School's Back and More

 Since my last post, all the schools in Australia have commenced the 2021 school year.  That was a real whirlwind of surprises, stress, emotion and craziness.  All of that was before the students even arrived!  

I can't get into details - for several reasons including the fact that I don't want to - so let's just say that things have not quite settled down yet.  If only! Most of my students are lovely.  Most! 

In addition to all the stress of school starting, Shelly had to have surgery on Wednesday to remove a lesion on her back.  The lesion had been there for more than a year and she was not responding to any treatment.  The vet wanted to take a biopsy, and figured it would be worth removing the whole thing, considering the trauma of general anesthetic.  10 stitches and more than $500 later, she came home and was really dopey. 

Fast forward to very early Thursday morning, and we are taking Shelly to the All Night Animal Hospital, because she has managed to pull out two of her stitches and has shortness of breath.  Needless to say, I was late for school and dropped another $200 on that little adventure.  Shelly now has an "E-Collar", 

  

If she didn't hate me on Wednesday, she certainly hated me on Thursday.  

That is only a fraction of the excitement over the past few weeks and to be frank, it's all I can manage.  Can we just all agree to lay low for a few weeks?  No drama at school, no family crises, no vet visits allowed.  I'm getting my groceries delivered so I don't have to leave the house except to go to work! 

In other news, the Doctor thinks this is a good time to reduce my medication.  He's an optimist, I will give him that. 

On a more positive note.... My streak of exercising every single day this year is still going!  Things could be so much worse. 

Until Next Time

Got to be Kitten Me Right Meow

Meowm is doing a terrible job of keeping up around here lately, so I decided to pounce in!

Here are some photos of me...

I'm sooo beautiful!

Okay, hoomans, you're done... see ya later.

Kitties... I know you're out there.  The rest of this post is for you! Meow, meow meeeow... No I'm not translating for the humans.

I want to tell you about the meowst pawsome puurrblication for cats!    It's called Pussweek and it's meowgic!  In fact, I just supuurrvised while Meowm ordered issue #5.  It's FUR kitties BY kitties.

You gotta check it out. Right Meow! www.pussweekmag.com

Just in case you need more convincing.  There are some very important issues that are covered in this magazine including types of litter, scratching posts, the addictive propawties of catnip and that's just issue one!  There are stories from real life everyday cats and the latest issue has some tuna-tastic articles about famous cats around the world.

Of course, I know there are some of you hoomans still reading this... because you silly pawple just can't follow directions.  If you are, now you know what to get your kitties for Christmas!  There are some great gift packs available in the Puss Week store, just in time for Cat Prezzie day.

While you're there, you can check out the other meowchandise available.  There are posters, collar pins, stickers and more.  These are just a few of my favourite collar pins that you can buy in the store.

Now, click on one of the links and get shopping.  

Go on! 

Meow!

Shelly's 10 Answers..

This week we are continuing with our 10 Questions Series.  We are featuring the 10 Questions made famous by James Lipton at the end of each Inside the Actor's Studio Episode.  This week you will read Shelly's answers to those 10 questions!

What is your favourite word?
Tuna

What is your least favourite word?
Bath

What turns you on?
Tuna

What turns you off?
Not having any Tuna

What is your favourite curse word?
gggrrrMeeooowwwoooowwww!!
Trust me, it is Cat for something really, really bad!!

What sound or noise do you love?
Mum's voice.

What sound or noise do you hate?
The bus that brings all those rowdy kids.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Tuna Taste Tester

What profession would you not like to do?
Childcare worker or Teacher... Mum does that and it looks really hard! Plus you would have to be around kids all the time and I don't like kids at all!

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
The humans up here are already trained and we have tuna for dinner every night!  

4 Valentines Gifts for Your Cat!

Hi Everyone,
Shelly here!

I'm going to share with all you humans in the blogosphere some very good advice for pleasing your kitty this Valentines Day.  Even if you don't tell your friends, I know that you buy the cat in your life at least one gift for Valentines Day.  I  know this, because Mum gets me a Valentines Day present.  She does this because she loves me.  If you love your kitty, you have to get him or her a gift.  It's in the manual.  Down to business then...

1. A cuddle buddy...
Mum made this very cute little cuddle buddy for me in January.  She is so clever!  Check out how she did it here. 

2. TUNA!  I love Tuna.  I don't know any cats  who don't love tuna.  If you know one, you are special.  If your cat prefers chicken, then get them chicken.  Find out what your cat loves... I'm sure you already know. Your kitty's favourite treat will make your kitty's day and isn't that what it's all about?!  It should be!

