Tag Archives: The Can Opener

I have my very own holiday!

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Today is National SUSHI DAY!

I always knew I’m a special cat- but today my Mom said it’s National SUSHI DAY! I’m so honored! I can’t believe the whole nation celebrates ‘Sushi day!’

I’ve been just dying to write about it all day long, but Mom has been constantly wiping at my eyes and putting that darned ointment in them so it’s kind of hard to see with the goopy stuff in my eyes. I finally put the guilt trip on Mom and made her feel sorry for me and she decided to stop everything and help me post about it!

But then… when I asked her how long there’s been a national holiday celebrating cute little me, she rudely informed me that “that’s not what National Sushi day” is all about. I protested loudly, but she still insists its about some thing else…

Can you believe it? This is the ‘sushi’ she says the whole country is celebrating today!

Wait- That looks suspiciously like FISH! Mom says it is fish- but it’s a dish called “sushi” – they must have just liked me so much they named their food after me! I’m so SPECIAL!

The Can Opener though, keeps insisting it has nothing to do with me- well, if that’s so, she’d better at least let me get my paws on some ‘sushi!’ Because that looks good enough for me to celebrate!

I never heard of it before today- she says it originated in Southeast Asia and Japan (according to National Today.com). She learned that it started as a dish called Narezushi- salted fish that was stored in fermented rice for months. (I’ll take the fish, you can have the rice). It was considered a very good source of protein, and some people started leaving out the rice, and just eating the fish.

Between 1600-1800 the sushi most people know was born- when in Japan, they started mixing fish with rice and vegetables mixed in vinegar. Then, in the 1800’s another style emerged called nigirizushi– this was pretty much a mound of rice with fish draped over it.

It eventually became popular here and all over the world after a terribe earthquake in 1923 displaced a lot of peope from Edo Japan and made them have to leave their land – as they settled in different places all over the world, others became introduced to sushi in its various types and soon celebrites brought national attention to it.

So, Today (June 18) is the day to make sure you try some sushi (if you’ve never tried it before)- and why not give some to your cat?? That way we can celebrate it too!

Did you hear that, Mom? No veggies, rice or vinegar in mine, please.

Image by 3Lloi_KoteikA from Pixabay
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Memorial Day –

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Image by Anita S. from Pixabay

This is a hard post to write.

Happy Memorial Day? Somehow that doesn’t quite sound right to say. Unless “Memorial Day” is to you just a reason to get together with friends and have a barbeque.

The purpose of Memorial Day is to remember and honor those who have lost their lives in the service of our country. We who are alive and have never been in a position of defending our country no matter the cost, have a hard time grasping the full impact of what it takes to do that. Not only for the soldier who dies- but for their families. The children left behind. The spouses left to pick up the pieces and go on living and raising their children and functioning like they did before.

My heart is heavy writing this. I lost my husband in January- not because he was fighting for our country- but because he was fighting for his own life thanks to colon cancer.

When I got on my computer this morning and was confronted with “Memorial Day,” it brought back a wave of pain triggered by the word, “memorial.”

I’ve kept myself so busy trying to just keep functioning since losing my husband. But as I thought on all this today, I thought of how much worse the grief is of losing a spouse, or father or other family member in battle- When I lost my husband, I knew what he was experiencing, because I was with him daily- I saw his pain and hopelessness.

But when a person loses someone in the defense of our country- or on foreign soil, they don’t usually have the comfort of knowing that person wasn’t dying alone. They don’t get the chance to say goodbye. They are tormented by the unknown things- and they have little advance warning.

Even if you have not personally known anyone who has lost their life in this manner or is in a situation where they could- Please take a few minutes today to consider them- and pray for our soldiers wherever they may be, because they give up everything to protect us and our freedoms.

Don’t let their sacrifice be in vain.

– “The Can Opener”

http://Photo by Kevin McCartney: https://www.pexels.com/photo/low-angle-photography-of-american-flag-774316/

Morning Coffee with Sushi

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Okay human, I can sit up by myself now. How about that coffee?

I don’t like Mondays. They make me get up.

I hate it when the Can Opener wakes me up on Mondays for no reason at all except that she thinks I’m cute. Of all the nerve! If it’s not that little Albino Flea swatting me on the head to make me play, it’s the Can Opener saying, “Come on, Sushi- It’s time to groom you!”

What the flea! I’m a CAT – I can groom myself- well, okay, except for my belly and my lower parts that I can’t really reach myself because I’m so beautifully upholstered… and that spot at the base of my tail that I can’t quite reach…but still. Those two are seriously disrupting my normal 18 hour a day sleep pattern. I’m going to disrupt something of theirs, too. Right after I get some coffee- extra cream, hold the coffee.

While I’m waiting for my coffee, I think I’d better read some comics so I can forget how irritated I am at those two lower life forms.

I feel better now. Unfortunately, it’s still Monday.

Yesterday it was Spring.

cat behavior, cat blog, cat complaints, Rainy Days, Siamese cats, Sushi, Twilight, , , , , , ,
Image by Ri Butov from Pixabay

I want to know who stole Spring?

Yesterday and the day before were sunny and warm- the neighbors were working in their yards and visiting (outside) again, and Sushi and I were enjoying the sun.

The doorstep was warm and cozy so Sushi was enjoying her ‘sauna.’ It felt really good on her side after those 4 shots at the Vet’s office…
I went next door where the Can Opener and her sister were talking about plans for the garden while Sheba kept chasing me away when I tried to go sit with them.

