sleep and misses the best part.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cheese is just happy that everyone is where they are supposed to be.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And that special lick on the black box means the cats can still watch anything they want during the day.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But recently….Gale noticed something.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Hey!” she shouted.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Are you really taping ‘Man vs. Wild’ every night, Karen?!”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Banana and Cheesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937105513131338207noreply@blogger.com3