Paws Raised for the Cure

Rocky here. My staff is a bunch of pawcrastinators! It's almost deadline time for Gaius the Cat's Raise a Paw Contest, but four of us have hurried to raise ALL our paws for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

We chose this organization because my human artists lost their mother to breast cancer in 2001, and now one of their dearest friends, Lois, is struggling with her third recurrence of metastasized breast cancer:

Lois & Sassy

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to their efforts, such as the Komen Race for the Cure, this fine organization has become the largest source of nonprofit funds in the world dedicated to the fight against breast cancer.

Paws raised for the CURE!

13 Reasons Cats are Good for you Humans

by Rocky

1) We purr at 25-130 Hertz per second, the same frequency known to heal bones and ease muscle pain. So when something hurts, you can make yourself a cat compress!

2) We have 32 muscles in each ear; humans have only 6. So it's much easier for a cat to lend a sympathetic ear than a human!

3) A dog's memory lasts about 5 minutes; a cat's memory can last 16 hours. So when you forget why you went into the other room, we can tell you!

4) We have 60,000 hairs per square inch on our backs and 120,000 hairs per square inch on our bellies. So you'll never have to buy us a HairClub membership!

5) A single pair of cats and their kittens can produce 420,000 kittens in 7 years. So you'll never have to buy us Viagra!

6) Our normal body temperature is 100-102 degrees. So you'll never have to buy a heating pad!

7) We can recognize our humans' footsteps from hundreds of feet away. So you'll always have somebody to greet you at the door!

8) We have 290 bones in our bodies; a human has only 206. So you'll always have some extra bones to pick!

9) Our dining experience depends more on our sense of smell than on our sense of taste, which isn't as good. So we'll always give compliments to the chef when you give us Stinky Goodness!

10) Studies have found that cats can lower a human's high blood pressure, boost their immune systems and recover more quickly after heart attacks. So cats will lower your medical bills!

11) Cats don't need to be walked several times a day like dogs; we exercise ourselves. So you can sit on the couch and eat bon-bons!

12) We have 30 vertebrae in our spines; humans have only 25. So you won't need to spend money on yoga lessons!

13) Petting a cat slows the human pulse and breathing frequency, creating a relaxed state just like that after deep meditation. So just give us some scritches and you'll stop being so CRAZY!

Tuckered Out Tuesday

Rocky: Yawwwnn ... It's only Tuesday, and we're already totally tuckered out over here. My human artist has worn me completely out ... going to the Rescue Farm with feral cats, going to the post office, going & coming, coming & going. All that door slamming is keeping me awake, so I've taken up residence on her coat to put the kibosh on that! I'm delegating to my staff the rest of the day ...

Fracas: Ahhhh .... Huh? What? Hee hee? Somebody talking to me or am I still dreaming? Oh, it's you, boss. Hey, Rocky, just because you're the CEO, it doesn't give you the right to interrupt my much-needed break. So shut up already, before I report you to the Department of CatLabor!

Callie: That's right, Mr. Bigpants CEO! Your Catministrative Assistant is curling up here on her desk, so you got a letter you want me to take? Well, you know where you can take it! Bring you a cup of nip? Nope!

Lucy: Oh poo on all of you! A spokesmodel must have her beauty sleep, so puhleeese be quiet, will you?!

Personalized CAT RULES

Rocky here. Everycat knows that training humans is hard work! Every cat household needs a set of Cat Rules to keep the humans in line. As a CEO, I'm constantly posting cat rules for the Artsy Catsy humans, so to make your life easier -- and to raise funds for Cat Friends Helping Friends and the Rescue Farm -- I'm offering framable, personalized Cat Rules for you to post at your house to show just who is the boss!

We have a unique set of rules for each letter in the alphabet. Here's how it works: match the first letter of a cat breed or cat name with the "A" Rules, "B" Rules etc. and we'll personalize them for you! For example, the "C" Rules could be customized for "The Cat", "The Cats" ,"The Calico", a cat's name that begins with "C" ... "Catzee" ... "Cheysuli" ... and so on ...

