First off, I guess I should apologize for my overtly lazy ways. Indeed, I have been a bit lax as far as posting is concerned but...well...Look, to be honest I still haven't gotten used to having to do ALL of the posting prep work at a computer other than the one I sit at for 9 hours or so while I'm at work. Frankly, once I get home, there's stuff to do other than "get a blog post all done up and posted." Yes, I know that I left the Las Vegas recap hanging with no clear end in sight. I do plan to remedy that situation as soon as I can. Not TODAY, mind you, but as soon as I can. Seriously. For now, enjoy these few snapshots of my parents' cat, Abby...
click the pictures! They get HUGE!


Playing the role of "Jungle Cave Cat," Abby lurches from her lair and strikes with lethal accuracy at her prey (that would be you, just in case you were wondering). Not to worry, though...She's missing front claws so it'll probably just tickle. Lethally accurate tickling, but just tickling nonetheless...


Oh, hi there. And who might YOU be? I shall remain here at the top of the stairs until I either desperately need something which I cannot provide for myself or until I hear the treat container shaking. Outside of that, you are invited to go about your business. Good day.


I'm not looking at you. Indeed, you can call my "name" all you wish but I shall not respond. I am, in fact, busy. As you can plainly see, I'm locked in a staredown contest with this strikingly handsome cat immediately to my flank. I...I can't seem to move my gaze elsewhere...


Ok, fine...I shall look at you but only for a brief period of time. That other cat better still be there when I turn back around, though, or there will be HELL to pay. Mark my words...


You there! Stop what you're doing and give my belly a thorough rubbing! No, it's not a request, it is a COMMAND. ON YOUR KNEES! Also: get that scratchy thing I love so much...


On second thought, I have a cleaning scheduled. You are cordially invited to remove yourself from my presence until such time that I see fit for you to come around again. Oh yes, please to not forget the scratchy thing at that time. It pleases me greatly...Thank you.

So there you are, kids...Pictures of a cat for your viewing pleasure. As always, thanks for stopping by...You all have a fine Weekend now...

Labels: Cat Pictures, Phrickin' Photoblogs

Indeed, Aesop (you know, the fable fabricator of ye olden tymes) said something like "promises were made to be broken." Surely he said something like that in one of his many frickin' fables. Anyhow, it's true, really...I mean, I promised at least one poor soul that I'd have the video of my mother having a hell of a time figuring out Wii Sports up for your collective viewing pleasure today...

As I'm sure you're all astute enough to discern by now, that's not going to be the case.

"WHY!? Why do you do these things!?" you may ask, with an indignant tone which I believe I'm none too fond of...Well, the reason is simple: the video needs more editing. Additionally, I didn't have time to do said editing before today. AS SUCH: I promise to at least that one person who wants to see the video that I'll do the requisite editing this weekend and have it up for viewing in about a week. In the mean time, in place of a showcase depicting a 57 year old retail manager playing video game golf, I give you "Abby the Cat's first Christmas" (well, her first as a resident in my parent's household, at least)...
you click, pictures go *blooey* and expand.


You all know Abby, she's the cat that my parents acquired a while back. I've displayed pictures of her before (and even a video) but these pictures are just a wee bit more special. See, Abby was given a large stash of cat toys for Christmas back in December and the following photos chronicle that event. All that the above photo serves as is proof that she lays funny. Look at how her goofy back leg sticks out...I think she's self-conscious about it...Anyhow, moving on...


Hey! A toy! Abby has found the first of many toys in her Christmas bag, the fat cat Crackler, a catnip filled chipmunk toy that will eventually cause her to spiral into a drug-induced state of psychosis (which we all enjoyed immensely, by the by)...


Here's a better look at "the Crackler" with Abby lording over said toy. She may be playing it cool in THIS picture, but believe me, she could barely contain herself after just a few hits of the catnip. Like night and day, kids...Night and day...


And ANOTHER toy! This one is the Hartz Play Mouse (also catnip infused). Ironically, I think this ended up being her least favorite of the bunch. As an aside, take a look at the nazi-cat on the side of the box.


Here Abby is inspecting a third toy, a springy panther-thing...I'm not exactly sure why an ordinary housecat would want to beat up on a malformed jungle predator, but...Well, actually, I don't know that Abby plays much with this toy either...


