the next big thing

Another award!  Yoo-hoo!  YOO-HOO!!!  Oohhh...  this is so exciting...

A couple of weeks ago, I made a new friend.  His name is Jet and he's a dog.  He's a jet-black dog.  Bet that's how he got his name and all.  Anywho...  my new friend Jet has a blog called Hey... It's Jet Here.  I think that's a really neat name for a blog and the blog itself is super-duper neat, too.  You've just gotta check it out.

Jet bestowed a great honour upon me.  He gave me The Next Big Thing award and I didn't have it yet so, as you can imagine, I was pretty darn tootin' excited.  Jet says that Nerissa's Life could be the next big thing and I sure do hope he's right.  From readin' his blog, I can tell he's a very smart dog so there's a real possibility that he is right and all.

In accepting this award, I need to nominate five other blogs that I think are amazing and could be the next big thing in some way or another.  This was really hard.  My preliminary list had about twenty-five blogs on it.  Maybe even more.  Unfortunately, I had to narrow the list down.  MOUSES!  I'm hopin' that eventually, everyone to whom I wanted to pass along this award will receive it from someone and receive it soon 'cause they all deserve it.  Yes sirree they do.

And the nominees are...  Drum roll please.

Jacob at The Cats Forever Daily.  This is a pretty new blog, I think, and although it's all about cats, it's written by a peep.  Jacob passes along really useful information about caring for cats whether they be your own cats or cats who need help in some way or another.  He provides lots of contact information for when you know of a rescue that's lookin' for a home for one of our four-footed friends.  He's really gettin' the word out 'bout these cats who need aid and that's so very, very important.  This blog is helping save cats' lives.

Texas at Texas, a Cat in New York.  Texas is a pretty neat guy.  I think it's neat that he lives in New York 'cause I live in New Scotland although we call it Nova Scotia.  Means the same thing though.  Must be different livin' in a city like New York.  I can live vicariously as a city cat when readin' Texas' blog.  Love that!

Basil at Basil the Bionic Cat's Blog.  I met Basil a while ago through his mom.  Yeah, I met his peep before I met him.  Basil is really into psychology and whatnot and that interests me, too, so I find his blog super-duper interesting.  I think you will, too.

Marley, Ayla & Iza at Mark's Mews.  These three cats get into stuff like every cat should get into stuff.  There's a little sibling rivalry at times but hey...  what's life without a little sibling rivalry?  It's fun to do and even more fun to read about! 

William at William of Mass Destruction.  William has been blogging for eight years.  Yeah...  that's what I said.  EIGHT YEARS!  Wow!  I think that's amazing.  Lots of cats out there aren't even eight years old.  I'm only nine myself although I will be ten this spring.  William brings eight years of experience to the blogging table so you know his posts are gonna be great.


I sure do hope you all visit all of the blogs I've nominated.  It will be well worth it.  I PROMISE!

But I'll tell ya who won't be getting The Next Big Thing award from me and that's the peep.  You might have heard 'bout this.  Peep #1 has her own blog now.  Nothin' much to talk about, really.  The stuff she's putting on there isn't even new stuff.  It's old stuff.  Stuff from before.  Stuff that has been previously published and whatnot.  She says she might do up some new stories for it but we'll see...  I'm still waitin' to read that novel of hers. 

I really don't think The Peep's Cheeps is worthy of bein' nominated for this award 'cause firstly, like I said, the stuff is all old.  Secondly, the peep really needs to face the fact that I'm the writer of this family...  not her.  I mean...  sure, she's useful when it comes to filling in as my typist when my paws get tired or proof-reading my stuff and whatnot.  But she can also be a bit of a pain in the tail when it comes to the proof-reading business.  She's always criticising me when I make up my own words.  Somebody has to make up new words, right?  Why not me?  And you should hear her go on and on and on 'bout when I start sentences with "and" and "but."  But I told her point blank that I do that 'cause my readers like the colloquial style of my writing.  Then I had to explain what colloquial meant to her.  MOUSES! 

Anywho...  the peep's new blog is called The Peep's Cheeps.  Pretty silly name, huh?  Yeah...  I thought so too but she seems to like it.  The woman has no taste.  You can always check it out if you like.  I've provided you with the link.  But there's no way...  no way on Earth or any other planet out there...  not even on Pluto and that's not even a planet anymore..  that I'm nominating her for this beautiful The Next Big Thing award.  No way at all.

Ooh...  I almost forgot!  This is my last post for the year.  That's right...  the year 2012 is almost over.  Just a couple days left.  It has been a real thrill, hasn't it?  I'll see you all on January 2nd but in the meantime...

                                                            HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

boxing day

Today is Boxing Day...  a day to celebrate the wonderful invention that is the box.  Okay, I know...  you might have thought it was about some other stuff.  Live and learn, my friends.  Live and learn.