3. A tunnel.
I have four tunnels and I could use another one... did you get that Mum? I love playing in my tunnels.  I also love it when Mum hides treats in the tunnels for me to find and the best thing is when she gets all four of my tunnels out and makes a sort of playground for me by putting them in different places around the house.  She gets out a bunch of my other toys for me to chase through the tunnels and catch.  That's better than a day at Dreamworld!  

4. A brand new Cat Tree!
Mum ordered it just after Christmas and it's finally here!  My new cat tree has 5 floors including the ground floor.  They are all joined together by sisal rope poles.  There are pots of cat grass on my tree too and they move between the floors all by themselves.  Treats and toys appear on the tree too.  After we have a cuddle (me and Mum), she puts me on the third floor and I play with the toys and eat the cat grass and then lie down and chill out.  It's great. 


You might think I'm a spoiled cat.  I say, that I'm a cat who knows she is loved!  Everything at our house is exactly as it should be.  I have a tree all of my own and Mum spends a lot of time doing things just for me!


Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

Love Shelly

Shelly the Succinct

MeowM,
I refer you to a question from your recent letter.

"Weren't we lucky that the BFF took us to the vet?"

No.

Love Shelly

A Letter from Shelly

Dear Mum,
Where are Grandma and Grandpa?
They were here and they left... like usual... although the house was really really tidy... I don't think I've ever seen it this tidy.  You came home.

They have been gone for days and days... I know Grandpa goes away for days and days sometimes.  I miss him and I'm really rather annoyed when he comes home and wants us to act like he never left.  I have a long memory.  I know he leaves without saying goodbye.

Mum, they have been gone for over a week!!  You are not the easiest human to live with, you know, it is nice to have a different human to play with sometimes. I keep picking up on the scent of other people... Aunty the BFF and that GUY that you seem to snuggle with a lot... they've been here.  There was an invasion of children.  Again! Why do you even open the door for them? But, Grandma and Grandpa still haven't come home.

What's with that??

GASP!! OMGGM... MUM?
Did Grandma and Grandpa get sent to the Vet??
Did they get .... (whispers) put to sleep?  Gasp!

I know they bugged you, Mum.  Everyone knows that I didn't appreciate the way Grandpa relocates me (with a cuddle) - talk about inconvenient.  But we had them trained fairly well.  They know how much food I like to eat and they can open the door.  They were pretty good value the last couple of months when you were off with that GUY.  They can be entertaining when they try to play with me.  I miss Grandpa!!

I miss Grandpa and I even miss Grandma and her squawking.  She is really loud, but it has been way too quiet lately.

When are they coming home, Mum?  When?

Love Shelly

Shelly's 6 Words

EAT

Sleep 

 PLAY

and 

Be Meowy! 

Greatness From Shelly

Dear Human Mum, 

Thanks for all the toys, you get me from the shop, 

But, my favourite toy is a clear and plastic bottle top.  

I'm glad that I can call you "Meouwm" and you brought me to live in your house. Your bed is really comfortable.  The brown leather-look cube that sits in the corner is a great place to perch or flop on. The box with the cushion that you put in the wardrobe is okay, but I prefer to sleep in higher places. Under your bed is a great place to hide and that blanket with the puppies that drapes over your chair, is warm and soft. It's not only great for curling up on at night, but the way it hangs down makes it a perfect hiding place!  I can crawl under your chair and hide behind the quilt without you even knowing.  Your house is great!! 


It isn't just the furniture and the boxes and the suit cases and the clothes that you let me play with - it's like a kitty cat playground - but you do an excellent job of looking after me.  I can go poops in a litter tray in the house and play outside.  Sometimes, I get so hungry that I think my tummy is going to shrivel up into a raisin, but you are getting better at feeding me before that happens.  It isn't that hard you know, Meowm - my hungry song is loud and long and ends with a nip or two.  I know you're only a human, but surely that isn't too hard to decipher.  

I do love you Meowm! You're soft and squishy and get excited by the cutest things.  I mean, it's a piece of string for goodness sake.  But if that keeps you occupied and stops you from wanting to pick me up and carry me around the house like a teddy bear, I can handle that.  I can play along with that game.  But the ribbons... you can give me ribbons whenever you like!!! 
Anyway, it's time to go outside and roll in the grass before bed time. 
Love ya Meowm! 
Tag, you're it.