Fred the Cat and Sea Turtles

Tomorrow marks the beginning of sea turtle nesting season. I’ve never seen these big dudettes crawl up on the beach, dig a hole, lay their eggs, cover the nest with sand, and then crawl back into the ocean, but the Pops have seen it many times. They say it’s an amazing thing to watch. They also say that the person who invented the word “awesome” must have been watching a sea turtle nesting.

I’m pretty sure something that large would frighten a weenie cat my size.

Ever wonder where the Leatherback sea turtles go when they aren’t crawling ashore to nest? Okay, maybe you didn’t before, but you might be wondering now.

Follow this link and you can see where, April, the Leatherback sea turtle has been for the past two years. After she nested on the southeast Florida beach, (about an hours drive south from where we live) she was fitted with a satellite tracking device. She left the beach, and thanks to the satellite tracking system, we can see the red line that shows her two year ocean journey. It look’s like she may be on her way back to Florida soon, perhaps to nest again.

That’s your sea turtle information this week from your Florida feline, Fred the Cat.

Have a great weekend smile as much as you can.

Sincerely,
Fred the Cat (the cat who loves you guys)

What Happened?

I’m not counting Senator Clinton totally out of the race as yet, but as of now, it’s not looking too good for her. I have been wondering when did Senator Clinton’s campaign begin to fail? Was is when President Clinton took the stage on her behalf? Was it her message? Was it her judgment? When did her campaign begin to falter?

Help me out here

Because I am still on the same sleeping schedule that I was when I was meeting Murphy’s needs, I crash early each night and arise early each morning. Over time I’m sure I’ll get back to normal sleeping hours, but for now I’m still in the early crash mode.

The reason I’m telling you this is because I saw none of the debate last night. I just couldn’t stay awake. So tell me about it. Help me out. Did Hillary make it or break it? Was she the kind Hillary or the scolding Hillary?

What did you think of both candidates and the whole debate?

A Little Reminder

Just in case you might have forgotten about this.

Aug 24 2005
“In an interview with Arizona Daily Star editors, Sen. John McCain endorsed teaching “intelligent design” in the nation’s schools because “he believes ‘all points of view’ should be available to students studying the origins of mankind.”

What have you done for us lately?

By now you have heard that Ralph Nader has tossed his hat in the ring to run for president this year. My question is, what has he accomplished since 2000?

Laughs and Ducks

Things are slowly getting back to normal here. I know this because I heard Pop laugh a couple of times. I also am hearing her use the “duck” word just like she used to. She doesn’t talk about ducks when she’s real sad.

Funny thing is, she seems to think the president’s first name is duck. She’s says duck bush, all the time. If it makes her happy to do that, who am I to correct her.

Have some fun this weekend and tell someone that you love them

Sincerely,
Fred the Cat (the cat who loves you guys)

Here’s a little nugget for you.

“Among all Americans, 19% approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president and 77% disapprove. When it comes to Bush's handling of the economy, 14% approve and 79% disapprove.
Among Americans registered to vote, 18% approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president and 78% disapprove.”

Bush now owns the title as officially the worst president in history. Think he’s bottomed out yet?

You can compare his approval ratings with other presidents here.

Good Deeds, Lovely Rewards

Yesterday morning it was sprinkling rain and there was just a hint of light coming from the east. I was standing, clad in a nightgown, in the rain waiting for N-D Anna, the little feral cat I have been feeding for over four years, to eat her food. I wait while she eats so the big cat from down the street doesn’t steal her food away.

So I’m standing there getting rained on and feeling the chill in the air. I looked over toward the corner of the outside of the house where the big cat usually comes from and something in the bushes caught my eye. It looked like something white had fallen into the bushes. I waited until N-D Anna had finished her breakfast and then pursued this white mysterious thing. Being barefoot, I gingerly walked through the wet grass to identify what I was looking at and wondering about.

As I got closer I realized I was seeing the first gardenia blossom of the year. It was damp from the rain but beautifully there. I removed the blossom and brought it back inside with me. Its fragrance was beyond description. It filled my kitchen with its beauty.

Who says that good deeds don’t have their own rewards?

