Meezer Mom

Please keep MeezerMommy in your thoughts. Yesterday she got some bad news when she was released from her job. Sammy and Miles are keeping close watch over her, but I am sure a kind word would be greatly appreciated, please drop by over at MeezerTails.

Boo Gets Her Groove On

Boo





Boo was feeling good lying in one of her favorite spots, a warm dryer. Amazing enough peace reigned supreme with Boo on the dryer and Abby on the washer napping on some clean clothes I might add. What is it about clean clothes that immediately attracts a cat? It was just good to see them getting along for a change.

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Let the kitties draw your attraction to this week's edition of the Friday Ark and don't forget to visit Pet Garden who is hosting this Sunday's Carnival of the Cats. All aboard!

Secret Paws

If Abby had a tail it would be a quiverin'!
She's arching her little back anxiously awaiting what goodies are inside her prezzie!
Ooooo Momma it smells soooo good!
Momma it's even better on the inside!
Joyous poodin roll....
Roll...
Roll....
Roll in the blankie!!
OK Jinx I will share it wif you!

FANKS TO DK! Abby loved her Secret Paws.

The Tail of Two Tuxedos

Boo & Abby




Boo has been with us more than a year longer than Abby. But, Abby has taken up resident status as Queen of all that she sees. I admit I spoil her, but it is hard to resist because she is so devoted. That devotion comes at a cost to poor Boo. Boo our gentle dainty little lady. Boo is a piece of Dresden china. She is such sweet passive girl. Abby on the other hand is a total dynamo. Just call her T-N-T. As cantankerous as she can be to the other cats, she is a total bundle of love to me. But, when Boo, Abby and I are in the same room we are in for some explosions. Last night when I spoke to Boo, Abby complained. So you can imagine the reaction I got when I went to pet her. Poor Boo, she is such a peace loving kitty, she won’t even fight back. She will either flee Abby or crouch down submissively. I do my best to referee, but sometimes it is best to let Boo take the lead and do whatever she must to keep the peace. Our Vet finally shed the true light on the problem for me, she said Abby is telling all the other cats that I am her property and she isn’t willing to share. I know this to be true, and since there isn’t a problem between the cats when I am not there I know that it is me that is the problem. Both girls want to be with me, and I find myself walking a tightrope when we all are in the same room. But, occasionally in the evening when both girls are still, I can have Boo at my side contently napping and Abby on my lap, solid in her comfort zone, and I am happy to have them together with peace all around.

Traditions

BOO

Our evening ritual consists of playing Mousie and Stick. Boo loves to chase the stick end of her feather toy when it is moving under the blankets. She got my fingers instead of the stick last night while we played. She also loves to run after the mouse, and she likes me to throw it up in the air and she will jump gracefully to ‘capture’ it. Once she has it, she is content to give it back to me so I can repeat this process over and over again. Last night she was still wound up so even though the lights went off she continued to play like a herd of wildebeests across the bed. She finally settled in and started her other nightly custom, which is doing the Monster Mash on her pillow. She must mash the blanket into the pillow with all four paws and she wants me to give her a good back scritch while she is doing it, and once she was satisfied herself that it is just purrfect, she will plop down, her little motor purring at full speed and curl up right next to me and finally fall asleep. She will not move throughout the night unless I do, but once awake she is ready to get up and have breakfast. Depending upon how early it is that either her or I wake or what day of the week it is, sometimes, well many times, I have to pick her up and let her out of the bedroom, so she can roam or nap in another part of the house for a few hours until it is time for breakfast. BOY do they know when it is time for breakfast! I felt real bad this morning because Abby got right under my feet (normally she is real good about watching where I am versus where she is) and I had just put my shoes on and Ping came by and knocked me off balance so I ended up pinching one of her little paws. She yelped so loud, but she was fine when I gave her cookies for a treat this morning. So all is well. I am sure as I type this that all 5 of them are back in their little nesting spots fast asleep.

Reflections

Yesterday afternoon I sat down to read a book I had purchased the day before. It is from the series called A Cup Of Comfort. The book contains a series of short stories that are written for inspiration purposes. This one story called "Joan's Lover" isn't about what you may think, but instead tells the tale of a woman who is losing her sight to a debilitating eye disorder. As she is losing her sight, she is also losing her independence and self confidence, until her husband introduces her to Lover. Lover somehow miraculous understands her self doubt and slowly and surely helps her to regain what her sight is making her lose. Lover you see is a horse that she grows to love and trust and who loves Joan in turn. Sadly to say, the story ends on a bittersweet note, because after 25 years the horse becomes ill and has to be put down. As I sat there in my chair reading, and weeping, I could not help but look down on my lap and see my little fur ball curled up tightly on my lap in her little blanket and completely understand Joan feelings of love and devotion. It's amazing how much difference a animal can make in your life.

Homecoming

One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home.

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Drop by and have a warm Fall visit over at Friday Ark and don't forget to stop by this weekend for latest edition of Carnival of the Cats being hosted this week by House of Chaos.