I've been hearing 'bout Boxing Day sales for weeks now.  Biggest sales of the year and whatnot.  Funny thing is, all the stores here in Nova Scotia are closed today.  They must have held those Boxing Day sales on some other day, huh?  That's kind of weird, I think, but you know...  peeps are known for their propensity to do weirdness.  It's in their nature, I think.

My two marmalade brothers had a bit of a Boxing Day celebration themselves, this morning.  They celebrated with a little kitty boxing.  They both wanted to play with one of our new toys at the same time.  Peep #1 was pretty quick to break that up.  What a spoils sport.  I had a bet placed on that fight.  Yup...  I bet my sister Mason two Treat Temptations that it would be the peep #2 who would break up the fight.  MOUSES!

History tells us that Boxing Day was a day when servants were given gifts - probably packaged in boxes - from their superiors.  Hmmm...  was I supposed to give my peeps gifts?  We cats already gave them stuff yesterday for Christmas.  Just how many gifts do the staff expect?  Also, traditionally, household staff were given Boxing Day off to be with their own families since they had worked on Christmas Day.  Well...  my household staff are my peeps and they are my family so I guess they don't need today off.  Good thing, too, 'cause we cats have really never mastered the art of opening tins.  Bagged food we can do but not the tins.  I should make learnin' how to open tins my New Year's resolution or something.

But the real wonder of Boxing Day is, of course, the box itself.  It's the most wonderful invention.  Right up there with sliced bread and the wheel and whatnot.  Actually, the box is a better invention than sliced bread 'cause we cats don't eat the stuff.  As bread has no immediate relevance to us, it can't possibly be as important as the box.  The relative importance of the wheel is still under consideration.

Boxes come in all shapes and sizes.  It's true.  While most people think they're all squares and rectangles, I can tell you they're not.  I have personally experienced boxes that are circular and triangular and even weirder ones with five and six sides.  I'm not into these newfangled shaped boxes myself.  I'll leave that for the younger kitties out there who are willing to experiment with new things although I might be willing to give a circular one a go.  Peeps say these are for holdin' hats but I think that maybe...  just maybe...  they might really be for nappin' cats.

You can find big boxes, little boxes and in-between sized boxes.  A good size is one that fits a kitty snugly.  In fact, the perfect sized box is a snuggery.  Too big and you can't feel the walls of the box wrapped around you so there's really not much point to bein' in the box in the first place.  Too little and...  well...  you just can't fit.  Nothin' worse than a bit of you hangin' out of your box.

Boxes serve all sorts of purposes.  Boxes are great for playing in and when you get tired playin' in them, you can curl up in there and have a little nap.  It's dual purpose, you know?  Gotta love that.  You can hide in them, too.  Especially if the box has a top that opens and shuts.  Those are great boxes.  With a paw, you can flip open the lid and hop right in there before the lid comes down again.  There, you're well hidden for the purpose of napping in peace.  When the nap is over, you just push open the box with the top of your head and climb out.  Excellent!

A box fit for playing and napping is a gift in of itself but there is also a special kind of box called a gift box.  These are the boxes Santa brings on Christmas, usually filled with tins of Fancy Feast and whatnot.  The peeps appear to have access to gift boxes, too, as they gave us a really nice one this year filled with some pretty neat toys.  These gift boxes are usually too small for napping or playing in but there are usually wonderful things inside them so the size fault can be overlooked.  There are also boxes that just appear to come with the gift.  We got one toy from the peeps that came in a box.  It wasn't pretty like a gift box and so had to be wrapped with paper.   It's too small to get inside so it's not that kind of box, either.   Apparently, all it did was hold the toy.  But it's a good toy so the box is still worthwhile as a box, I should think.  In fact, that was the very same toy that Seville and Rushton were havin' the boxing match over, this morning.  Hmmm...  a box that promotes boxing.  Interesting...

Oh, and a discussion of boxes must include the importance of the litter box.  Yes, the litter box is what differentiates us cats from dogs...  indoor plumbing!  A remarkable invention, appreciated especially when it is cold or wet or cold and wet outdoors.

So there you have it my friends...  the real meaning of Boxing Day.  Do you think I should add these perhaps previously unknown facts to the Wikipedia?  Peeps out there might wanna know, you know.  You know...  know the real meaning of Boxing Day and whatnot.

elfin welfin

You all know 'bout the big guy in the bright red suit, right?  That would be Santa Claus.  And you all know how he has elves, right?  Well,what you might not know is this...  Most of those elves live up at the North Pole but there are a few livin' elsewhere.  They're just part-time elves, really.  It's called out-sourcing, I believe.

Anywho...  my peeps have been elfin' for Santa.  That's right...  my peeps.  Could you believe it?  Happens every year 'round this time.  The closer we get to December 25th, the more frantic the elfin' becomes.  And it has been pretty frantic, 'round here, as of late.  I can attest to that!  Luckily for us cats, the elfin' has appeared to have settled down a bit.

I'm sure the number one question on your minds is, "just what is this elfin' business?"  I can explain. 