But THIS toy, This toy is her absolute favorite. I don't even think it has any catnip in it...It does, however, have a furry thing with some streamers and a bell attached to a "fishin' pole" apparatus. Abby literally forces this toy on everyone she sees, begging them to make it move so she can attack (even though she lacks front claws).


Here she's using the recliner and getting some leverage so as to better destroy her favorite plaything...


And this is where endless playtime and copious amounts of catnip gets you: unable to roll over without assistance. Observe how Abby brings her front paws together as if to say "please help me! Turn me over, I'm high on controlled substances."

So that's that...As always, thanks for stopping by, you kids have a fine weekend now...

Labels: Cat Pictures, Phrickin' Photoblogs

And welcome to another snowy and windswept Friday here in the Rocky Mountains. Much like last week at this time, we're in middle of one of those "snow and blowing snow advisories." Seriously, though, even though LAST week's blizzard was way worse and dumped more snow, blah blah blah, This week's blizzard (due to temperature differentials, I'd assume) has turned the streets into skating rinks...Nothing but ice, everywhere you go...Anyhow, enough of that crap, you've come to this site in the hopes that I'm going to give you fine folks a Phrickin' Photoblog, right? Well, you're not getting one of those, but you ARE going to get a video of my parents' recently acquired cat playing with one of the cat toys that she received for Christmas. So hey, if you've read THIS far, why not watch the video, huh?

So there's that...As always, thanks for stopping by...You kids have a happy New Year's celebration...

Labels: Cat Pictures, vaunted videoblogs

Holy crap, it's Friday already. Not just any Friday, either...No no, this happens to be the final Friday prior to the Christmas holiday. It also happens to be the Friday following a big blizzard which shut things down for a day or so in our neck of the woods. With all that said, one would think that since I'm busting out the Phrickin' Phriday Photoblog for you fine folks today, that the theme of said photoblog would either be "Christmas" or "Blizzard Pictures" or both. Of course, if one WOULD have thought that, one would be wrong...

See what happens when you try and assign reason to any of my actions?

Anyhow, my mom recently acquired a digital camera and, being that she has trouble with all things electronic, the pictures which she's taken to this point with said digital camera have stayed safely on the digital camera. A couple of days ago, I took her digital camera and got the pictures which were on it so that I can share some of the images with you. I SHALL DELAY NO LONGER! On with the pictures!
you clicky, they biggy. Or something like that...


My parents got themselves a new cat. Well, the cat isn't new, but...Well, look...Someone died, sadly, and my mom and dad took custody of the guy's cat. The cat's name is Abby and, as you can see here, Abby likes my wife. At least, Abby likes my wife well enough to allow my wife to pet her.


Abby likes to hang out on the back of one of the two large recliners that my parents have in their living room. When I'm visiting, I also like to hang out in one of the aforementioned chairs, albeit not on the back...As you can see here, Abby begrudgingly agreed to share the chair with me (though she wasn't too happy about it).


Even Walmart sells cool stuff...Here's my wife, myself and my mother all decked out in our Denver Bronco Themed baseball style jerseys. The back even has the number and name of 1 of 3 "popular" Bronco players...My wife was smart enough to get the John Lynch jersey while my mom and I ended up with Jake Plummer...Indeed, we purchased these before Jay Cutler took over as the starting quarterback in the Mile High City...As I tell people now, the placekick holder has ALWAYS been my favorite player...


MEEEEEAAAAT! Are those brains? NO! They're what's left over from the lamb shank I had been trimming up. Lot's of fatty goodness in that pile, believe me. Soon after this picture was taken, I threw that big mess into the trash.


Hey, good to see ya, where ya from? This was one of the first pictures taken on mom's camera...How sad is that?


By popular demand, we're going back to displaying cat pictures...In this photo, you can see Abby in her plotting perch, plotting...Um...Something...Something nefarious, to be sure...Just look at those shifty eyes! Shifty eyed cats can't be trusted...


Finally we have an example of the fact that when Abby demands attention, she won't give up until you give in. Here we see my mom trying in vain to ignore the cat who, as per usual, got what she wanted through sheer intimidation (also: cuteness).

So there's that...I likely won't get around to posting anything else before the Christmas holiday, so I would like to wish all of you a happy holiday season, regardless of what you celebrate. As always, thanks for stopping by - have a great extended weekend!..