We'll personalize the Rules for humans, for dogs, other pets or anything you want! How about adding "The Patients" to the "P" Rules as a Christmas gift for your vet ... or maybe the "D" Rules that say "The Doctor"! Or the "M" Rules for "Mom"? The "D" Rules for "Dad"? The "G" Rules for Grandma? Or maybe just a human's name. There's just no end ... we'll personalize them any way you want!

Look through the samples below ... and let your imagination take flight!

(Ordering instructions at the bottom.)

"A" Rules:

"B" Rules: "C" Rules: "CH" Rules

"D" Rules:

"F " Rules: "G" Rules:
"K" Rules:
"L" Rules: "M" Rules: "P" Rules: "R" Rules: "S" Rules: "SH" Rules: "T" Rules:

Each 8 ½x11 Cat Rules is $3.99
(+$3.50 USD domestic shipping; $4.50 USD international; FREE shipping on 4 or more)

To order: Email Artsy Catsy and tell us:
1) The letter(s) of the Rules you’re ordering;
2) How you want them personalized;
3) Your mailing address;
4) Your payment method (PayPal, check, money order)

We’ll reply with our PayPal or mailing address; on international orders we’ll calculate your shipping cost … and we’ll send your Rules immediately!

All Cat Rules ©2007 Artsy Catsy

Love and healing purrs to Jeter, Mickey, and their beans

to help them through the loss of their beautiful Kallie,

who will always be loved and remembered.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glint on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning hush,

I am the swift, uplifting rush

of quiet birds in circling flight.

I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there. I do not sleep.

Stress Relief Saturday

While my human artist is busy creating new products to show you, I thought I'd chill out at the water cooler and catch up on some cat gossip. What's new, everycat?

While I'm here, I'd like to call your attention to proper water cooler technique .... First, it's important to make sure your company water cooler has a filter. Unfiltered tap water can damage your cat staff's health, leading to excessive employee absenteeism.

Second, for maximum efficiency, encourage your cat staff to combine water cooler breaks with shampoos ... think of it as "killing two birds with one paw." A simple dip of the head is all it takes. This will reap maximum productivity through effective time management, and the cold water will also snap your staff to attention.

Third, water cooler breaks are an excellent opportunity for one's cat staff to take a brief meditation break. The sound of running water relieves stress, and everyone knows that a stressed-out staff can adversely affect your bottom line.

And, in case you haven't noticed, stress can affect your human employees as well, often causing them to hiss and scratch and bite, especially during busy holiday seasons. If your human employees are too big to fit into your water cooler, I would advise that you direct them to this online water meditation at once!

SALE! Christmas Gifts for Cats & Dogs

10% of all proceeds will be donated to the the Cat Blogosphere's Cat Friends Helping Friends and 10% to the Rescue Farm

(Ordering instructions below)

Festive Food Bowls for Cats or Dogs
Fish-shaped or bone-shaped, sturdy ceramic, 4" x 8"
SALE! $8 each (was $10.99)
+ $3.50 shipping/handling per order

#CB-1 "Meowy Christmas" Only 18 left!

#DB-2 "Santa Paws" Only 3 available!
Christmas Collar Tags for Cats or Dogs
Engravable metal & enamel, 1 inch high, with non-jingling bell.
SALE! $4 each (was $5.99)
+ $2 shipping/handling per order

# T-1 "Jingle Cat" SOLD OUT!# T-2 "Have a Purr-fect Holiday" SOLD OUT!

# T-3 "Santa's Helper" Only 2 available! # T-4 "Christmas Princess" Only 2 available!
# T-5 "Ho Ho Ho" Only 3 available!

# T-6 "Santa I've Been Good" Only 2 available!# T-7 "Santa's Pet" Only 3 available!
# T-8 "Be Merry" Only 2 available!

# T-10 "Doggone Good" Only 1 available!

# T -11 "Cool Yule" Only 2 available!# T-12 "Ho Ho Ho" SOLD OUT!# T-13 "Holiday Hound" Only 1 available!
# T-14 "Jingle All The Way" SOLD OUT!# T-15 "Be Merry" Only 1 available!
# T-16 "Santa's Helper" Only 1 available!

To order, email Artsy Catsy and tell us:
1) The item #
2) Your payment method (PayPal, money order or check)
3) Your mailing address

We'll reply with payment instructions and, on international orders, we'll calculate your shipping costs.