As you know, I'm kinda into the nip.  Nip toys are the best toys ever!  Nip mice, nip fish, nip biff bags...  they're all good.  Long as they contain nip, I'm a happy cat.  The rest of my fur-family are also into the nip big time.  We're just a clowder of lushes, I guess...  when it comes to the nip.  But for lushes, we're kind of particular about our nip.  We like the organic stuff.  And it must be fresh.  Well...  dried really...  but freshly dried!  Apparently, the peep has a couple of nip sources, capable of supplying the good stuff.

Around this time of year, the North Pole elves are pretty busy building train sets and baby dolls and whatnot so, luckily for Santa, he can hire my peep #1 to do a little part-time elfin'.  I don't think Santa pays her or anything for this elfin' work.  I think it's supposed to be an honour just to be asked, or something like that.  So, for the past couple of months, my peep #1 has been busy knitting up little toys that she then stuffs with the nip.  These are the very same toys, Santa will bring to us cats on Christmas Eve.  Neat, huh?  But wait...  it gets even better.

After the peep finishes her knittin' and stuffin' and whatnot, she puts all the toys in a big box.  Then she signals Santa that her elfin' work is done.  Believe it or not, I don't actually know the signal.  She has never told me.  It's top secret or somethin', I think.  Only elves know the secret signal.  But I have been doin' a little snoopin' and my peep has this red telephone tucked away in a closet.  I've never seen her use it.  I'm thinkin' that might be the direct line to Santa Claus.  Either him or the President of the United States.  One or the other, I am sure.

Once Santa gets the call, he sends a couple of flying reindeer over to our house.  The reindeer pick up the box of stuffed nip toys and head on back to the North Pole.  There, the toys are inspected by the Inspector Elves.  These are the elves in the upper echelons of the elf network.  They're in charge of quality control, of course.  My peep must be pretty good with her elfin' work 'cause she's never had any of her nip toys rejected.  Hmmm...  at least she's never told me 'bout that happening.  I'll have to just assume it hasn't.

Once inspected, the nip toys are sent along to the wrapping department at Elf Central.  Nip toys are always wrapped up in tissue paper.  That way, we cats can sniff out our prezzies on Christmas morning.  On each prezzie, a name is placed.  There are twelve of us cats so there are twelve prezzies in all.  Then they're put into Santa's sack for delivery on his big night.  The process sounds pretty simplistic but the peep tells me it's actually more complicated than that.  That's why Santa has to use his magic and all.  The magic makes everything work smoothly.  Plus, I think, the reindeer need it to fly.

Anywho...  the toys have been knitted and stuffed and the call to Santa was put in a couple of hours ago.  That means, the peeps' elfin' is done for another year.  The reindeer should be arriving any time now to pick up the box of toys and we cats can settle in and wait for Christmas morning when we can get into that nip!

I suggested to the peeps, now that the elfin' was done and all, that they might wanna put on a little show for us cats.  I suggested they might wanna do a little song and dance.  I was even willing to choreograph the elfin' dance for them.  You know the sort of thing....   Shimmy to the right...  elf, welf.  Shimmy to the left...  elf, welf.   Spin in a circle.  Do a little back-flip.  Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.  Jump up high.  Spin in mid-air.  Shake that booty.  Toss that pony tail.   Wiggle left.  Wiggle right.  Pas de chat.  Pas de chat.  Jazz paws!  Well, that suggestion didn't go over so well.  Peep #1 looked at me like I was crazy.  Peep #2 said I was.  MOUSES!  Apparently, elfin' peeps are even more temperamental than regular ol' peeps and you all know how temperamental regular ol' peeps can be. 

I'm sorry I don't have any pictures of the peeps doin' the elfin' welfin' dance...  since they refused to do it.  So...  in lieu of the dance - gosh it would have been great - I'll just have to wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS filled with love & cuddles and treats & nip.  Lots & lots of the nip! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! 

backwards agapanthus

The peep #1 has some plants in the sunroom.  They're a bit of a nuisance, really.  I mean...  the sunroom is full of sunpuddles and those plants seem to always be occupying the puddles of sun.  Sunpuddles are made for cats, I think...  not plants.  Those plants are intruding upon our territory.  But that is the making of another post for another day.

Anywho...  today's post is about the pot of agapanthus.  Don't know why the peep keeps it.  It has never bloomed.  Not once.  Not ever.  Not even a hint of a flower or a bud or anything.  And as of late, it has stopped growin' too.  Not only has it stopped growing, but the growing has kind of gone backwards or something.  Where there used to be lush foliage there are now just little stubs protruding from the soil.

When I initially discovered the backwards movement of the growth of the agapanthus, my first thought was, of course, TIME DISTORTIONS.  What else would I think?  As plants move forward in time, they grow.  So if their growth is backwards, they must be movin' backwards in time.  I don't believe plants have a reverse gear like a car or a truck so...  obviously...  we're talking 'bout time distortions.

I thought to myself...  who would know about such things?  Who...  who...  who?  With a click of the claws I had my answer.  The Doctor, that's who!  I tried phonin' him but there was a poor connection.  It got lost in space or something.