Oils

Yesterday I came home to find a BIG package waiting for me. Some time back I had seen on Home Shopping Channel where you could place an order for a portrait to be painted. I had been wanting to have one done of Abby, so after some consideration, I decided to go ahead and try this. Well the completed portrait came yesterday. I was so happy with the result. The pictures do not do it justice. If anyone is wanting to have something like this done, I highly recommend it. You would not be disappointed.
Abby and her likeness.

Sorry for the sheen on the portrait, but I have the picture that I sent and the painting together here.

Visitors

Abby : Last night we had some visitors come over because it was my DaddyBean birthday. Boo, Ping, Jinx and Gracie all went and hid while Grandma Bean and GranddadBean were here. I went and decided to visit with everyone. I sat right in the center of the room and watched. Then I decided I wanted to sit in GranddadBean's lap. He had a very nice lap and he petted me and made me go all sleepy. I watched Momma and she was happy that I was sitting in GranddadBean's lap. After awhile I got up and went over to Momma and got in her lap and watched some more. Finally Gracie decided to visit with GrandmaBean, but Boo, Ping and Jinx never did. I don't know why they was so afraid, both Grandma and Granddad are very good Beans, they had a woofie smell on them, so I knew that they liked animals.

I was happy to finally get back in our routine -- after Grandma and Granddad left -- I got to sit with Momma in the big chair and make bisquits and take a good long nap.

DaddyBean

We all want to send out best wishes to our Daddy Bean who is celebrating another bean purrday. He is about 8 in cat years. You are our favorite DaddyBean and we's love you LOTS!

*Abby, Boo, Jinx, Ping & Grace

Working 9 to 5

Jinx: I've been watching you two work all day but I ask you who is the smarter one, me or you?
Labors of our work.

What Do Your Cats Say About YOU?

Dear Mom,

I hate to tell you this but do you think you could do something about breathe in the mornings? IT nearly makes me faint.

Fank you.

Love Abby

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Thanks Abby for your concern...and please check out all the other thoughtful furry creatures over at Friday's Ark and don't forget to stop by this weekend and visit Justin Random Thoughts.

Play "Stick"

Boo
This is one of Boo's favorite games. She loves playing stick. She not that interested in the feathers at the other end, although she will play chase the feather across the bed. But her favorite thing is for me to put the stick part of the toy under the covers and where ever it makes an indention she pounces on it or chases after it as it is pulled across the covered blanket. She loves to put the bitey on it. Boo will play this game for hours if I am willing participatant. It makes her so happy, so it's hard to stop.

What is your cat's favorite game to play?

Shape of A Manx

From the left....

Now from the right...Miss Abby takes a stand.

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She's a small cat but with very muscular back legs. From looking at other Manxies it is the normal shape of the breed. Abby has a special gait that I call her 'big cat walk' another Manx Bean called it a "bulldog walk", and in many ways that really captures the essence. When Abby is doing her "big cat walk" she is on a mission and nothing will deter her. Even if I intervene, once I put her back down, she will go right back to whatever her original purpose was. She has a one track mind when she intents to convey a message, especially if it to one of the other cats. She is also not content to just let the chips lie where they may. If one of the other cats has slighted her, she will make it a point to put them in their place, and until she has done so, she is not content. Once she has made her point, she will strut her stuff once again with that "big cat walk".

She rules the house and she knows it.

*****

Attention Getters

Hello Abby...Abby... Abbbb...bbbyyyyy... Well there you are.

How easy is it for you to get your cat's attention?

Honor, Learn, Remember

DURRELL "BRONKO" PEARSALL
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This remembrance on 9/11 honors those who were killed, those who survived, the rescuers who came from near and far and all who were changed forever on September 11,2001. It encompasses the now-sacred soil where the World Trade Towers once stood, capturing and preserving forever the place and events that changed our world.
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Tragic events such as the assassination of JKF, the bombing of the Alfred P Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, or the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, burn searing reminders of past tragedies. 9/11 will forever be linked with each of these tragic disasters.
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Today marks the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, I hope everyone today will stop and remember. I hope everyone today will remember the 2,996 fallen Americans who lost their lives. They were Mothers, Fathers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters and friends. Each one of them left home that fateful morning, and none of them returned. Remember, too, the loved ones of these fallen victims, for they cruelly suffer the heartbreaking loss of their dear loved ones.

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9/11 started out as any other day for the firefighters of Rescue Co. #4. At 8:47 AM an emergency call went out for all firefighters and emergency responders across the boroughs, Durrell “Bronko” Pearsall and his fellow firefighters responded to that fateful emergency call. Moments before a hijacked plane; American Flight 11 with 92 people aboard including 9 flight attendants and 2 pilots slammed into the North Tower at 490 mph crippling the 110 story structure. Then just barely 15 minutes later at 9:03 AM a second hijacked plane; United Flight 175 with 65 people aboard including 7 flight attendants and 2 pilots crashed into the South Tower at 590 mph and exploded. The entire city was stunned, not knowing, not understanding what had just happened. At 9:59AM the crippled South Tower fell. It took only 56 minutes after being struck for it to begin its final descent to ground zero. Not nearly time enough to evacuate all the people from the building including Durrell Pearsall and the remaining rescue personnel that responded to the emergency call. It only took 10 seconds after the Tower imploded for the total collapse with thousands of people still trapped inside. 10 seconds of utter horror for those inside the South Tower. Complete pandemonium broke out above ground. Less than 30 minutes later at 10:28 AM the North Tower collapsed and the city, the country and the world knew we had just suffered a coordinated terrorist attack on our soil.