Thank you for helping us help pets in need!

Thanksgiving Thirteen:

We're thankful ...
1) …that our human artist Sharolyn rescued Rocky at 1 day old and raised him by hand so he could start Artsy Catsy and boss everybody around.
2) …for all the kind, loving beans in the world who rescue our abandoned brothers and sisters.
3) … for computers & the Internet, so we can have friends all over the world.
4) … for Temptations and chicken baby food and grilled cheese sandwiches.
5) … for 98.6-degree warm humans to snuggle up with and stay warm.
6) … for Thomas Edison so we have warm light bulbs when the humans can’t snuggle.
7) … that nip hasn’t been declared an illegal substance.
8) … that our humans are artists so we can roll in paint and change colors.
9) … for birds and squirrels and bugs and lizards to entertain us.
10) … for each other -- even if we hiss & whap sometimes, we still love each other.
11) … that it’s almost that time of year when the humans bring a tree inside for us to climb.
12) … We’re even thankful for v.e.t.s because they help us live long lives.
13) … But most of all, we’re so thankful for all our purrfectly wonderful cat blogosphere friends -- you’re family to us!

COME BACK TONIGHT for the

Thanksgiving-Christmas fundraiser

for the Care4Cats Emergency Fund for Cat Blogosphere kitties

and the Rescue Farm

Wacky & Why Wednesday

Thanksgiving-Christmas fundraiser

for Cat Friends Helping Friends at the Cat Blogosphere

and the Rescue Farm
STARTS TOMORROW NIGHT!

Rocky here: I took our blog back from my human artist because she's totally WACKED out, racing around here so fast it makes my head spin! I'm going to tell you more about WHY we chose to help the Rescue Farm and show you some more of their photos ... while my artist cooks noodles & turkey & dressing & more food than even I could eat, takes pictures of our fundraiser products, creates more products, and drives an hour away to pick up the latest ferals she rescued after their hoohaectomies, then drives them to the Rescue Farm ... hey, don't forget to feed me!!

I had to put down my paw about these ferals; I could see from the look in my human's eyes that she wanted to hire them as staff, so I had to remind her of my corporate edict: No more staff! This is the mama of the last two litters of ferals my silly human rescued, and her last two kittens. No more staff from this mama feral! Here they are at the vet, terrified of humans. (Can't blame them.) But once they escape their police trap prison and see their new home on the 40-acre Rescue Farm and meet their new mom & dad Jodi and Matt, these kitties will be happy campers!
The fact that the Rescue Farm helps us take care of feral kitties in our city is only one of the reasons we want to help them. The fact that they give a good home to cats and dogs that are sick or injured or special-needs is another reason. That they've found loving homes so far this year for more than 700 cats & dogs is another. But a big reason is that they NEED help!

Jodi told my mom, "We all know people don't go into animal rescue for the money. We're a 501(c)(3) non-profit so donations are tax deductible, but not having "humane society" or "animal shelter" in our name makes it hard to get donations. Nearly all our income is from adoption fees. Money is always tight."

Each cat they rescue is spayed/neutered, vaccinated, wormed, flea-treated and tested for Felv/HIV -- costing $60. Their cat adoption fee is $60. And this doesn't include food, shelter, medications or surgeries.

Jodi says, "We love cats, and there are so many cats euthanized just because there isn't enough room for them in shelters. We'll never stop rescuing kitties, but we can't possibly recoup the money we spend on their care. We rely on dog adoptions to help pay for cat rescue." Each dog costs $100-$200 to prepare for adoption, and their dog adoption fees are $150-$400, which doesn't cover heartworm treatments or vet care for malnourished, ill, or dogs hit by cars, which Jodi sadly says is "thousands upon thousands."

Last year Jodi & Matt spent $120,000 to operate the Rescue Farm. They brought in $104,000. "Didn't quite make it," Jodi said.

But in spite of their financial struggles, I saw Jodi's face light up as she explained, "Don't get me wrong - we love doing rescue; it's something we'll never give up without a fight. Spending each day helping those who give unconditional love is the most amazing feeling in the world. Working with animals who, on their own, would never have survived, is an incredible gift! We try to make life for our babies "like home" here, but our goal is to find dedicated, compassionate adopters to give our animals a true home so we can bring in more whose 'clocks are ticking'."