Things I didn’t realize

I knew for the last three years I had slept and eaten according to Murphy’s schedule. Being his primary caregiver and caretaker had become a big part of my days and my life. What I didn’t realize until this last week, is what a large part of my life it was.

Slowly, I have realized I can do things purely on my own schedule now. I’m still trying to get used to that. It’s a strange feeling because as any pet owner knows, pets have needs that must be tended to at any time, especially older pets.

We are also feeling the relief of no longer dreading the inevitable. We had fought so hard to try to avoid what was surely coming and dreaded it all like hell. It’s over now. It’s not something we must dread anymore. Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, there is a certain relief that comes with that.

We have decided, for now, we will not add another dog to our family. We need a timeout. We need to learn to live without Murphy and not try to make another little dog be Murphy. It wouldn’t be fair to anyone concerned.

We think probably one morning we will open the front door and see a little dog sitting there on the welcome mat, looking back at us. He’ll probably say, Hi, I’m your new dog! And he’ll walk right in with all his little belongings in tow. Another cycle will begin.

President Bill Clinton then and now

There’s been a lot of talk about President Clinton’s performance on the campaign trail this year. Has anything he has done or said changed your opinion of him?

My own personal opinion has changed a bit. While I still believe he was one of our best presidents, I feel he has lowered himself in some way by getting down in the campaign trenches. I think that he could have been supportive of his wife and made appearances with her without becoming just one more voice in the campaign circus. I don’t know if people are hearing her when he’s talking.

Fred the Cat’s new assignment

I know by now you guys have heard what happened at the Pop house this week. Mr. Pop and Pop have been pretty quiet. They’re sad. I’m sad too, but I, Fred the Cat, have a new job to do. I must assume the responsibility of being the new four pawed, man of the house. I have moved up in seniority.

It is my responsibility to take care of anyone weeping. I must love them, allow tears to fall on my fur, and most importantly, I must listen to what they have to say. I think I’ll be good at the job, after all, I learned from the best, Murphy. He knew just how to do these things and he was the king of compassion.

I’m gonna miss the little dude. I used to run up to him and smooch him right on his snowy white fur. It was such fun for me, didn’t seem to be as much fun for him though. But let’s remember, he was a canine. Canines have their own sense of humor most of the time.

So I accept my new responsibility with honor. I’m fired up! Ready to go! Can I bring happiness back to our home? Yes I can!

Have a wonderful weekend and hug your buddies every single day.

Sincerely,
Fred the Cat (the cat who loves you guys)

Sweethearts

A Very Happy Valentine’s Day to all my Sweethearts. Yes, that's you.

Thank You, from the bottom of my heart

Yesterday I tried to thank each of you for you kind expressions, thoughts and understanding, but I was just a mess and couldn’t keep doing it. I was crying and couldn’t see what I was typing.

I did what I always do when I am troubled, I cleaned. I cleaned especially in the dining room where Murphy’s bed was kept. Before, I hated to disturb him if he was sleeping during the day. He would be so proud of “his room” if he could see it now, it’s spic and span.

Then I went on a window cleaning spree. You say to make it rain you have to wash your car? That is so 90’s thinking. In this new era, the best way to make it rain is to clean the windows in your home. I can attest to that, but hey, the rain blew against clean windows.

Once again, I thank each and every one of you for being my friend at a time when friendship becomes a healer of the heart.

A Day and A Decision

I’m writing this at about two o’clock yesterday afternoon.

Today, Monday, Mr. Pop and I have made a decision we never wanted to have to make. No pet owner wants to have to make this decision. But there comes a time you know you have to let go.

Murphy’s body has been failing him after over 16 years of life. As of late his brain has failed him too. The vet said it is a canine dementia. After he eats his meal, he doesn’t remember that he has eaten and continues for hours to pace and search for more food. He doesn’t respond to affection from us or acknowledge our presence.

There is a medication the vet could try, but at his age and in his condition we refuse to put him through anything else. It’s time to allow him to leave us. By the time I post this and you read it, he will be gone, but he’ll be in our hearts forever.

I had to write this yesterday because I knew that by this morning I wouldn’t be able to write anything. I know you understand.

Ah shoot, it’s Monday

I had such a magically nice weekend and I hated so much to let it go.

