Skeeters and Smores

I will update from the happenings of late soon I promise! For now, enjoy this week's installment from the mind of Mama Kat! I chose prompt #4 ~ List 5 things you like to do while camping!

Seeing as how I am so lucky to have a friend who's parents own property in the mountains, I get my fair share of camping in every summer... I love it!!

1~ I love to just look at the mountains, the flowers, the scenery... everything!

Indian Mountain

Clear Lake

Sunset from the campsite

View from Indian Mountain

Aspens in the Fall

2~ Fishing!! I caught my first trout last year! He was kinda small so we threw him back, but I still caught him!!

It's not the size that matters...

Fishing and relaxing

3~ Animals! I love to look at and try to find all the animals. While camping I've seen antelope, elk, ground squirrels, and a huge porcupine. Unfortunately I haven't had a lot of luck photographing them...but I try!

Fox tracks!

See those spots, they're antelope!

4~ Drink. I know it seems contradicting but drinking and camping go hand and hand. Relax, have a few drinks and toast some marshmallows. Then, pass out and start again the next day.

Ahhh... Watching the sunset with an ice cold drink

We always have a wide assortment of options

5~ Hike and climb. I love the mountains and trees and getting to the top is always the best!

See that big rock in the distance, not only are we hiking to it, we are climbing it!

I just came down from the rock. We ate our lunch on top of the bigger flat part of the rock. It was awesome!

Hiking Indian Mountain

What's your favorite part of camping? The fires? The smores? The skeeters!? See you next time!

Lite summer reading....

It's that time again, and since I'm on "summer break" and feeling lazy, I decided to do the easiest, yet funniest, Mama Kat writing prompt...

Incredibly short books...

1- Medications with No Side Effects
2- Exciting places to visit in Wyoming that aren't Yellowstone National Park
3- Buddhist Monks with Bad Attitudes
4- Commercials that Never Get Annoying
5- Fried things that are Good For You

HELP!

Here is my help wanted ad... prompted by Mama Kat... you sly girl you!

HELP WANTED!
Looking for a single attractive man with a brain.

Requirements:
Must be able to laugh at himself
Be close with his family (in the heart sense, not distance sense)
Have a good sense of humor
Loves animals
Loves the outdoors
Is adventurous and spontaneous
Handsome
Strong
Is, under no circumstances, a Yankee's fan!
Can cook
Loves to travel

Preferable but not required:
No children
Prefers cats over dogs
Has a college degree
Steady income of a generous nature
DO NOT apply if you are married, divorced, have a girlfriend, have more baggage than AAA, looking for a "no strings attached" deal, or if you have ever gone to or considered going to any type of Treky conference.

I reserve the right to change, contradict or void any of the statements above. I also have the right to place conditions on certain requirements. In other words... I have the final say!

Please include your name, number, number of your therapist, and location and I'll get back to you...

... Upon a Star...

Mama Kat blog prompt time! I choose #5 If you had 5000 dollars to give away or donate to a charity...explain what you would do with it and why.


If I had $5000 to give to a charity of my choice it would be the Make-a-Wish Foundation. There are few things more beautiful than giving to children. If a child is sick with a terminal illness is chosen to be a "Wish Kid" they can pick almost anything as a wish and Make-a-Wish will make it happen. There are some kids that just want a fun fishing trip, a lot want to go to Disney, some want to meet a famous person they admire. Whatever it is, they get it. I don't think it needs fancy words or a big explanation, it's the one charity I admire over all the others.

Please help by volunteering your time or business services. OR you can always just donate to your local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Help a child with a terminal illness have one wish come true!

Dear Me...

It's time for the weekly Mama Kat writing prompt blog! Yay!! I have chosen #4... Write a letter.
See, that SEEMS easy enough but it's also broad enough of a prompt to give me quite a challenge of narrowing it down. I've decided to write a letter to myself 10 years ago. If I only knew then what I know now...