Labels: Cat Pictures, Phrickin' Photoblogs, sports, stuff mom's done

Hey, crap, it's Friday! You know, with the shortened week (and also the fact that I'm damn near out of photos to scan) this whole "Phrickin' Photoblog" thing kind of snuck up on me. Now, I figured that I had two options today regarding that...I could simply ignore it, pretend it doesn't exist and just not do one, or I could put a decent amount of thought into it and come up with a great post to share with you good people. Continuing, though, my tradition of doing things in a manner which can only be called "half-assed," I decided to take the middle road and just scan some stinkin' photos of hamsters, a cat and a cow. No, seriously, that's what I did...Don't believe me? just take a look at the pictures...
click on them, they will become larger depictions of hamsters, a cat and a cow...

Ha ha, here we have the two hamsters which my sister and I called our pets when we were younger. Granted, we ripped through hamsters pretty quickly (they don't have a terribly lengthy life expectancy) but THESE two were around long enough that we took some pictures of them. Curled up in the corner there, that was mine, named Nikolai and the one standing up, that was my sister's, named "Madonna." That cage looks mighty clean!..Good thing, too...I didn't want to have to spend any time today Photoshopping out little hamster turds...


Here we find little Nikolai, briefly free from the confines of that plastic box they called home. Indeed, some people are squeamish around rodents...Some people, though, allow them to tool around on their furniture. We were the latter...The hamsters were welcome members of the family...LOOK A' THEM WEE LITTLE FEET! Tell me that's not cute...Go ahead, tell me...I'll smack you in the back of the head and tell you that you're WRONG! you will then (predictably) cry and give me a look that says "what the Hell was THAT for!?" Anyhow, moving on...


This, kids, is one of those "eatin' animals." This is a cow, to which a name was given. Yes, I believe that this was my uncle's cow (even though it was housed at my grandparent's place) and they called it "Gordie Cow." Certainly, you can see the evil which resides behind those beady cow eyes. Ultimately, this cow fulfilled it's bovine destiny and was served up as meat. Mmmmm! Cow!


RITA! This here is a picture of my cat who, of course, is no longer with us. my sister is holding her in this shot and, as is evident by the look on Rita's face, she didn't like to be held much...


Here's my dad, holding Nikolai the hamster up for the camera. Look how photogenic the little guy was! Hell, he's even smiling! Certainly, Nikolai was a fine pet...The finest $3.99 could by, at least...


Conversely, here we see the other hamster, Madonna, being held by my sister. Look how forlorn the little bastard was, always looking around, thinking "hey, I could be down there, having a Heck of a time." Madonna was a lot like Rita, I guess...

So there you go: pictures of hamsters, a cat and a cow. As always, thanks for stopping by...You all have a fine weekend, now...

Labels: Cat Pictures, Phrickin' Photoblogs

Hey kids it's THURSDAY! Indeed, being the day after Wednesday, I am about to display for you all my latest half-assed creative endeavor for the Illustration Friday site...This week's theme was "cats" and, since I never did get around to seeing the Broadway production of the same name, I went with a more traditional definition of the word and by traditional I mean "weird" and by weird I mean this:
Click to get a clearer view of the carnage

And there's that...No imaginary animals were harmed in the production of today's illustration. Indeed, this particular breed of cat's head routinely just POPs off and tools around town...Seriously...

Labels: cartoons n' stuff, Cat Pictures, Illustrations

And so, we find ourselves at the end of the workweek, ready to be literally steeped in tradition and imagery. "What the crap are you talking about" you ask? PRICKIN' PHOTOBLOG PHRIDAY, man! THAT'S what I'm talkin' about! Today, since I've been thrilling you all with tales of meat and/or indulgence from my recent trip to Las Vegas, I thought it best to also share a few of the photos which I took during that same vacation. Granted, I missed out on the really good photo opportunities by leaving my camera behind when we went to Shark Reef and Penn and Teller (I know, SO STUPID), but I did get enough shots to fill up a post. Which is all that matters. To me.

Anyhow, let's get on with it, shall we?...


This here is a shot of what shall be known henceforth as "Casa De Andy." This is the house where I was staying with my friends Andy and Andrea. See? Homey and cozy! The street is also relatively quiet as it's really not a "through" street...Of course, some of you would probably faint if I shared with you the cost of such a home in the Las Vegas area so, instead, we'll just move on to something slightly more "soothing"...