I saw Jodi shake her head and lament,"You know, we, as a society, live in a throw-away world. We buy something, then when a newer one comes out, we toss the old and buy the new. We do this with computers and cell phones. We do this with cars and furniture and clothes. Why are we doing this with our pets? What kind of people would do this to their pets?"

And that's why I'm so glad my human artists are helping the Rescue Farm ... and why so many of you, my blogging friends, are joining us in helping them. I mean, it's "There but for the grace of God go I." If my mom hadn't rescued all of us when we were tossed out, I wouldn't be here today and neither would my staff. ... Hmm ... maybe I should rethink that "No more staff" policy ....

Update 8:30 p.m. ....

My human artist just got back from taking the fixed ferals (Fixed? They ain't broke!) to their new home at the Rescue Farm ... and she smells like a barnyard! I'm sitting here waiting for my dinner, and she was out there giving treats to the blind horse Jeremiah, and his seeing eye cow Two Percent. Just look at her making that silly awwwww face and feeding those things treats bigger than my head!!

And if that's not bad enough, this Rescue Farm resident, Alice, got in my human artist's Jeep and tried to come back to Artsy Catsy! I saaaid .... "NO MORE STAFF!!"

Two Percent Tuesday

Only 2 more days to the Artsy Catsy

Thanksgiving-Christmas fundraiser

for

Cat Friends Helping Friends at the Cat Blogosphere

and the Rescue Farm!

Today I'm going to let Jodi tell you in her own words how Jeremiah the horse, and his seeing eye cow, whose name is Two Percent, came to live with Jodi and Matt at the Rescue Farm ....

"In 2001, we heard about a rancher whose wonderful horse, Jeremiah, his companion and riding pal for 9 years, had gone blind from a vaccine reaction. The rancher said he wasn’t going to spend money for 20 more years on a horse that couldn’t “do anything in return.” So, of course, we took Jeremiah.

We doted on him, but he just seemed lonely. We thought it was our lucky day when the police called and asked if we could take a stray horse they found near the highway. She was skin and bone! We named her Lurlene and she and Jeremiah hit it right off. After 3 weeks of vet care, she was a different horse; she was playful and filling out nicely and so happy to be loved! But I woke up one day and went outside to find Lurlene, and a colt, lying dead beside Jeremiah. The vet said she’d been so ill and thin a month earlier, she’d probably already lost the colt, so with no heartbeat they didn’t discover she was pregnant.

The day we found her was Christmas Eve, and Matt & I were so devastated we stayed in like hermits for the whole holiday.

Jeremiah wasn’t himself after losing Lurlene, so we started looking for another horse that needed to be loved. Then came Cody, an 8-month-old male horse who was born with a twisted backbone, and his owners were ready to send him to “sale” (aka slaughter for meat.) We brought Cody to the Rescue Farm and fell in LOVE with him! He was so sweet and loved his treats and basking in the sun.

Because of his defective spine, sometimes he couldn’t get up from lying in the sun and Matt & I would have to get him back on his feet – it often took us hours. After a year, he started having more and more trouble until we were pulling him up every day. One day we tried for hours and hours, but Cody was just done fighting and he passed on. How we mourned our sweet Cody.

We tried and tried to find another special-needs horse, with no luck, and Jeremiah was so lonely. Then in late 2003 our vet called to tell us her neighbor had two newborn calves who needed to be bottle fed because their mother died giving birth. We brought one of them home and named her Two Percent because that was her milk choice.

Two Percent has grown up with Jeremiah and she doesn’t know she’s a cow – she thinks she’s a horse! He immediately fell in love with Two Percent, and she quickly started serving as his “seeing eye cow”! She leads Jeremiah wherever he wants to go, and if Two Percent is led away from him, Jeremiah just panics.

Ironically, we discovered that Two Percent is a hermaphrodite. That means she can’t give milk and can’t have offspring. Hermaphrodite cows, in ranchers’ eyes, can’t “do anything in return” and are killed. If they could see Two Percent with Jeremiah, they would realize what a precious gift she is giving in return for just being loved! And Matt & I have been blessed with two of the greatest big pets anyone could have!"