So it was up to me.  It was up to me, Nerissa the cat, to discover the source of the time distortions.

Immediately, I thought of my peep and her caterwauling.  She had been practising a lot for those two caterwauling concerts of hers and as the sound waves from her caterwauling moved through the time-space continuum, who knows what damage they could have caused.  They could have warped the very fabric of space for light years all around us.  Plus, everyone knows that plants and worms co-exist.  What about plants and worm holes?  Just what would happen if the caterwauling sound waves interacted with the holes left by worms?  MOUSES!  The very thought sent shivers down my spine.  And that's a lot of shivers 'cause we cats have a lot of spine 'cause...  you know...  we've got tails and all.

I knew I had to find the answer before the time-space continuum was damaged any further.  I put in a call to CBS thinkin' that that cat who disguises himself as Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory might be able to help.  He knows about space and time and whatnot, for sure.  He never got back to me.  Another call lost in space.  MOUSES!  You know...  I really need to check on my long distance service provider.

So my brother Seville and I got into the lower kitchen cabinets and found a few things we thought we could use.  There was an egg beater, a mixing bowl, a rolling pin and a couple of other things only the peep could recognize.  Actually, I'm not even sure that she could but we'll give her the benefit of the doubt since she bought 'em and all.  I figured we could maybe construct a time-space distortion meter-reader thingy.  If only I knew that guy named MacGyver.  He'd know how to make one for sure.  And he would probably need a whisker or two 'cause whiskers are so good at detectin' so I sent my sister Connie out on patrol.  I had her look on all the kitty condos and in all the cat beds for any stray whiskers that may have been left behind.

Anywho...  As Seville and I were dragging the egg beater into the sunroom, a beam of light appeared.  It shone through the window, illuminating the very spot where the pot of time distorted agapanthus sat.  The egg beater didn't even have a chance to start spinning and metering and doin' whatever meter-reader thingies do.  Seville and I immediately knew the source of the time distorting waves.  And believe it or not...  the peep was not involved...   this time.

There, in the pot of agapanthus, was our answer.  The shaft of light illuminated not only the backwards moving time distorted plants but also...  our brother Rushton.  Yes, there he was...  sound asleep...  curled up in the pot of agapanthus. 

Time came to screeching halt.  Then it started moving backwards in slow motion.  It was like the sunroom had been sucked into that shaft of light from the sun and drawn towards the heavenly body itself.  In the nick of time we escaped the pull of the gravity well - the well that surely was causin' all those puddles of sun - and came hurtling back towards earth.  I began to recall the many times I had seen my brother Rushton sleeping in that pot...  in that pot of agapanthus...  my brother who must weigh close to twenty pounds.  He's a big boy is Rushton.  A big boy with a lot of fur.  He takes up a lot of room in the pot.  Not much room left for agapanthus, I do suspect.

So I had my answer.  Obviously, Rushton had managed to create his own little gravity well.  That gravity well must have distorted the time waves within the pot of agapanthus, preventing the plants from growing and then sending them backwards in time. 

The good news is that the tears in space appear to have been confined to the one pot of agapanthus.  Thank goodness for that!  I'm thinkin' that those tears can be repaired with just a spool of thread and a needle.  I'll check with the peep.  She usually has some thread handy.  Wonder if the task will require any buttons.  Hmmm...  I like buttons.  They're fun to play with if you attach them to some twine and empty wooden spools.  I'll get the peep workin' on that right away.  Don't want the tear in space to rip any further into any more of the sunroom.  Might distort some of our sunpuddles or something and we simply can't have that, can we?

sticks and stones

As you know, I'm a Canadian kitty.  Many of us kitties, myself included, live in countries where we enjoy the right of free speech.  We get to pretty much say what we like, providin' it's not spreading hate or an out-an-out lie.  We're pretty lucky 'bout that.

But here's the thing...  just because we can say something, doesn't mean that we should.  Sure, there's lots of stuff we can say but we need to think twice before doin' so 'cause sometimes, that stuff just shouldn't be said.  We need to think about the words.  We need to ask ourselves questions like, are the words hurtful?  Are they distasteful?  We need to think about the consequences of saying those words.  Not just the consequences to ourselves but to others as well.   We need to temper our freedom of speech with kindness and wisdom.  We shouldn't just be spoutin' stuff off, like a mad garden hose out of control, all willy-nilly just 'cause the law says we can.  We're supposed to be smarter than that.

Peeps often say that words can't hurt us.  You all know how the saying goes...  Sticks and stones may break your bones but names will never hurt you.  MOUSES!  What a litter box load of poopies!  Words can hurt.  Words can maim the soul.  Words are not to be used unwisely.  Heads up all you peeps!  I've got a bit of biological knowledge to impart to you.  Your mouths are connected to your brains.  There's a reason for that.