KITTY! This is the cat that lives with Andy and Andrea. She's a fat little siamese kitty who apparently runs from EVERYONE she doesn't know. Everyone but me, that is (I so special). I stole this shot while the kitty was relaxing under the recliner in the living room...


Speaking of the recliner in the living room, here it is (though it's now filled up with "Andy.") Yes, the recliner is comfortable. Yes, it's leather. Yes, I'm jealous 'cause I don't have one in my house...Moving on...


Jumping back outside, here's the view down the street from their front porch. My future brother-in-law Aldie says that it looks like a miniature San Francisco to him. I wouldn't know, I've never been there (except, of course, for during Full House reruns)...


MORE KITTY!..


And, back inside, we find ourselves in the "drum room" upstairs. LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE DRUMS! It was pretty hard to get a shot of all of them, since the kit literally fills the entire room. Andy has "silencer pads" on most of the drums which are supposed to muffle the sound so that you could, conceivably, practice without disturbing the neighbors. Truthfully, though, even with the mufflers, the kit is pretty powerful. I did take a turn at the throne, so to speak, but found that my feet failed me. I cannot keep rhythm on the bass drum(s). I can, however, play fun little ditties solely with the snare...Still: no match for Andy's double bass skills...


Now, I didn't take this picture just because of the naked pottery butts. I took this picture because those naked pottery butts happen to be VAN BRIGGLE pottery butts. Indeed, I had barely given any notice to the vase until I was told that it was Van Briggle. for those of you not in the know of why Van Briggle means so much (at least to my hometown of Colorado Springs), you can go here to get all "filled in" and stuff...


And finally, we find ourselves at one of our last food stops (and one I have yet to thoroughly chronicle for you) in Famous Dave's BBQ. Indeed, his pit Bar-B-Que is now legendary for me, having eaten there and been completely overwhelmed by "food." Again, I shall tell you all more about that in a future entry, but suffice to say: Famous Dave's kicks the ass!..

And so that's that! Another Phrickin' Photoblog in the books...You all have a fine weekend now...

Labels: Cat Pictures, get outta town, I eat food, Phrickin' Photoblogs

Hey, don't be all "like that." It's STILL Friday, even if it is like...later in the day on Friday. I'm STILL putting up a Phrickin' Photoblog for you to "ooh" and "ahh" over. That's right. Settle down.

Todays exhibition of pictorial goodness features my pet cat Rita who, sadly, is no longer with us. If you're so inclined (to simper and cry like a little girl), you can read more about her right here. For now, though, ON WITH THE PHOTOS! You click, they puff up, etc.


One of the places which Rita liked to perch was right on top of my mom or dad's car underneath their carport. This picture was taken by my parents' neighbor. Observe the indifference with which Rita regards him! This will be a theme with her, as you shall soon discover...


Here's a good shot of her on the front lawn of the house on Hackberry. She's doing her best to pretend to be looking at something else while the picture is being snapped. Perhaps she's looking for something to kill...She was good at the killin'...


Here's a similar shot taken at my parents' townhome a couple of years later. Rita's most likely looking to come inside due to the fact that it's cold outside. (The photo doesn't show real well the fact that this was the only "clear patch" on the patio, the rest of it was covered in "snow," a cold substance which cats are not terribly fond of).


Continuing the theme of "cat on object," here she is perched on the step of my parents' neghbor's motor home. The neighbors loved Rita almost as much as we did, so she was welcome to sit there as long as she pleased. Of course, now that I think of it, "permission" really didn't matter to her all that much.


Rita, like most cats, enjoyed solitude on a regular basis. She was quite fond of hiding underneath the bushes at the Hackberry house. Again she is displaying an indignant "I don't see you" type of expression.


Rita enjoyed itching her chin on the corners of the walls in my parents' townhome. Here she is, doing just that.


For all of her indignance, Rita was a sucker for a pillow. All you had to do was grab a pillow from the couch and place it on your lap and, in no time at all, it would be filled up with "cat." of course, once she was ensconced on the pillow, she expected whomever had said pillow on their lap to rub her head and/or scratch her back. She certainly led a challenging life...

Well, that's that...Now you all have a fine weekend, filled with things like head rubs and lounging in the sun...

Labels: Cat Pictures, Phrickin' Photoblogs, sad stories