Only 3 more days to the Artsy Catsy

Thanksgiving-Christmas fundraiser

for

Cat Friends Helping Friends at the Cat Blogosphere

and the Rescue Farm!

Today, I want to tell you a bit more about the Rescue Farm and I think you'll understand why we at Artsy Catsy want to help them continue their work. Much of their rescue effort is directed at saving animals from shelters who are destined to be euthanized; many of them are sick or injured and considered not adoptable. Jodi and Matt's philosophy at the Rescue Farm is every animal is adoptable and deserves to live. If they're unable to find a home for a dog or cat, they keep it themselves and give it a loving home at the Rescue Farm.

Here are a few heartbreaking stories that, thanks to the Rescue Farm, had happy endings:

Kiefer ...
Kiefer is one of more than dozen cats with chlamydia that the Rescue Farm has saved from euthanization at "humane" shelters. Jodi explains, "In cats, this condition causes the eyeball to rupture and is common in cats who end up in shelters and have received no vaccinations. It isn't uncommon for us to have enucleation (removal of eyeballs) performed on kittens from shelters."

Tommy ...

Tommy was only 4 months old when he was brought to a shelter as a stray. The shelter was going to put him down because he was born blind and no one would adopt him. But Matt and Jodi took Tommy from the shelter and found him a home with a child bound to a wheelchair. Jodi says, "They're the best of friends!"

Norton ...

The police brought Norton to the Rescue Farm after he was beaten with a hammer and left to die. After dozens of veterinary visits and an eyeball removal, Norton was adopted and now has a loving home in Carmel, Indiana.


Herbie ...
Herbie was shot by someone, and then nearly euthanized at a shelter. But Matt and Jodi saved him at the last minute and got him the surgery he needed to survive.


Not all the animals at the Rescue Farm came there under such tragic circumstances ... but the fact that Matt and Jodi focus their efforts on such special-needs animals makes them, in my eyes, deserving of all the help they can get! You can see their perfectly healthy cats and dogs up for adoption on the Rescue Farm web site, at their PetFinder site, and at area PetSmart stores ... lots of sweeties like this one:

PiazzaPiazza was dumped at PetSmart one day, but Jodi says, "We couldn't bear the thought of her going to a traditional shelter. She's super cuddly and is great with other cats. She is about 1 year old and has been spayed, vaccinated, wormed, flea-treated and is Felv/FIV negative. She's a stunning little girl with lots & lots of love to share!" (If anykitty out there would like a little sister, just email Jodi. Piazza's adoption fee is $60)

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS!

From Sharolyn: Rocky has relinquished our blog to me for the next week so I can announce some exciting activities here at Artsy Catsy. We've been very busy organizing new programs, creating new products … and capturing and finding refuge for the mama of the four feral kittens (here, here and here) we most recently rescued, along with two more of her kits.

Artsy Catsy’s mission is to help raise funds for kitties in need by offering artistic creations by cat lover for cat lovers. We’re pleased to announce two new ways to get those funds into the paws of the cats who most need them:

Cat Friends Helping Friends

We've been working with Robyn at the Cat Blogosphere, and we're excited to announce that, as of today, Artsy Catsy will donate 10% of all sales from our blog to Cat Friends Helping Friends to help blogging cats and families in need!

We hope that over time, as we launch our web site and expand Artsy Catsy, this will evolve into a substantial ongoing donation!

The Rescue Farm

As you know, Rocky has forbidden me from hiring any more cat staff members, so it's been a constant battle to find homes for the cats and kittens that we rescue here at Artsy Catsy. A few months ago I discovered the Rescue Farm, a non-profit no-kill rescue working to end euthanasia of adoptable animals. It's an unbelievably lovely organization run by a couple, Jodi (a former v.e.t. tech) and her husband Matt, who have dedicated their lives to becoming the "Best Friends" of the midwest. I've posted a few photos here, with lots more to come.

Artsy Catsy will donate an additional 10% of our proceeds to help the Rescue Farm with their important work.

Although they don't usually accept animals from the general public, Matt and Jodi gave the feral kittens we recently rescued a loving home on their 40-acre Rescue Farm. And this week they'll be welcoming with open arms the very feral mama of those four kittens, along with two more from her last litter. The Rescue Farm works diligently to arrange adoptions for their rescues, but in the case of ferals, they spay/neuter, give them vet care, and provide them with a loving home on their farm. From January through October of this year alone, Jodi and Matt have found loving homes for more than 650 cats and dogs.

