Nothing

Nothing at all.

That’s what Oliver was doing, he says, when I heard someone jumping off the counter in the kitchen.

Why do I ask?

But what’s that behind you on the floor, kitten?

Perhaps the shrimp if left on the counter while I decided if the chicken I was eating would be enough for lunch? Yep.

And, since Kitten Thunder hates shrimp, we were both disappointed.

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Rule Change

So I’m typing away at tonight’s blog, at I look up at the TV. It has a tail. A big, fluffy, Main Coon type tail. “Obi,” I say, “get out from behind the TV.”

The tail disappears. No cat here.

But then the TV grows ears. And a paw inches up toward the antennae hanging on the wall.

“OBI. GET DOWN.”

The ears and paw disappear. No cat here.

Oliver arrives from the other room and cries. Obviously, if someone is in trouble, it is him. He’s not aware of doing anything wrong, but he is always the one who gets yelled at.

The paw goes up toward the antennae again. I stand up. It’s a clear indicator that I mean business. Oliver cowers under the coffee table and whines.

“Oh. BEE.” The tail reappears. Followed by two feet up on the books next to the TV. Followed by the rest of a brown kitten. I have to clap my hands and take a step forward to get him to jump down from the mantle.

For the record, Obi is allowed on the mantle but he’s never gotten behind the TV before. He’s up there now, looking out the window. And glancing over to make sure that he’s not in trouble. Obviously he has crossed a line somewhere and needs to figure out where it was.

Oliver is snuggled hard into my side.

He’s not in trouble either, right Girl?

Thunder House Rules

Next week, The Boy is leaving us to go play on a steam train. While The Boy’s away, The Girl has decided to invite the women of my family to Cheyenne to play. And to get our Christmas shopping done.

My aunt, Barb, asked if Oliver would snuggle with her. After all, her cats have always been very good hosts to me. The Boy and I agree that things could go either way.

To prepare our four house guests, Kitten Thunder has put together a list of rules:

1. Don’t sleep on the roof. Okay, that’s from Cider House Rules, but it is a good rule. Especially since there’s six inches of snow up there.

2. You must rub Obi’s belly on demand.

3. Obi will decide when there has been enough rubbing of the belly.

4. Don’t try to pick Oliver up – he is long and heavy and his claws don’t retract.

5. If Oliver scratches on your belt, pick him up.

6. Feed the kittens in the morning.

7. Feed the kittens whenever you eat.

8. Feed the kittens whatever you eat.

9. Eat things the kittens will want to eat. The Girl bought some hard salami that the kittens are aggressively fond of, try that.

10. Should a grey kitten visit you in the night, off to let him under the covers.

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Related to nothing: Our real estate agent brought us a pumpkin for Halloween. I thought about carving it, but someone beat me to it. And it has made for excellent OutTV.

Not the most artful carving ever, but it's probably very satisfying.

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Kitten Thunder is playing a game called “let’s chew on each other’s faces” right now. Their heads are soggy.

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It’s Thunder Thursday! Today we have Wilson and Gizmo of Monterey. These brothers are the children of someone who works in my aunt’s office. We agree that this picture makes us want to go home and take a nap. But when is that a bad idea, really?

"Show is over. Change the channel." ---"No, YOU change the channel."