Dear 17 year-old Kitty,
You don't know me, but you will, don't worry. I'm writing to give you a few tips and tricks. This may seem like cheating at life, but take it from me, you'll appreciate this.

~Your parents aren't nearly as terrible as they seem. Keep this in mind over the next 5 years. They are going to go through a lot problems but it's not your fault and they both still love you. It will all turn out ok!
~Don't sweat chemistry class. You'll never use it... I swear!
~Although the sorority life will seem really appealing, save the money and just go to the parties. Those bitches is CRAZY.
~When Amy pukes in your dad's Benz at the beach don't take her upstairs and clean her up... let her sleep in the car covered in vomit ... that'll teach her!
~Take the time in college to join all the clubs you want. You will meet some really cool people.
~In your Medieval Language and Literature class your professor will tell you it's ok to miss the actual day of the final if you do an alternate paper. Get it in writing because she will FAIL YOU!
~Even though you really LOVE the Beatle... it will leave you stranded and cost way too much in repairs so get something a little more sensible.
~There will come a point when when one night at The Hop when 2 guys will buy you and Amy a drink. Amy will suggest that you both go talk to them because they were nice enough to buy you a drink. Smack her in the face and drag her out by her hair... nothing good will come from that scenario.
~Heartbreak will come to you. Take it in stride and believe that on the other side you will be stronger and better for it. It's ok to cry... but get it out and move on.
~You are beautiful and smart and important and loved and funny and a million other wonderful things!! Don't doubt that you are anything less than amazing!
~Don't be scared of taking challenges stepping outside your comfort zone. Some of your best choices will be made spur of the moment and without completely thinking through it.
~Finally, trust your instincts about people. 9 times out of 10 your gut will be right and you will ignore the feeling so long that you'll almost forget how to trust it again... but you will.

I hope this helps, though it may seem weird now, it will make sense over the next 10 years. Keep your nose clean and have fun! When life seems overwhelming know that your future is still evolving, but so far, so good.

With LOVE,
Kitty (age 27)

If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

It's the thought that counts

The writing prompt from Mama Kat that I choose this week is...

#3 Describe a memorable gift. Why was it so important to you?

I love music and when the iPod came out (2001) I wanted one SO bad! Thing is... as a techy nerd, I wanted the biggest and bestest one... but they were pretty expensive when they first came out (I think $400+). I asked for an iPod for every birthday and Christmas that came... then my sister, who rightfully felt sorry for me and my lack of iPod bought me the iPod Shuffle for a gift when I graduated college. (2005) I loved it, and certainly appreciated it, but it just didn't take the want of a real big iPod away.

So I continued to ask for one for every birthday and Christmas (and everything in between). My mom said I would never use it. It's all I asked for every time a holiday rolls around! This was not a passing fancy!! She also used the excuse that it was too expensive, but at $250 for the model that I wanted it wasn't too expensive anymore to be my one and only Christmas present!

Tradition states that my parents and I travel to Chicago to my sister's house for Thanksgiving and that I go home to PA for Christmas. While in Chicago for Thanksgiving 2007 my mom, sister and I went shopping on the infamous black Friday. My mom bought a VERY expensive purse that she wanted because her birthday is right around the same time of Thanksgiving and my dad said she could pick her own purse. (Apparently he didn't want to buy the wrong one!) I was pretty appalled by how much the purse was but whatever she wanted.

This mall had an Apple Store and, of course, I had to go in, crowds and all. While I was in the store I got a sale flier which I promptly put into my mother's hand when I came out. I showed her the one I wanted and told her it was even on sale and it's all I wanted for Christmas... yet again. She looked at the price and said it was still too much to which I reminded her of her purse that she just bought. She didn't really appreciate that comment....

When we got back to my sister's house my mom showed my dad the purse she bought and he looked at the price tag... whoa... My dad hit the ceiling... As my mom sulked and my dad fumed I thought this to be the perfect time to chime in with "Yeah, she buys a purse that's (insert very expensive price here) and she won't even buy me an iPod for Christmas that's only $250!"