Mr. Pop took me out to our special restaurant (you know the one you go to for special occasions) Saturday night to celebrate the two year anniversary of Morning Martini. The food was wonderful as usual and of course the occasion called for two martinis.

Sunday we went to a big orchid show and came home with four new beauties. I picked out two and told Mr. Pop they were going to be my Valentine from him. He liked that idea. What guy wouldn’t?

Then for the topper, on the way home we had to stop by the bookstore and I found the day-to-day, “Bye-Bye Bush!” calendar for one dollar. Sweet! A month and a half ago it would have cost twelve dollars. Does anything drop in value as fast as a calendar in February? Just wondering.

So today it’s regular old Monday, but I sure do have some sweet memories of the weekend. I also have a calendar to remind me each day of some of the many reasons I cannot wait for this president to hit the road.

What’s this?

Two good years? Yes indeed. That’s how long, as of tomorrow, that Morning Martini has been a blog.

Fred the Cat and I have been having fun here for two whole years. This weekend is a celebration of all the new friends he and I have made and all the wonderful visitors we have shared so much with over that time. We look forward to many more good years with you.

So, from Fred the Cat and me, thank you for two good years.

Martinis and Cosmic catnip for everyone!

Sincerely,
Pop and Fred the Cat (the cat who loves you guys)

New Life and Past Life

I took this picture in my backyard.

As the butterfly, that has just emerged from its cocoon, waits for its new wings to unfurl and dry, it rests atop the shell of another creature whose life has long since past.

Right wingers raising hell

We have all heard how the right wing mouth pieces have been railing against McCain. He just isn’t conservative enough for them.

I think they view McCain in much the same way we view Joe Lieberman. What if it looked like Joe Lieberman was going to be the Democrats nominee for president? Wouldn’t you be wringing your hands and cursing too?

I think McCain is the right’s Joe Lieberman in the eyes of many Republicans and if that’s the case, no wonder they are raising hell.

Another Nightmare?

What will you do if we wake up in November to find our next president is John McCain?

I’m not sure I could mentally deal with that. To face four or eight more years of this national nightmare might just do me in. When bush won his second election and we found ourselves facing four more years of his hell, I wondered if we could make it through that. We did, but how much more can we take?

Beware!

When you make your reservations at a hotel and they inform you they are doing “some renovations”, beware.

The meeting where Mr. Pop was to speak last week was to be held at the Hyatt Hotel in Sarasota Florida. It only made sense that we should stay there at the hotel for convenience among other reasons. Big mistake!

When we arrived at the hotel is was quickly apparent there were renovations going on in the lobby. When we checked in we were assured that there were no disturbances in the area where our room was located. When we were taken to our room the first thing we heard were workers in the room above with hammers and other loud tools as they removed a tile floor. Even the bellman who brought our bags to the room said that the renovation noises were unacceptable.

We went back to the check-in desk and asked for another room. The gentleman in charge at the desk sent us to another room with assurances that this room would be peaceful. As we put our stuff away in the new room things seemed fine.

Wednesday morning as Mr. Pop was working at his computer putting the finishing touches on his speech for Thursday, all hell broke loose. The demolition of the interior of the room above us began. There were drills, hammers and other tools of mass destruction. There were no other rooms available at this time so we were doomed to the room from hell. It was so loud at times that we could not hear one another speak. This was immediate headache inducing noise.

After Mr. Pop successfully gave his speech on Thursday, we made a quick determination that we would get the hell out of there early Friday morning, instead of Saturday morning as we had planned. When we went down to the front desk to tell them of our change of plans, we expected that the hotel might want to charge us for Friday night anyway, but we were pleasantly surprised. The lady at the desk said she understood completely why we would want to leave and also informed us that the floor above us had been scheduled for renovation during the time of our stay. Remember we has been assured we would be in a quiet room. We had been lied to by the gentleman who told us we were in a pleasant area of the hotel. He knew better.

Bottom line, Hyatt Hotel of Sarasota was more concerned about making money during their renovation that they were about the comfort of their guests. Is that another form of corporate greed? Would we ever stay at a Hyatt again? I seriously doubt it.