So often peeps will say super-duper hurtful things and then hide behind the whole right to free speech thing.  And that's just what those peeps are doing, you know...  hiding.  And sometimes, other peeps will defend the ones doing the hurting 'cause...  you know...  the law says they have the right to do it.  At least, that's what they say....  Well my friends, it doesn't.  No where does any law say that you have the right to intentionally go around hurting others just 'cause you wanna. 

A while back, my peep encountered a couple of these defender-type peeps.  They figured it was okay for this other guy to say hurtful things 'bout a whole group of people 'cause he had the right to say it.  If peeps didn't wanna hear it, they shouldn't listen.  Uhhh...  excuse me...  I don't know 'bout you peeps out there but my cat ears don't come with an off switch.  You say it, I'm gonna hear it.  Whether I want to or not. 

My peep told me these two defender-type peeps were "a couple of ill-bred, ill-mannered young men who really weren't all that young anymore."  She said they "had the education to know about the right of free speech but lacked the intelligence to understand what that truly meant and the wisdom to know when and when not to exercise that right." 

Now, you might be thinkin' that I'm being mean by repeatin' what my peep said 'bout these two defender peeps.  Well...  three things.  Firstly, I figure that if these two ill-bred and ill-mannered not-so-young men can dish it out so freely and all, they had better be able to take a serving or two themselves.  Secondly, I'm a cat and everyone loves cats so we get to pretty much speak our minds no matter what.  Not to mention the fact that we cats are almost always right 'bout...  well...  everything.  And thirdly, when we cats complete our mission of world domination - and it's closer than you might think - no one is gonna be questioning what we cats can and cannot say.  It's gonna be a world with yes sir, no sir, three mouses full sir.   Or somethin' like that.  Oohhh...  a day to which to look forward, for sure.  I'm purring just thinkin' about it.

I'm gonna end this post by quoting the immortal words of Bambi's mom.  At least I think it was Bambi's mom who said it.  I had to ask the peep 'cause I never got to see the movie myself.  Gosh, I must have had a deprived kittenhood or something.  The peep, being as ancient as the hills and all, says it has been a really long time since she saw the movie herself but thinks it goes something like this...  If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all.   Boy-oh-boy...  Bambi's mom sure was a super-duper smart mom.  Smarter than a whole whack of peeps out there.  Don't you agree?

I could take him

I could take him.  I know I could.  If I wanted to...  that is.  He's just a little dog.  Bet he's smaller than me.  Plus, he doesn't have sharp claws...

I could take him but I won't.  Santa is coming in less than two weeks and I'm doin' my very best to be on my very best behaviour and whatnot.   Don't wanna miss out on any prezzies or anything.  But...  I bet I could convince my brother Seville to take him on.  Seville is always up for a challenge.

Besides, it's not like he doesn't deserve it or anything.  The dog, I mean.  The little dog.  He doesn't know it but I saw what he did.  I just happened to be lookin' out the window when he did it.  Nothing escapes my watchful eyes.

I was sitting on the kitty condo in the family room, waitin' for the crow show to begin.  There was movement over in the cutting garden which caught my eye.  That's not the stage for the crow show so I wasn't expectin' any movement from over there.  I narrowed my eyes and peered closer into the garden.  And just what did my prying eyes see?  They saw the new neighbours' dog in my garden.  Well, the peep thinks it's her garden but what is hers is mine so...  it's mine.

Yes, there he was.  There was the little dog.  Or he might be a she.  I don't actually know.  To be honest, I don't think I really care.  He has been in my garden before.  The peep saw him once.  She told me all about it.  And who knows how many times he has been in there when we haven't seen him.

Hmmm...  I thought.  Just what is that little yapper-snapper, whipper-snipper, whack-a-doodley-doo doin' in my garden?  My jaw dropped in amazement when I realized.  Not the good kind of amazement like I was amazed he could do what he was doing 'cause I already knew dogs can do what he was doing.  It was the bad kind of amazement 'cause I was just amazed that he would do such a thing in my garden.  He was liftin' a leg and peeing!  Yes...  he was peeing...  in MY garden.  Did I mention that?  On one of the rose bushes, I do believe.

Well, of all the nerve!  I don't go over to his garden to pee.  I use a litter box.  Boy-oh-boy...   MOUSES!

Then I thought to myself, this shouldn't really surprise me.  Nope, not one bit.  The dog just takes after his peeps. 

One day a few months back, when the weather was warmer, my peep #2 was upstairs in the bathroom and just happened to look out the bathroom window.  What did the peep see?  The peep saw a grown man comin' out the side door, step a few feet away from said door and let all loose.  That's right...  he peed...  outside...  MOUSES!  The very next day, my peep #1 pulled into the driveway and she saw the very same thing.  What is it with these neighbours?  Do they not have litter boxes?

And this neighbour peep didn't seem to care who saw him doin' what he was doing 'cause he was doin' it in full view of not only my peeps but the street, as well.  Anyone could have seen him.  Maybe they did.  Maybe he likes people seein' him.  Hmmm...  I wonder if the two RCMP officers livin' nearby have heard 'bout this.  I'm thinkin' grown peeps are not supposed to pee in public.  I'm just thinkin' they're not.  Dogs on the other hand...