I knew the Rescue Farm was a very special place when I met the blind horse they rescued and its rescued seeing-eye cow! I'll be telling you this special story this week, as I post lots of pictures and information so you can get to know the wonderful people at the Rescue Farm and meet some of their rescued animals. And every Friday we'll be featuring one of their kitties who needs a home!

Exciting New Products for Cat Lovers!

The biggest shopping day of the year, the day after Thanksgiving ("Black Friday" ) is almost upon us. To quickly start raising funds for the Rescue Farm and the Cat Blogosphere -- and to help you shop for Christmas without getting crushed in mall stampedes -- starting Thanksgiving evening, we're going to feature some great new gifts and Christmas items for all you cat lovers and the cats you love!

So try to visit us lots this next week, even though it's going to be a busy one for all of us! And please accept my apology for so blatantly inviting you to shop, but we'll use one-fifth of everything you spend to help your kitties and friends!

Prize Winners!

I'm finally announcing the "Life of the Party" winners from my human artist's surprise birthday party! It took us days to decide, because there was only one vote - Grr, Midnight & Cocoa voted for Finnegan & Buddy. Therefore, as CEO of this enterprise, I made the decision myself. Hey, I can be arbitrary -- I'm da boss!

It wasn't easy -- we had some seriously frolicking felines at that fest! Donnie, Marie & Casey came early to clean up the spilled cake; The Meezers brought a bag of fev-vers; The Ballacai led us in box wars and tossed catnip confetti all night; Marilyn MonREOW brought tuna puffs; Zippy, Sadie & Speedy brought homegrown nip and came back the morning after to help clean up; Beezer brought flowers; China Cat brought Temptations; and a tipsy Tara sang Happy Birthday to our human artist while Beau moonwalked with a lampshade on his head!

But let me tell you, nobody out-partied these guys, and I hereby proclaim them the Grand Prize winners in our "Life of the Party" Contest. Let's hear a big round of appaws for ....

Finnegan & Buddy!

These are partyin' pussycats! They showed up early in green derbies with shot glasses hung around their necks; made toasts all night long and danced and sang "and it's NO NAY NEFURRR, No nay nefurr nooooo moooore, will I play the wild kittyyyyy, no nefurrr no mooooorrrre" ... They even came back the morning after to finish off the leftovers and clean up the mess! Finny & Bud, we're sending you this grand prize ...

a MeowWow 100% fleece bed, in GREEN to match your derbies:And since nobody voted for the bean Life of the Party, we're sending that prize to Finnegan & Buddy's mombean. It's a kitty charm to hold her sunglasses in her car and she can hang it from the visor or the rear view mirror. This one belongs to my human artist, but I'm making a special one in beads that match Finny & Bud's mombean's car! But wait, there's more! I'm also sending a consolation surprise to another rowdy meower ... Derby the dancin' cat, who jigged all night with a lampshade on his head, then passed out behind the couch and almost got tossed in the trash during the morning after cleanup!

Thanks to everykitty for helping us make our human artist's birthday a catful of fun!

We celebrated my human artist's 60th birthday this week and I, Rocky, turned 72 (in human years) last week. My human's childhood friend sent us this email, and we'd like to share it with all our cat & human friends who worry about growing older .....

13 Reasons Why Aging is a Gift

1) I am now, maybe for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometimes despair over the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. I am often taken aback by that old person who lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

2) I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon, before they experienced the great freedom that comes with aging.

3) I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.
4) As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own best friend.
5) I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avant garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

6) Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?

7) I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 & 70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will.

8) I will walk the beach in a swimsuit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will grow older.

9) I know I am sometimes forgetful. But some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

10) Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or when a beloved pet goes over the Rainbow Bridge? But broken hearts are what give us strength, understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

11) As I get older, it is easier to be positive. I care less about what other people think of me. I don't question myself anymore. I've earned the right to be wrong.

12) Being older has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be.
13) And I shall eat dessert (and Temptations!) every single day!