I don't know which one of my smart ass comments drove the point home, but needless to say I got my iPod for Christmas that year. I love it and use it ALL the time. I don't know if my mom was going to buy it for me that year or not... but that was one gift that will always be memorable. :)

I love you mom!!!

Check out other writing prompt posts at Mama Kat's!

A picture says a thousand...

Ohhhhh Mama Kat, you sneaky lady! Define emotions through pictures?! Well, that sounds like a challenge I am up to!

This week's prompt that I choose is ...
1.) Define goodness...joy...sorrow...and anger using pictures you've taken.

Here goes!!


Goodness
1 : the quality or state of being good

I think children are inherently good. I love the innocence and love of children so I picked this picture I took of my neice. I think you can see the innocence and goodness right in her eyes.


Joy
1 : the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires

Nothing says "JOY" like a wedding :) I present to you: Mr. and Mrs. Giggles


Sorrow
1 : deep distress, sadness, or regret especially for the loss of someone or something loved

I usually don't take pictures that evoke this particular emotion but this one really is sorrow. I took this at Ground Zero in New York City... the epitome of sorrow.


Anger
1 : to make angry

This is a past co-worker/boss who I did NOT get along with from day 1. I never figured out why he hated me so much, but let it be known that I hated him just as much back. Every time I hear someone say his name or look at this one picture I have of him it makes me steam!! (While my friend is in the background giving me a "playful" finger, I'm sure that Mr. Douche sure as hell means it)

Thanks for going on this journey with me!

My GOD I hate him!!
sorry..... I apparently have some suppressed anger against him... still...

Writers Workshop Sappy Style

For Mama Kat's Writers Workshop I chose to write a poem for my mom. I just talked to my mom today and that always makes me miss her... so here's to you mom...


Every time I cried you dried my tears and told me it was okay.
All the times I thought I failed you showed me what I learned.
When my head was held low you let me know how proud you are.
I may have moved away.
And I may not always call.
But you are always in my thoughts.
In the best of times, and the worst of times.
Who else can I call when I just need to talk
Or need to cry
Or need to ask a cooking question
Or need to celebrate
Or all of the above?
My mom taught me that love WILL conquer all
Love will make you whole and make you strong
Love can never die.
The love a mother has for her daughter.
The love a daughter has for her mother.




Shouldn't you call your mom and tell her you love her???

Unthinkable...

Mama Kat always has thought provoking writing prompts and usually I'm too lazy to post even though I look at the prompts every week!! Well, this week I decided to post because one prompt in particular caught my attention...

and the winner is #3 - Tell us about a local news story that's all the buzz right now in your neck of the woods.

The first thing that came to mind is that Jay Cuttler left the Broncos and the hype surrounding the new QB... BORING!! I'll start to care when football season actually starts.

The real story around here is about a murder in Greeley, CO that took place this past summer. The trial is starting soon and jury selection is underway. The reason there has been so much press is because it is being considered a hate crime. A man met this girl online and after they went out ended up back at her place. Little did he know, but was soon to find out, that biologically, she was a he. The guy then beat her to death with a fire extinguisher. I hope he gets the maximum sentence because of this sick sick crime. I don't care if you think being gay/transgender/etc is wrong or right; KILLING someone is ALWAYS wrong.

What I like about you

Well, not really what I like about you per se... but this week Mama Kat's #3 is List your five most recent favorite things.

Here goes...
1) Harry Potter. The books. The Movies. Everything.
2) 24 Hour Fitness... More specifically my trainer Travis.
3) Anything on Food Network. Given
4) Daytime TV filled with court shows and Maury
5) Chocolate. Goes with #2 :-P

That wasn't too bad. Alright... good night!

Deny Deny Deny....

This week's Writer's Workshop was a pretty easy pick for me...

1.) Tell us about a lie you told that you later regretted.

This one goes down in history...

