I am not a Circus Cat

 Barb L. just doesn't know when to quit.  I try to tell her that I'm just not a trick cat.  I ignore her, give her the cold shoulder, and try to express how much I don't want to be a trained circus cat.  But unfortunately for me, Barb is a very persuasive human. 

Which is why this happened:

Yes, that is a picture of me giving Barb a high five.  Of my own free will.  I think she was pretty happy I didn't hold out 11 1/2 months to finally cooperate with her on this trick.  

However, there are still some things I will NOT do.  

For example:

I will NOT jump through a hoop.  Even if it is a very nice embroidery hoop someone very nicely let Barb borrow for this humiliation   trick.  

Not gonna do it.  Nope.  

Why can't we just stick with the high five...

Barb's next task on her to-do list is to teach me to "speak" on command.  I'm looking forward to seeing how she will try to convince me to do that one, because I'm thinking I might need a whole lot more treats for a trick like that.  

Definitely not training for the circus,

Chance

The Flitting Fluttering Things

 The end of this summer the flitting fluttering things came to visit me.  Which was very thoughtful of them (though I'm not sure they had any choice), and I quite enjoyed their stay.  

I kept trying to give them *love pats* to let them know how much I appreciated their coming to visit, but there was this annoying screen thing in my way.  And on top of that, every time I tried to let the flittering things know how much I appreciated them, a staff member would unceremoniously pick me up and move me far away from my flitting fluttering friends.  

I guess they were trying to protect the delicate nature of the flitting fluttering things, but I'm pretty sure my *love pats* weren't going to harm them.  

I've heard tell that all my flitting fluttering friends have flown south towards Mexico for the winter (they don't have a nice library to stay inside all winter), but I'm looking forward to their return next summer.  Hopefully next time there won't be an annoying screen thing in my way.    

Chance

A Marvelous Thing Called Catnip

I had the opportunity to eat another plant the other week.  But this time, I was actually ALLOWED to eat the plant.  It was the very wonderful plant, Catnip.  I've had dried catnip before, but this catnip was super duper fresh!  

*sniff, sniff*

At first I was a little suspicious.  The only plant I'm ever allowed to eat are dandelions!  But then...

 

*pat pat*

*nom nom*

It was delicious.  And very energizing.  I didn't take a cat nap for at least an hour.  

It was pretty marvelous.  

Hoping someone will bring me more of that green stuff,

Chance

Braving the Cardboard Labyrinth

 I've always been told that mice like mazes and are even experts on running through them.  So a cat has to wonder; Could a cat beat a mouse at running through a maze?  Entirely for competition, of course, not because I want a snack.    

The other day I decided to test this.  Or rather, Barb L.  had a cardboard maze set up for a summer program, and she thought I'd like it.   

The maze was entirely pitch black inside, which I guess was a problem for the humans who went through.  A bunch of them took flashlights so they could make it out.  The ones who braved the pitch dark without a light kept running into the walls, which was hilarious.     I, on the other hand, am a cat.  And cats don't need flashlights to walk through a dark maze without running into the wall.  It's one of our many talents.  

I heard that some kids found the dark and twisty carboard tunnel to be a little scary, but I thought it was quite exhilarating.   In fact, my third time through I was having so much fun I didn't want to leave.  One certain staff member was beginning to be concerned I might be lost and stuck her head in the maze to try and find me, which I thought was silly.  If I wanted to be found I would have been found.   

"Chaaancee!!  Here kitty, kitty!"

Eventually I came back out into the real world.  

Which perhaps was a mistake, because I'd really like to leave the "real world" for a bit longer and go back into that box maze. 

Training for a mouse maze,

Chance

Three O' Clock

 Everyday at approximately 3:00 pm I make an expedition down to the youth department's front desk.  You could call it my daily constitutional.  Or snack time.  Either works.  But everyday without (almost) fail, I arrive in Youth department lobby at 3:00 pm.  In fact, the staff downstairs have learned to anticipate my visit, and sometimes, if I decide to be a little early (punctuality is everything), they tell me to wait for my snack time.  Which is ridiculous, because I'm pretty sure I'm the one who says how things should be done around here, not them.  

Anyway, a few weeks ago (I know, I'm slow when it comes to writing) as I was coming down the stairs early again, I overheard my name said.  Of course, this made me walk down the stairs faster so I could find out what was being said about me.  As I turned the corner into the youth department, I was greeted by the most wonderful smell of green plants.  There sitting on a cart, was a delicious looking pile of foliage and greenery.  

What is that delicious smell?

Naturally, I decided to more closely investigate this pile of plants, and jumped onto the counter near the cart. 

 

//sniff//sniff//

But as soon as I got my nose close to these plants, they were wheeled away and locked in a room.  I was told that this was for my own protection, the plants weren't for me, and something about them giving me cardiac arrest.  Humph.  

Turns out, that earlier when the staff was saying my name it wasn't because they wanted to give me more attention.  It was more along the lines of "Quick, we better hide these plants before Chance sees them and eats them or he'll go into cardiac arrest."  Which I guess the last part is thoughtful.  I'm not particularly sure what cardiac arrest entails, but I don't like cars and I don't want to be arrested, so I probably wouldn't like it.  

Well, the summer reading kids are coming in, so I'm off to find somewhere to hide out for awhile.

Chance