Let there be Peace on Earth

and let it begin with me

"If there were to be a universal sound depicting peace, I would surely vote for the purr." ~~ Barbara Diamond

"There are people who reshape the world by force or argument, but the cat just lies there, dozing, and the world quietly reshapes itself ..." ~~ Ivy Dodd

"The cat seldom interferes with other peoples' rights. His intelligence keeps him from doing many of the fool things that complicate life." ~~ Carl van Vechten

"If we treated everyone we meet with the same affection we bestow upon our favorite cat, they, too, would purr." ~~ Martin Buxbaum

"Maybe in the future we should ask presidential candidates where they stand on cats. Better still, we should demand to see the cats these candidates say they have raised, just to make sure we are not having the fur pulled over our eyes." ~~ Gilbert Gude

Surprise !!!!!
Happy Birthday to our Mom!!

Rocky: I'd say she looks pretty surprised! Normally our human artist wouldn't be surprised to come home and find a houseful of cats ... but she's used to 9 or 15 or so ... not squizillions like we have here tonight! Okay, let's make a wish and blow out the candles ...

Open some cards and gifts ...

... and get down to some serious partying!!! Boogie down, Rene!.....

Hey, everybody, Sadie brought home-grown nip, and help yourselves to Marilyn Monreow's delicious tuna puffs and the Meezers' wonderful hamtinis. The Ballacai are throwing catnip confetti and Pixel ... love those dancing shoes ... may I have the next dance?

And don't forget ... vote in the comments for the cat and bean who are the life of the party so we can send them their prizes!

------------------------------------------------------------

7:00 p.m. .....
Rocky: Countdown to the cake -- 1 hour to go! Beans and cats are starting to arrive, and my human artist will be home soon. Our friend Renee is here with her woofie, Rene. Rene is 14 years old and battling congestive heart failure, so we'd better take her out of the room when we all yell "SURPRISE!"

And here I am with our human artist, Jason, who just came in from Indianapolis. Jason is my bud!!

Here's a picture of the MeowWow bed we're sending to the cat who gets the most votes in the comment section for "Life of the Party":If I could vote, I would cast votes for Finnegan and Buddy, major party pussycats. They've been wearing their Irish green derbies and have had shot glasses tied around their necks all afternoon, getting ready to party hard!

And Donny, Marie & Casey, thanks for showing up early to help clean all that chocolate tuna cake off the floor. Marie, you look so cute in a chocolate moustache!!
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3:00 p.m. .....
Rocky: We're almost ready to party! We've had lots of cats & beans drop by already (check comments), but we'll be in full swing in a couple of hours! And we've managed to get through the party preparations with only one cat-astrophe. When Callie and Lucy put the top layer on the 60-layer chocolate tuna birthday cake, Oscar the Manx tripped and bumped the table and 58 layers went crashing to the floor, so I hand to send Suzanne out to buy a regular cake. Oscar is such a bumblebutt! Oh well, we can't get mad at him; being a Manx he has a bit of a balance problem without a tail.

Oscar: Hey, RockyBlocky, who you calling a bumblebutt? I've seen you knock over large pieces of furniture! And you'll never see me crawl away in shame, tail between my legs!

Rocky: Whatever. Oh, before I forget, our human artist Sharolyn got the best birthday present in the world from her daughter Tiffany in Italy! Today Tiffany had a big audition in Rome, and she won the lead role in the opera Tosca!! She'll be performing three days a week through May! And she'll be paid big Euros for it! I don't know what a Euro is, but it must be really good or really awful, because Sharolyn's eyes have been leaking ever since she got the news. I'd better go now and lick her face so it won't be all smeary for her surprise party.

Callie: Ahem, Mr. Blockhead CEO, aren't you forgetting something? You're supposed to tell everybody about the "Life of the Party" prizes! The human who gets the most votes wins a cat charm rear view mirror sunglasses holder for their car ... and the cat who gets the most votes wins a plush 100% fleece MeowWow cat bed! Just leave your vote in the comments! Fracas, where are the pictures of the prizes so I can put them up here?