When I was 16 I got my driver's license. Oh the freedom! Oh the joy! Oh the responsibility! One particular Sunday afternoon I was driving to my grandma's house. She only lived about 15 minutes away, but the easiest way to get there was to drive on route 30 through town. I was sitting at a stoplight and things were going good... suddenly, I drifted into the car in front of me!! I wasn't paying attention and I was looking around.... Well, I was HORRIFIED!! Seeing as how we were in the far right lane, he took the next right turn and, well honestly, he didn't look like he was stopping and if he wasn't going to stop then I certainly wasn't going to stop... So I continued to go strait off to my grandma's house. Once I got there I looked at the bumper, not even a scratch. Come on, I didn't hit him that hard or anything!! No harm no foul... RIGHT???

Well a few days later the York County Sheriff's office called looking for my mom (who the car was registered under) about a hit and run on SATURDAY. My mom and I were at the movies on the day of the alleged hit and run. Phew... got out of that one. My mom invited them down to the house to look at the car. No marks, couldn't have possibly been in an accident. The cop showed up and as he talked with my parents I sat in my room on the phone with McMean, my bff. Her advice, if they have the wrong day and can't prove it... deny deny deny. Suddenly there was a knock on my door and my dad came in. "Did you hit a car on Sunday??" GULP... "Yes sir" "Well you better come down here and talk to the cop then." I hung up with McMean and there I was, about to get hulled off to jail for tapping the car in front of me never to go to prom or graduate or go to college!! I'd be an ex con for the rest of my life carving the days as they pass into my cell wall!!!

That's not really how it played out.... as you probably could guess. I got a ticket for $92 for reckless driving and since I left the scene of the accidnet, the guy claimed damage (I still don't know how) and I had to paint the outside of my dad's office building to pay for it. Oh yeah, I also had to sell one of my precious Beanie Babies. I had started collecting them before it was cool to collect them so I had some rare ones worth a lot of money.

So kids, don't EVER take your bff's advice when it comes to the cops... or at least make sure you have something of value to sell to make up for it!

Dear OS Nazi,

It really bothered me this week that you decided to "eliminate" my position at the OS. It bothered me that you called an all staff meeting just to get everyone out of the office so that I couldn't interact with or say good bye to anyone on my way out. When you made me clean out my desk with a guy from security watching my every move, that bothered me. Good thing we got some boxes of copy paper in the same day you let me go so that I had nice new boxes to put all my stuff in, otherwise, that would have really bothered me. It bothered me that you were only in the room to hand me the letter and then you split to talk to the other employees. I absolutely believe that you were too cowardice to stay in the room.

You know what though, at least you can't bother me any more. And now, I have the freedom to tell you exactly what I think of you if I ever see you out on the street. I can tell you exactly how you are running the company into the ground while alienating all the good craftsmen in our industry. Good job running the company on 2/3 the staff we were supposed to have and piling all the work from people who quit onto people who are already over burdened with work. I'm sure that won't bother them at all.

If you see me on the street, please don't bother to say hello.

Sincerely,
Kitty


**This letter brought to you from Mama Kat's weekly writing prompt. Check her out and do your own!!**

I CHOOSE!

To accept!! Mama Kat, you have the best prompts...

I chose number 4-- the best picture I took last month and why it's my favorite.

Actually the story is sweeter than the picture, so the story comes first, then the pictures.
I flew home to my parent's house on the eve of Christmas eve. (which actually ended up being Christmas eve morning because of delays...) After sleeping in and spending a rainy day with Amy, it was time for festivities. I took a shower, looked nice (hello! pictures!) and went down to watch and help mom get ready for our epic dinner. Amy came over and we had cheese and crackers and chatted and drank champagne until dinner was finished. During our fabulous dinner we started talking about the one present as a kid we remember. I told my mom it was my Cabbage Patch Kid that I named Eve (because I got her on Christmas Eve). My mom said she had to get my aunt to buy one in California (where she lived at the time) and send it to Pennsylvania for me because she couldn't find one here.