Dogs pee in public all the time but I sure do wish that this particular one would do it in his own garden and not mine.  I suppose it's not indecent exposure when the dog does it but...  littering?  Could be.  I'll have to have a think on that one.  Maybe I'll ask one of those RCMP officers.  The one who is practically my neighbour.  She and I are pals, you know.

In the meantime, I'm gonna suggest to my brother Seville that he might wanna explain a thing or two to that neighbour dog.  Yeah...  explain...  a thing or two...  with a paw or two...  a couple of paws filled with claws...  sharp claws.  Don't worry, I'll put in a good word for Seville with Santa.  I'll explain to Santa how Seville was just defending our property and whatnot from you-know-what.  Santa will understand.  He'll probably know I put my brother up to it, anyway.  The big guy in red seems to know everything.  MOUSES!

feeling the love

I'm feeling the love and lovin' it!

Remember how I asked Santa for my final star for the Blog of the Year 2012 award?  It was just the other day when I asked.  Well, that Santa is speedy, speedy, speedy.  Speedier than a comet streakin' through the sky.  Actually, they move kinda slow from my perspective here on earth so that's probably a bad example.  Okay, speedier than a rocket ship hurtlin' through space on its way to the space station.  That's a better example!  And since the topic of the space station just happened to come up and all, if anyone out there knows any of the astronauts livin' up there, would you please ask them to read my blog?  I'm still looking for astronauts to read my blog from the space station.  Been a whole year and I'm STILL LOOKING!  I should have asked Santa for that.

'Nuff said.  Back to the love.

The moment Santa read my letter last Wednesday, he got right on the ol' ringer and rang up those wonderful seven blogging cats at Kwee Cats.  They answered Santa's call as speedily as he had made the call in the first place.  The next thing I knew, I had been awarded my sixth star.   Yes, SIX STARS!  You can count 'em all on the brand spankin' new award I'm posting on this post.  Beautiful, isn't it? 

But the love didn't stop there.  I don't know if Santa made multiple calls or what but I was gettin' stars from all over the place.  There were stars from here and stars from there and stars from pretty much everywhere.  It was like a beautiful starry night.  Perhaps a starry night being viewed from up on the space station.  Not that I would know...  'cause none of those astronauts up there have been reading my blog!  But I digress...

I've got some major, major thanks to give.  I don't have an award to show off that has more than six stars but I still want to thank each and every one of you who sent them.  If I've left anyone out, please forgive me.  There were just so many!  But more to the point, I asked the peep to take notes for me on this but...  well...  you know peeps.  You should see the chicken scratch I'm tryin' to work with here.  Did I say chicken scratch?  A chicken could better, I should think.  But what I do know is this...  I appreciate them all.  Yes sirree I do.  Every single one of those stars.  I love 'em all!

Okay, so let the thankin' begin.  Simba over at Simba's Antics sent me one and I love it.  Thank you Simba.  Speedy from Speedy the Cheeky House Bunny sent me another and I love it, too.  And his Royal Majesty King Spittola over at Spitty Speaks sent one and guess what?  I love that one as well.  And I mustn't forget those tabbies over at Trout Talkin' Tabbies 'cause they also sent me one and I love it as much as all of the rest.  Sure do hope I didn't leave anyone out.  If I did, really...  it's all the peep's fault!  I can practically guarantee it.

This is probably my last chance to pass the beautiful Blogger of the Year 2012 award on and there are five more blogs for which I'd really like to do so.  I wanna give the award to Maxwell, Faraday & Allie over at A Tonk's Tale...  err, Tail 'cause they have the best tweets and just in case we miss 'em on twitter, they put their favourites on their blog every week.  And I wanna give one to Sierra at Fur Everywhere.  Last I heard, this blog hadn't received the award yet and that's wrong...  just so wrong...  'cause it's a super-duper good blog.  The lads over at Felix and Jasper Blogalot will need one 'cause it's cold where they live and starry awards are warming.  And Patchy at The Five Cats Chronicles 'cause she makes super-duper great movies and posts them on her blog.  And, of course, my good pal Mario over at Mario's Meowsings 'cause he often uses his blog to get the word out when there are anipals in need and that's a great thing to do.

Now remember, there are rules attached to this award and you can find those rules at http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/  You've gotta check out this site.  Firstly, 'cause of those rules but secondly, 'cause it's an interestin' site and all.

And last but not least, I must give a special shout out to Nellie over at Cat from Hell 'cause she made me feel so super-duper loved when she made me a very special star.  Just look at how handsome she made me look in this picture.  I LOVE IT!  Thanks so much Nellie.

So, I think that's most of the lovin' I've been lovin' as of late.  I'm gonna give my peep #1 extra cuddles tonight, I think.  Make her feel loved and all, too.  Might even sit on her lap or something.  Maybe...  Or maybe I'll sit on the couch next to her.  Maybe...  Or maybe I'll sit in the family room with her or something.  We'll see what kind of mood I'm in when tonight arrives.  Yeah... that sounds like a plan.