Fracas: Hey, keep your foofy bloomers on ... I'm trying to clean all this cake off the floor!!
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9:30 a.m. .....
Rocky: Okay, I've sent our human artist birthday girl Sharolyn off to Sam's Club to buy kitty litter, and once she gets in there she's there all day, so that'll keep her out of our hair while we get ready for the surprise party. So let's get to work! I want all the food and drink prepped and presented, and the cake ready by 8 p.m. SPT (Surprise Party Time)!
Callie! Quit primping and preening and get all that hair off the couch!

Fracas: Hey Rocky, how about we celebrate your Oct. 31 purrthday belatedly today? We didn't do anything for your purrthday!

Rocky: Hush, Fracas, that information is a corporate secret, strictly need-to-know. It isn't necessary for the world to know that in cat years I'm 12 years older than our mom! (8x9=72) Okay, everybody, back to work! Meet me here later this morning for a progress report ....

Shhhh ... this post is hush-hush! We don't want my human artist Sharolyn to know that we're planning a surprise birthday party for her tomorrow. November 6 is her 60th birthday! Sixty? SIXTY?? We can't believe it! (And neither can she!) She says she's part of the "Forever Young" generation, so she can't possibly be sixty! We think both our human artists will always be forever young ... I mean, that's what having a houseful of cats does for you! Here they are, 57-(no way!)year-old Suzanne on the left and 60-(impossible!)year-old Sharolyn on the right:

We overheard her saying that she didn't want a big fuss made (At her age, it could be too much for her!). She doesn't even want gifts from her family -- just money, so she can pay her daughter Tiffany's airfare home from Italy and be with her at Christmas. But we can't let this momentous occasion go by with no fanfare whatsoever, so ...

You're all invited to Artsy Catsy tomorrow

for an all-day, all-night

60th Birthday Bash

for our human artist Sharolyn!

Fracas is whipping up 60 different flavors of niptinis, Lucy and Callie are baking a 60-layer chocolate tuna birthday cake, and the rest of the staff is keeping Sharolyn out of the house all day so I, Rocky, can decorate the house with my latest signs:

We look forward to seeing you all tomorrow!!

And since our human artist doesn't want any gifts ...

We're going to send prizes to both the cat and the human who are voted "Life of the Party"!

Rocky's Yard Sale

Humans! I swear!! What is it with them and their mindless consumerism, anyway? I mean, I'm ready to get back to work building my Artsy Catsy business, but these two human artists have accumulated so much STUFF in my corporate office that I was forced to have a yard sale this weekend so I could have room to work. A CEO must have his space, after all!

First I had to make zillions of signs and then prowl all over town to put them up. (I used orange paint so if I splashed myself it would look like just another of my handsome, if I do say so myself, ginger spots.)

Then I had to go through their jam-packed closets and drag out all the clothes they never wear, then haul them out to the yard. Every cent they spend on clothes is a cent they don't spend on Temptations, so out with the clothes!

Just look at this stuff they'd piled up! A kiddie pool? We don't even have a kid!

And what the heck is THIS, I ask you:

What, we don't have enough cats around here? Let me tell you, I stuck a bargain basement cheapo price on this worthless overstuffed fake feline!

I had to drag myself out of my human artist's warm bed at 6 a.m. and start hauling stuff outside, where there was frost on the ground and the temperature was 32 degrees! Then I worked my fuzzy butt off all day long for two whole days ...

adding up sales ...

And making change for an endless parade of shoppers ... And dodging boxes thrown around in the shoppers' frenzy of mindless consumerism ... The only enjoyable part of the day was meeting lots of new people and old friends ... like our good woofie friend, Sassy, and her mom Lois:
Well, that and taking a break or two when the sun finally came out and warmed things up: Then I had to spend my entire Sunday cleaning up the mess and prowling around all over town again to take down all my signs!

Now that this blasted yard sale is over, I've issued a corporate edict that all personnel are to get back to Artsy Catsy business immediately. I expect some productivity, you people and pussies! And no more hoarding useless crap and piling STUFF up in my offices! So get into your cubicles and start cranking out all the new products we've been discussing -- cat Christmas tree ornaments; Santa Cat gourd wreaths; cat-themed placemats and matching napkin rings; kitty grocery bag dispensers; cat charm sunglasses holders for human cars ...

Okay, time for me to go gnaw on our webmaster so maybe I can finally get our ArtsyCatsy.com website up and running ...