My dad then told a story of something he got as a gift when he was 9. My Grandpa is an avid Yankees fan and so my dad is too (hey, no one's perfect), and growing up in southern PA it's not super hard to get to NY to see a game. Not hard, that is, unless you have 5 kids and are poor, just like my dad's family was growing up. Never the less, my Grandpa found a way to take my dad to a Yankee game at Yankee Stadium when he was 9 years old. When they were walking out of the stadium after the game my dad saw a shop where they were selling real Yankee baseball uniforms in kids sizes. My dad knew that they didn't have much money to splurg on something like that, but he asked my grandpa anyway if he would buy him that uniform... and my grandpa did buy it for him.

Sitting at the table I was touched. I have heard about how hard it was growing up with 5 kids with hardly any money, but they were ok, and always had a loving, caring home. When my dad stopped talking (teary eyed from the emotion/wine) my mom stated, "I have that upstairs in the closet, your mom gave it to me years ago!" My dad was on the verge of disbelief and anger. My mom swore up and down she had told him about it, but I side with my dad that says if he would have known, it wouldn't have been in a Wal-Mart bag in the back of her closet. I offered to clean up the whole dinner if she would go up and get it... which she did.

My picture is my dad with his Yankee uniform laying over him. They don't make things like that any more. The quality, the thickness of the wool... very old school. I don't know how much they paid for it and my dad doesn't either, all I know is that for my dad, and for me, now, it is priceless.

Wouldn't YOU like to know!

So Mama Kat's prompt this week... since I haven't done it in a while, was easy to pick. I really only liked one of them this week so #1 it is...

1.) Describe your latest obsession.

I have 2...Here goes:
1)China Dragon. It's this Chinese food place really close to where I work. Todd got me started eating it and I've pretty much succeeded in infecting the rest of the office with the same obession. Seriously, for $5 (lunch) you get a huge thing of sesame chicken, rice, and an egg roll. When we can get 3 people to all get China Dragon we can have it delivered, that's even better!! Yummy Chinese food delivered right to my door?!? Are you kidding!? LOVE IT!!

2)The website Ask A Urinal (clicky!). I've always wanted to take pictures of all the dumb shit I see in the bathroom stalls and share it with people (because it's funny and ignorant at the same time!). This site takes it to a whole new level. You have to see it to understand the full awesomeness of what I'm talking about. This one is my favorite...

And those, my friends, are my latest obsessions.

:) See you next time! :)

I chose YOU... writing workshop!

Here's to another exciting installment of Mama Kat's Writing Workshop!! This week I choose number 4- My top 10 absolute worst pet peeves.

These may not be in exact top ten order, but they are close....

10- When UPS/FedEx/DHL/USPS breaks or mangles something you sent and then denies it. “How do we know it wasn’t sent that way?” Well because, Mr. Know it all, they wouldn’t have sent it to me in an already smashed box/ripped envelope. Here, you’ll have to fill out these 10 forms in triplicate and we’ll get back to you between now and the end of eternity.

9- People who don’t use their turn signal. This is particularly fun when they are turning and there’s no turning lane so they just slam on the breaks and make the turn. I know eventually this will come around and bite them in the ass end of their car, but for now, all I can do is lay on my horn and yell at them—Oh I see!! Turn signals were optional on that model!

8- People who take or use my stuff at work without asking or letting me know. Do you have any idea how many times I come into work and have to say, who took my post it notes? Who took my pen? Where’d my whatever whatever go?

7- Uninformed decision makers who complain afterward. But I didn’t know it was that loud! I didn’t realize it was that big! Why didn’t someone tell me that it wouldn’t run by itself? People, do your homework and ask some questions. I mean of course we can ASSUME that you are stupid, but what if you aren’t by some stroke of luck? Then we just offended you.

6- Freeloaders. This does not include those of us who love free shit from people who are giving away free shit. This is people living in their parents’ basement with no intention of moving out. This is going to your friend’s house constantly and drinking their beer and never supplying or reciprocating. These are people who never say “thank you” or “I really appreciate your help/food/beer/etc”.