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa...

Well ya big ol' guy in the red and white suit, it's that time of year again.   The time of year when I write my annual letter to you, letting you know what I would really appreciate the most, in the whole wide world, for Christmas.

Now let's get down to business.  Christmas would not be Christmas if there wasn't some nip under the tree.  Nip mice, nip fish, nip biff bags....  it's all good.  As long as the nip is fresh and, if at all possible, grown organically.  That's me doin' my part for the planet, you know...  asking for the organic nip.  And let's face it, the nip is pretty easily grown - apparently for anyone other than my peep - so I don't see why it shouldn't be organic.

We need to talk 'bout the numbers.  I consulted my sister Mason on this one 'cause she has those extra toes just made for calculatin' these complex calculations and whatnot.  Mason did what she always does for such complex work.  She takes all the numbers, puts them in a big ol' bag - kind of like your sack, Santa - stirs them up a bit with her tail and then crunches them with her butt.  Works every time.  Mason has calculated that we will need forty-seven nip-filled toys.  That's three toys each for the twelve of us cats, another three for the cat who came back in case he comes a-visiting, a couple for nosey neighbour cat 'cause he's bound to visit and then six spares.  The spares are necessary 'cause I've got a couple of fur-sibs who like to slobber all over everyone else's nip toys to make them unattractive to the other cats and hog them all for themselves.  I am not one of the cats who does this.  I am most definitely not.  Neither is Mason.

Anywho...  that's the business of the nip taken care of.  Some treats would be much appreciated.  You know our favourties, by now, I am sure.  And some tins of the Fancy Feast along with those fancy-shmancy trays of Whiskas would be most welcome under the tree as well.  Please make sure some of them are of the turkey variety just in case those ol' veggie peeps of mine forget to get us our own turkey since they'll be havin' something veggie for themselves.  We talked 'bout this a couple of years back, remember?  Of course you do.  You're Santa!

The next item is a pretty big one but it's not for me.  Really, it's not.  Santa, there are so many kitties out there in this big ol' world without homes.  Some of them are in shelters while others are livin' out on the streets.  Christmas is not a time to be livin' on the streets.  It just isn't.  I know that if anyone can find a few homes that will fit in your sack, it's you.  So Santa, I'm putting fourteen homes on my wish list.  Including nosey neighbour cat and the cat who came back, there are fourteen of us so...  so I thought...  I thought we could ask for fourteen homes.  Not for us - of course - but rather, for fourteen kitties out there who don't yet have homes.  And if all of my pals out there in the blogosphere and on twitter and FB would ask you for homes for homeless kitties, too...  well then...  we could get all those kitties the families they so desperately need.  What do you think?  Can you handle this request?  Of course you can.  You're Santa!

And last but not least, I need one more star to complete the set for my Blogger of the Year award for 2012.  The peep is sayin' I can't just take the one sittin' on top of the Christmas tree.  Pretty nervy peep, huh?  See what I have to deal with all year?  Gosh you sure are lucky that you don't have to keep track of her naughtiness now that she's all ancient and whatnot.  What a list you'd have.  There isn't enough paper in the whole wide world to keep track of naughtiness like hers.  Anywho, if you could arrange for one more star for my award, it sure would be appreciated.

So that's all from me, Santa, for this year.  Hope you're havin' a good day up at the North Pole.  Remember to wear your extra-warm woollies under your suit on chilly days.  You've gotta stay healthy for your big night later this month, you know.

Love & purrs,
Nissy


If no one minds, I'm just gonna take a moment to send out a whole bunch of extra-special thank yous to Sherlock, Traveler & Ash at Feline Purr-spective, Nellie at the Cat from Hell, the whole gang at Katnip Lounge and Speedy at Speedy the Cheeky House Bunny for all sending me my second thru fifth stars.  They're all real stars, themselves, you know.  Super stars, I should think.  You should check out their blogs.  Enjoyment at its finest.

And I'm gonna pass the Blog of the Year award along to just a couple more pals 'cause they, too, are super-duper stars and also deserve this special starry award.  I'm givin' one to Simba over at Simba's Antics 'cause he gets into the antics, all right.  And Katie from GLOGIRLY 'cause her blog is such incredible fun as are her movies and now...  there's Waffles Too who is gonna add tonnes and tonnes of even more fun.  And then there are those cats at Trout Talkin' Tabbies who live in Trout Towne.  I simply love how they talk!  Must be a trouty thing, I think.  And last but not least, I'd like to send one to Speedy at Speedy the Cheeky House Bunny 'cause right now, his mom has been decoratin' up a storm and Speedy has been sharing pictures and it's all ever so beautiful. A real treat for the eyes.

