"My husband said it was him or the cat. I miss him sometimes." Anonymous

Sorry I've been blog-absent for a month. Writer's block.

I'm skipping a few days and re-starting with Day 12: A picture of something you love.

This was not easy. I love a lot of things.

Yes, I do! I really, really do!  I know it comes as a shocker that the church worker with a black heart would love anything but I do, I do, I do!  OK, well, I love things as much as I'm capable of loving things, how about that?

So, not to offend my family or friends, but I had to take a little different route.  I love these two little creatures.

Elvis

Chica

I've had Chica for 9 years. She's 11 now. Elvis is 13, and he never lets her forget that he's the oldest. Chica never lets him forget that she was here first. It's a great battle that occurs at least once a week. I think they just like to see me get my fat ass off the couch and chase them around to make them stop fighting. 

They're both very different cats, but I've been blessed with "good" cats. They're not snobs. They're not anti-social. They're cuddly and loving and Elvis actually acts more like a dog than a cat. Except when he's throwing up hairballs-- then he's all cat. 

Odd things about them? Well, you probably know from reading this blog. Elvis drags my clothes to his food dish. If not clothes, then used kleenex. If not used kleenex, then anything else he can get his teeth on.  I've had to hide my clothes, keep my bedroom door closed when I'm not home, throw my kleenex in the toilet, and just, in general, keep everything away from him.  He likes to sleep in the darkest corners he can find and in the summer, he likes to sleep against a wall....winter, under the covers. I've actually worried about him suffocating under there. Elvis loves to sprawl on his back with all of his paws spread out.  I think it's cooling to him...or he's being really submissive.  Elvis loves his hairball treatment gel (which he eats), though it doesn't seem to be doing any good.  He meows a lot when I've been gone all day.

Chica is the most loving cat I've ever encountered. She is most certainly not a "watch-cat". If anyone broke into my apartment, she'd greet them by winding through their legs, trying to get them to pet her.  She's the jealous one. She wants attention 24-7 and if Elvis is getting any, he'd better look out.  Chica has one squished pupil but seems to see fine. She's fat. She's got dandruff and she likes pulling her fur out (isn't that called trichotillomania?).  She loves to be outside on the balcony watching the squirrles, the birds, the bats. She actually caught a bat for me once...How lovely!  Her favorite treat is Fancy Feast. She learned that if she came inside from the balcony when I called her, she'd get 1/2 a can.  Now she expects it all the time and I'm always disappointed in myself when I don't have any for her. For some reason, she seems to think the only time I pay attention to her is when I'm on the toilet.  Yes, it's weird. I live alone. I don't close the door when I go pee. That'd just be weirder. Who am I keeping out?  And now she's taken to sleeping in front of the toilet. I've really got to start paying more attention to her outside of the bathroom so I can break her of this habit.  It's just too odd. 

There you have it-- Something I love the most. I will be completely crushed when one or both of them pass away.  There will be a funeral and flowers. Dad will preside and play his harmonica to Amazing Grace. We'll have a potluck luncheon afterward. You'll all be expected to attend.