5- Children in inappropriate places. Children in a mall? OK. Children in Victoria’s Secret? NOT OK. Children at the zoo? OK. Children at the opera? NOT OK. Seriously parents, if your kid can’t sit all the way through a 30min episode of sesame street, what makes you think they sit through a 2 ½ hour show in a quite room in uncomfortable seats in an unfamiliar place?? The people sitting around you will thank you if you wait until they are a little older.

4- Bad Customer Service. After working for so many years in customer service you get really attuned to the good the bad and the ugly. If you don’t greet me, if you aren’t nice to me, or if you are chit chatting with your co-workers when you should be helping me… you either get no tip or I’ll take my service elsewhere but either way, you can bet your high school ass that I’m going to talk with your manager before I leave.

3- Being left alone in the front office. Sometimes the quiet is nice, but when all of my co-workers are wisked off to some meeting and I get left to handle all phone calls, walk ins, rental paperwork and any shipping that is coming or going… that’s a bit much. I don’t mind when they aren’t here because they aren’t here. However, when our GM thinks that I don’t need help or have to go to the bathroom for hours on end because she’ holding everyone hostage in meetings… that sucks balls.

2-People who chew with their mouths open either fully or intermittently. If I can hear you eating across the table, across the room, or in a different room, you have serious eating issues. My parents were strict with me about it, but honestly how can you not hear yourself?

1- When they put pickles on my plate! If you happen to be in my inner circle, you know that I ABHORE pickles in every fashion. This is why I am very explicit about ordering sandwiches, burgers and other entrees where sometimes a pickle shows up on the side. Please NO PICKLE ON THE PLATE I say adamantly. Usually this is followed closely with an eye roll from whoever I am with and an chuckle from whoever is taking my order. When a pickle shows up on my plate I have to cut off and excommunicate that food that decided to associate itself with said pickle. I seriously fucking hate that!!!!

Enough of that, I need a nap... sooo tired.....

I accept!

Time for writer's workshop! Mama Kat does a fine job of creating thought provoking writings every week, so here we are!

This week I choose #5- You've been hired as a writer for "Late Show with David Letterman." Your first assignment is to come up with a witty, nonpolitical Top Ten list for him to read on air.

The Top 10 Things I Do at Work... Besides Work!
10) Read my horoscope in the newspaper
9) Daydream about being somewhere else
8) Figure out what I'm going to have for dinner
7) Clean out my purse
6) Pretend I'm working while doing a sodoku puzzle
5) Quickly get up from my desk and hurry into the other room like I have something very important to do very suddenly.
4) Write disgruntled letters to the owner of the company that I never send
3) Chat with my co-worker (who sits about 8 ft. from me) online about all the annoying things happening around us
2) Check my email and print out all the Border's coupons I get on company letterhead (oooo classy!)
1) BLOG!

I'm chosing to accept it, because I should!

I've decided to jump on the Mama Kat bandwagon and start doing one of the weekly prompts. I'm picking #4... write about a Scrabble game that takes an ugly turn for the worst. It's not an actual happening to me... but trust me when I say, this is a true story....

(NOTE: the dialogue contained herein is a rough translation as there is no universal Cat->English dictionary currently available.)

Bubbles laid on the couch catching the late morning rays of sunshine dancing in the window. Fall was approaching, and with it, colder weather, so she and her companion, Jasper spent more of their days inside now staring at the newly snow covered mountains or, if their owners weren't there, playing Scrabble.

Scrabble doesn't come easy to cats; they aren't the best spellers and, let's face it, even WITH thumbs those tiles are hard to pick up. Yet, Bubbles and Jasper had played for years and with time comes skill. Still and often they would bicker about the correct spelling of words, but who doesn't during a Scrabble game?