Now remember everybody...   the Blog of the Year has rules and ya gotta follow them, okay?  You need to visit http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/  There, you'll find all sorts of interesting stuff including the rules for the award!  Also, that's where you'll pick up the appropriate badge for your blog.  You know...   the one with the correct number of stars.  Congratulations to all!

finally!

FINALLY!  I was beginning to worry, you know.  Beginning to think no one loved me or my blog anymore.  And I was feeling super-duper left out.  Left out of the bling.  And you do know that bling is my middle name, right?  Have I not mentioned that?  Well...  it is 'cause...  I LOVE THE BLING!

Anywho...   the good - no, GREAT, news is that my three pals over at Feline Purr-spective gave me the lovely, stupendous and beautiful Blogger of the Year award.  Oohhh...  I'm so happy.  So very thrilled.  So honoured.  Thank you Sherlock, Traveler & Ash.  I shall cherish it always.

Of course, there are some rules involved with this Blogger of the Year award and we recipients aren't supposed to change 'em or anything so I'm gonna do just what Sherlock, Traveler & Ash did and provide you with a link for the rules.  It's best that way, I think.  Then I won't accidentally screw anything up or anything.  Okay?  Now, here's the link...  http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/  It's a pretty neat place to visit and whatnot so you'll wanna check it out, for sure.  Also, there's stuff at this link 'bout the stars you can collect if given the award more than once.  A must read.  Absolutely!

Now here comes the fun part.  I get to pass along the Blog of the Year award for 2012 to other bloggers.  There were so many from whom to choose...  What to do...  What to do...  I finally managed to narrow it down to seven.  Here goes...

- Sherlock, Traveler & Ash at Feline Purr-spective
  It's a great blog and this way, they'll collect another star.
- Savannah at Savannah's Paw Tracks
  Love the interviews she does with other rescued kitties.  So
  very interestin'.
- the peep at God's Little People
  This peep does incredible work with ferals in Greece.  She
  saves so many!
- Herman at It's a Wonderpurr Life
  My BFF does amazing interviews of our pals on twitter and
  now, his sister is gettin' in on the act too.  Cooking wif Gidget is fantastic!
- Sammy at onespoiledcat
  Think my pal here might need one more star to complete his collection.  Plus, everyone loves
  his Tuesday Teasers.  He's practically famous for them.
- Callie & Sassy at Troublin' Times
  Oohhh...  the stories they tell.  Amazing!
- Nellie at Cat from Hell
  Nellie has her fair share of adventures, too.  Great Stuff!


And just when you thought the award ceremonies were over, you find out they're not!  You see...  way back in November or something...  I was given the Seven Things About Me award not once, not twice but three times.  You know what they say...  Third time's the charm!  So yes, I am finally accepting this lovely award officially. 

I was given this beautiful award by none other than Sammy over at the world-famous blog, onespoiledcat.  He writes a great blog, enjoyed by many.  Then Speedy from Speedy the Cheeky House Bunny gave me the award.  That's right!  Speedy is a blogging bunny.  Neat, huh?  And my pals Sherlock, Traveler & Ash from Feline Purr-spective gave me this one, too.  They're such thoughtful kitties, you know.  All three of these blogs are WONDERFUL and really, if you haven't read them yet, you should.  You won't be disappointed.  I promise.

For this award, I need to tell you seven things about myself so here they are..

- I am a boy kitty with a girls' name.  Not my fault.  All the peep's fault, of course.
- Tobias likes me to licka-da-top-o-her-head but I'm not too fond of doing that anymore.  I could get
  fur balls, you know.
- Since seeing my sister Mason enjoying the cuddles, I am beginning to allow peep #1 to cuddle me
  in her arms more.  In fact, the other night, I fell asleep there.  So did the peep's arm!  hehehe...
- I never lie on my back, exposin' my tummy...  even though it's a super-duper cute tummy.
- I make the peep work hard for every single picture she gets of me.  She gets lots of pictures of the
  top of my head and the back of my back, I think.  hehehe...
- I will NOT eat trout or duck.  Yucky, yucky, yucky...  so NOT for my tummy.
- Even though there are twelve of us cats (not including nosey neighbour cat and the cat who came
  back), I am one of only four cats allowed in my office unattended.  Firstly, it's MY office where I
  write MY blog so I have to get in there.  But secondly, I'm a good kitty - unlike the other eight (or
  ten) - who might do naughty things if left in there without the watchful eye of a peep.

And now I get to pass this award on to seven more bloggers.  So...  the winners are...

- Felix & Jasper at Felix and Jasper Blogalot
- Patchy Meow at The Five Cats Chronicles
- Trouble & Mischief at DeccaCats
- the crew at Colehouse Cats
- Molly at Doggymolly's Blog
- Pernille at My Little Cat World
- Moe & Mindy at Team Tabby



And last but certainly not least...  there's one more award.  It's the Family of Bloggers award and it's for any and every blogger out there that's part of this wonderful blogging community.  So if you don't already have it, grab it!  Stick it on your blog and count yourself a part of the Blogosphere family!  At least, that's what I did.