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Durrell entered one of the Towers doing the job he loved. He did not know that he would become one of the fallen; one of the thousands of innocent people that Al-Qaeda attacked and killed that day.

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Today marks the 5th anniversary of 9/11 and I ask you to join me in this remembrance of the life of Durrell “Bronko” Pearsall.

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Durrell Valentine Pearsall Jr. was a FDNY firefighter with Rescue Co #4 in Woodside, Queens. He was 6’2” and 285 pounds. He was a large man with a big heart. In 2001 Durrell was only 34 years old.
As a child, Durrell grew up playing on fire trucks in Hempstead NY as the only son of a Durrell Pearsall Sr., a 57 year member of that fire department. His Mother, Carmela nicknamed him “Bronko” after the 1930’s football hero Bronko Nagurski. He graduated with a bachelor of science in physical education from Long Island University in Brookville, New York in 1992 believing he would become a gym teacher. He coached junior varsity sports in New Hyde Park for a year prior to joining the city fire department, all the while serving in the Hempstead volunteer fire department.

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Durrell was Irish and Durrell loved music.
He celebrated his Irish heritage along with his love of music a by playing the snare drum in the Emerald Society Pipe Band, you can imagine what a stand-out performer he must have been at St. Patrick’s Day Parades. More than just a music lover, performing was what called to Durrell, whether it was playing the snare drums or just jokes on his friends. Even though he was a prankster, his friends thought him to be more like Gentle Ben than the Joker.
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He had a great love of football. He had participated in football throughout his life ultimately playing offensive tackle for his alma mater. His love of football transcended to following the Notre Dame Games each weekend. It was with great joy that in 1999 he was able to go to visit South Bend and see his beloved “Fighting Irish” play in person.

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He was so believable himself as a football player that in 1999 he was cast in a national TV commercial that had him on the training table munching away on “Tostitos” as he sat rocking with Bill Parcells, who was then the football head coach of the New York Jets.

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Whether he was playing football with his fellow firefighters, or playing the snare drum in the Emerald Society Pipe Band, or simply playing practical jokes on his friends, Durrell had a larger than life persona. His friends described him as a gentle giant and I easily imagine that when this tall, large, Irish New Yorker came into a room that he lit it up with his larger than life persona. You may get the impression that, because of his varied interests, the snare drum, football playing and watching, acting, and on and on, that Durrell was not a serious man.

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Nothing could be further from the truth.

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He was a decorated firefighter who received two medals of valor, one for pulling a woman out of a burning apartment window and another for crawling under a car to free a trapped child.

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As you can see, Durrell was larger than life. But as large as he was, he was no match for the circumstance he faced on September, the eleventh, two thousand, and one.

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It took 6 weeks for authorities to find his body and Durrell was then laid to rest November 8, 2001 in St. Patrick’s Cathedral with a prized Notre Dame uniform by his side.

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He was honored posthumously by President Bush in a ceremony at the White House September 9, 2005 with receipt of the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor.

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Please help me today in remembering Durrell.
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This memorial is part of a project started at 2,996, please take a moment and view all the other memorials for those lost on September 11, 2001.

Look Into My Eyes

The eyes of a fierce tigress..... Nope it's only Miss Abby's close up!

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It's that time of the week for all the other animals close ups which is boarding at Friday's Ark. Don't forget to drop by this weekend over at Begin Each Day for another edition of The Carnival of the Cats.

Boo's Bed

This is Boo's bed.

Over the past holiday weekend I was hopingto sleep in past my normal wake up time of 3.45am. Boo sleeps curled up next to me throughout the night. But, she always wakes up prior to when I have to get up, so to give me a little more sleep I always have to get up and let her out of the room at night. Since my husband had to work over Labor Day he let Boo back into the bedroom. Well immediately she woke me up because she wanted breakfast. So, I got up and fed the hungry tribe. Since she had been fed I thought she would settle back down for her morning nap. NOPE! She kept coming up to me every few minutes with a paw on my shoulder, her way of making sure I was awake. She did this repeatedly. So after several times of this I gave up and just got up early on my day to sleep in. Now what did she do? After I made the bed, she settled down for her morning nap. She just wanted me out of her bed!

Another Sunbeam

Abby found a new place to sunbath. There are nice sunbeams coming in the office window early in the morning. She settled in there with me while I was off a few days from work. She loves going into the office I suspect because it is a small room with only one entry. Normally she climbs up into my lap, but once she found the sun, she was quite content to sit and absorb the warm rays of light. After she got her sun worshipping over she hopped back up into my lap and fell fast asleep.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Hi Mom! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FAVORITE BEAN!