As Bubbles lay purring in the sun Jasper was on the prowl and ready to play a serious game of Scrabble. As Jasper swatted at Bubbles' twitching tail she woke and grumbled, "what do you want? Don't you see how happy I am laying in the sun?" "Oh get over it, let's play Scrabble!" Jasper quipped, "The humans are gone and it's been almost all summer since we've played!" Bubbles stretched out as she stood and washed her face. "Ok, but it's your turn to get the board out from under the bed."

She watched as Jasper bounded off towards the bedrooms to headbutt the box from under the master bed. Being old pros at this, by the time Bubbles reached the bedroom, Jasper was just finishing pulling all the pieces out of the box. "Wooz turn ish it to go firrsh?" Jasper said with his mouth full of tiles for the bag. "Mine, remember you lead off last time with 'burdz'?" "Oh yeah!," Jasper laughed as he tossed the last tile into the bag, "that was a hard start!"

The two cats took turns drawing their letters and carefully placing them on the holder in front of them. After their letters were drawn Bubbles hunched down to take a closer look at what she had to start with. "Well," she thought, "I'm definitely going to win this one with letters like these!" and quietly started off the game with n-o-m-z. "Good one!" said Jasper as he took a look at his letters. He gave out a little sigh of a purr and resigned to playing the only vowels he had to put c-h-e-e off of the "z" creating "cheez." Turns went back and forth and as it always does, the board filled up and became challenging pretty quickly. Unlike human brains, kitty brains love odd letters like "x", "z", and "q". These are always in high demand and valued even more by kitties than their human counterparts.

After 45 minutes Bubbles was far in the lead and instead of worrying in between turns, she took the time to give herself mini baths and polish her beautiful dark fur. Jasper, on the other hand, didn't like the predicament he was in and fretted and hissed at his letters between turns.

They were down to the final 20 or so letters left and as Bubbles cleaned her tail, unknown to her, the tension was reaching it's peak. "WILL YOU QUIT THAT??" hissed Jasper. Bubbles' fur stood up on end as she jumped up ready to attack. "What the hell is your problem Jasper? You've never cared this much about a game before, what's the big deal today?" "YOU are the big deal! Sitting there like a queen, cleaning your fur, acting like you are better than me! What's YOUR problem huh Bubbles??" Bubbles didn't even know what to say to this so she swatted Jasper in the face for the first time in their lives. "'Sitting like a queen indeed!' You can take your stupid letters and go play by yourself in the litter box for all I care! I'm finished here!" She went to run out of the room past Jasper but he was as fast as she was and, with outstretched claws, lunged at her neck as she went by. It was a flurry of fur and claws. Hissing and fitts filled the house as the tumbling fight made it's way down the hall, down the stairs, and into the living room. Jasper had the upperpaw for most of the fight but he came on fast and strong and was starting to wear out. Bubbles wasn't as strong but the old girl had some fight left in her and she was going to see it out until the end.

Suddenly, and they both heard it, there was a car in the driveway. Jasper lept to his feet and up to the bedroom yelling "STALL STALL STALL!!" all the way up. Bubble's didn't have time to fix her mangled fur but planted herself right in the doorway. As soon as the door opened up and the humans walked in there she was, purring and rubbing against the legs of both humans trying to get bast this furry blockade. "Meow? Meow? Meow?" she called up to them, "please think I'm hungry and go into the kitchen with me!" she thought. It worked, "ok sweetie, let's get you some food! Where's Jasper, is he hungry too? Jasper!! Come here my sweet little boy!!" The humans called as they followed Bubbles to the kitchen. Suddenly Jasper showed up at the door of the kitchen too and Bubbles knew that he had, at the very least, shoved everything under the bed until it could be put away more completely. After filling their food bowls the humans went up to change into the pajamas that the cats so loved to snuggle up to them in. Just as Jasper and Bubbles were about to claim their spots on the couch they heard from the bedroom, "What is this Scrabble tile doing in my slipper??" They looked at each other and laughed a laugh that only a kitty could understand. All was forgiven because the joke was on the humans.

THE END