For Memorial Day in the US, and the Canadian Soldiers abroad

The Call

I heard the call upon the morn,
A clarion bell that woke me from my sleep.

On its toll I heard a voice say:
“You shall not turn nor look away from the pain and suffering of those who cannot hold against the forces of the world
For I am the voice of Freedom
And in my name you shall lift those who are fallen and oppressed.”

On the second toll, I heard a voice say:
“You shall stand in the fire of human misery
For I am the voice of Justice
And in my name, you will be a shield against those who care not what they take from the world.”

Upon the third toll, I heard another voice say:
“You shall stand with others to fight the darkness that would enslave men’s hearts
For I am the voice of Duty
And in my name, you will stand fast against the winds of doubt and fear.”

On the last toll, I heard a faint voice.
No words could be comprehended or understood.
It was a voice of loss and longing
That overshadowed all that came before.

And to this far off field,
I have answered the call of Freedom, Justice and Duty
To stand in defiance against the forces of injustice and oppression
And as my life bleeds away into this foreign soil
I hear again that final voice.

“Know me now, for I am the voice of Sacrifice
And in my name you have given up your life
To cast a light against the darkness that swallows all.
It was my call that you answered upon that morn.
To you, I sent the Others,
Not so that you would answer their call
But to understand why you answered mine.”

101st Post

Our Dad's away on something called Training, so Mom is trying to keep up with our needs. But we have so many, that we don't think she will be up to the task.

There have been some new developments that are very exciting...

The Stinky Goodness showed up! We are all very excited, but Mom said we can't have any until Dad gets home.

Dad told Magoo that he used his security clearance to find out if Edsel and him were in any trouble. The good news is that they are both in the clear, the bad news is that Kukka-Maria is not. There are some suspected incidents of her passing information to some Siamese cats.

Everyone posted things about birds that they have seen in their yard. We didn't have any pictures post, but we did see one bird on our neighbor's fence. Mom said it was a really big hawk or a falcon. Mom didn't know what type. She told Dad that she thought the wingspan was about three feet wide. Now we can't go outside! Mom says that hawks or falcons sometimes will snatch up little kittens and cats. She figures Magoo might be safe at 17 lbs, but Dolce at 6lbs would be a quick little snack. She told Dad all about this and he said Mister Tabby-Tom better be carefull or he might end up somebody's dinner to go.

And our Dad hadn't realized that his last post was his 100th. He thought it was quite exciting, us cats just shrugged our shoulders and went back to our naps.

Taking Pills Sucks

Mom and Dad were clipping my claws last week and during that indignity, Dad felt something on back of my rear leg. It was on my upper hind quarter. When they tried to see what it was, I really yelled at them. This made Mom and Dad really worried.

So Dad took me to the bad V-E-T to have it looked at. He would have gone to Magoo's V-E-T, but if it was serious and I need to be knocked out for them to help me, Dad didn't want to risk another reaction to the medication.

The problem turned out to be a large scab on my leg. There were actually two large scabs. You know what the V-E-T told my Dad...

She figures that one of my brothers or sisters must have bitten me. She asked if we cats roughhoused at all. I could have told her the answer was an unequivocal YES. Since I was still playing and jumping and running all over the house, she did not think that it was anything to worry about. But she gave my Dad some medication to help with any possible infection that might be present. She had the nerve to say that cat's teeth are very dirty. My response to her: "My teeth maybe dirty, but you dress funny. And would it kill you to do something with your hair?"

So like Shaggy, I have to take these stupid pills for a week. I'm almost done with them so I'm very happy. Mom says that I am the easiest cat she has ever had to give a pill too. Dad figures that I must have been a little sick, because after a week of taking the pills, I'm even more rambunctious than ever.

Oh No, You Didn't!

It was quite nice here on Saturday but the forecast was calling for rain. We decided to let Magoo out for a bit since he seems to be the only dependable one; the others seem to try and make a break for the neighbor's yard.

I was working in the basement when I heard my wife screaming at Magoo. Well not at Magoo, but in his general direction. Magoo's direction was currently in pursuit of the gentleman tabby who had come to visit again. From what my wife told me after all the growling and hissing, the Tabby had come to the back window again. He didn't notice that Magoo was outside as well. I don't think Magoo saw him either, since he was able to reach the back window unmolested.

It all ended with a very peeved and excited Magoo chasing the Tabby out of his yard. The Tabby may have thought the girls were cute and worth a look or two, but he wanted no part of their older brother. No fur was shed so the fight was over long before it began.

Magoo 4
Neighborhood Cats 0

We almost forgot...Bad, Bad Parents

There was much debate in our house as to when Smudge was actually born. We picked him up in the middle of July from the dreaded petstore. Because of his ill health hew very tiny. We thought he was only eight weeks old. The vet who saved him said that he was actually closer to twelve weeks. So I pegged his birthday at May 5.

Regardless of the day, I forgot about it. I can only hope Smudge forgives me. He's outside right now and really couldn't care less about my feelings of guilt. He runs across the yard like a madman. Its good to see he's not showing any of his eight years. We think his little sister is helping to keep him young. Little Sisters have that ability; just ask Brendan over at Caturday.

Why does this gentleman come for a visit?

We have been getting a visit from this very handsome tabby on regular basis. Given the quality of his coat and the healthy look of him, I'm pretty sure he has a home of his own.

But for some strange reason, he comes right up to our back door...

For the life of me, I can't figure out why...


Then my wife enlightened me...

It's because of the girls, stupid...


What right minded Tom, hoohaas or not, could resist these two little temptresses.

Another Furriend called Home

Norton (b.1988 - d.2006)


Another friend has left us. Although it was not unexpected or sudden, the loss is felt as strongly as though it was.

The Dance - (Garth Brooks)

Looking back on the memory of
the dance we shared, beneath the stars above.
For a moment all the world was right,
how was I to know that you'd ever say goodbye?
And now I'm glad I didn't know
the way it all would end, the way it all would go.
Our lives are better left to chance,
I could have missed the pain,
but I'd have had to miss the dance.
Holding you, I held everything,
for a moment, wasn't I the king?
If I'd only known how the king would fall
who's to say, you know I might have changed it all.
And now I'm glad I didn't know
the way it all would end, the way it all would go.
Our lives are better left to chance,
I could have missed the pain,
but I'd have had to miss the dance.

We Are The Champions

Edmonton "Super Underdog Extraordinaire" Oilers 4
Detriot "Somebody Clipped Our" Red Wings 3


Magoo does his funky hockey team winning gloating over his good buddy Edsel's misfortune happy dance...

Update: Now that Magoo has gotten his unsportscatlike gloating out of his system. He gives three cheers to the Detroit Red Wings who played really tough and made this series very exciting to watch.

William Always Has Great Ideas

William had a great comment on Edsel's blog. He said that in order to get more stinky goodness, Cats needed to think up more special days.

His suggestion was "We Didn't Eat A Bird Day"

These are Magoo and Smudge's suggestions:

"We Didn't Pee in Your **Insert Object Name** Day"
"No Broken Vases Day"
"Let You Go to Work Cat Fur Free Day"
"Random Acts of Hairball Barfing Day"


PS: The puck drops in just over an hour, Edsel. You better dust off that Oilers jersey.