The lilac tree is blossoming, and cherry blossoms were flying through the air like snow. I love those- Just like with falling snow, I chase the blossoms and try to catch them when they fall. The Can Opener gets a kick out of watching me do that.

However, she didn’t get a kick out of my threatening the duck couple that came moseying into our yard…

* My goodness, what delicious, I mean, adorable little dinners, DUCKS! *

It was sunny and warm and perfect the last couple of days- and this morning I was all eager to go outside and find my little fillets- I mean, FRIENDS again (just to say hello, really!)- and then the Can Opener opened the door and all of a sudden, it’s Noah’s Ark all over again!

But the funny thing is, if ducks don’t mind water and rain, why didn’t they come back? I just can’t understand it!

But I’ll be waiting when it stops raining.

Sushi and the Vet- and the dogs

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Mom- I don’t like it here! What is that black thing the size of a horse with its tongue hanging out? IT’S STARING AT ME!

Hey, Mom- I assure you you don’t have enough treats to buy your way out of this one!

I knew Sushi wasn’t going to appreciate the trip to the vet – But she appreciated it a lot less when we walked in and found that every Human being in the waiting room had a dog with them – (or two). The dogs ranged in size from a cucumber to a mini horse, and then there was the little walking mop with bleeding paws. He had his hair pulled up in a scrunchie with a pink bow on top of his head and couldn’t seem to keep his tongue in his mouth (the rest of them couldn’t, either for some reason) – and he was on a long leash and seemed quite enamored with the gray thing in the pink box with the big green eyes. He wouldn’t have been so enamored if he’d seen her claws.

The appointment was at 6:30 and we were still waiting for Sushi to get taken to a room at 8:00. Sushi objected loudly (and was getting hungry)- so she really didn’t like those overgrown hairballs staring at her and getting closer to her carrier.

Can we go now?
I think they already went home, Mom. Let’s get out of here.
Hey- you said I was here for a checkup- I checked myself and I’m okay! Let’s GO!

By 9:00, Sushi had been examined and the vet confirmed my suspicion that she had an ear infection in her left ear. I also finally got the name of the “skin condition” she has had since we adopted her- and she got an antibiotic shot for that, another antibiotic shot for feline acne (I never knew cats could get acne, but apparently they need either stainless steel, ceramic, or glass dishes to avoid getting it).

Then there were her Rabies and Distemper shots, and a tube of antibiotic ointment for her ear. She got so many comments on her pretty coat and big green eyes, but that didn’t smooth things out enough for her because by now, rain was pounding like a jackhammer on the roof making her even more nervous, and she was cold.

As soon as we got home, I put the carrier down and opened it, and she flew out of it and ran right to her food dish (big surprise).

I felt awful for her, because that was stressful for her- and having to be in the carrier so long wasn’t good. But once she saw she was safely at home and fed (and given her pain medicine)- she stayed as close to me as possible and kept giving me love all night as if to say, “thank you.” It turns out her skin condition is hyperplasia- which makes her skin extra sensitive (nerve condition)- and giving her back scratches too long actually turns painful after a few seconds. My poor baby!

But at least now I know why she sometimes hisses when we scratch her back, and it is being treated, and I’m happy I noticed she was having a problem with her ear and was able to get her help. Already, she is much calmer and happier. And I’ve gotten rid of her dishes that weren’t glass, ceramic, or stainless steel.

Today, she even followed me outside and got to enjoy the sunshine!

I feel all better now, Mom.
Hey, Twilight’s been really sweet to me since I got back- what’s wrong with her?
Goodnight! 💚

Twilight’s Tuesday Musings

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I haven’t posted for a few days because I’ve been busy helping the Can Opener.

I’ve been working as the heating pad

It’s hard being a working cat. Since the Can Opener provided hospice care for the Backup Can Opener until he passed in January, she was spending a lot of time running around the hospital and staying there a lot and wasn’t able to keep up with her previous regular workout schedule. As a result, she’s now having some ligament problems and back pain and needed a heating pad to relieve the pain. So, since she likes me a lot better than the heating pad (and she doesn’t need a place to plug me in)- she put me to work and man, have I been busy! *sweats*

This lady is really cramping my style! Just LOOK AT THOSE BIG, FAT DUCKS!

I kept trying to get up and run off at first- because I’m a serious cat. I have ducks and mice to catch, dragonflies to chase, and stray cats to run off! Did she care? No! I was so irritated – especially when I could see the neighbor next door feeding the 30 or so ducks that come to the fence for the bread, he tosses to them.

I told her to use Sushi instead- she’s a queen-size heating pad whose content to lay like a stone for hours, anyway- but the Can Opener just gave me the uplifted eyebrow (uh-oh)- and just stared at me for a minute and then I realized…that’s why I was the one chosen. The Can Opener is hurting enough without a 16-pound speed bump laying on her knees.

(The huge bag of treats sitting next to her really had nothing to do with my decision to give her a break and be her heating pad, just so you know)!

Whew! I’m finally off for the day- time to go DUCK HUNTING!

Don’t miss your doctor appointments, human- I’ve got business to tend to!

I need to go turn those ducks right side up, Mom.

Friday Fab Felines

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I love this chair, Human. Nobody else gets MY chair!

Cats that are (almost) as fabulous as Me!

It’s been busy around here for the last couple of days, and the Can Opener needs some rest. So, I told Sushi to sleep on the laptop so she couldn’t get online and spend time ignoring us to do her grocery shopping. At least, that was the plan.

Unfortunately, even though Sushi’s a whale, The Human was still able to pick her up. So, we had a long, boring day while she shopped online and then, did her grief counseling, and set up physical therapy appointments, and signed a new lease, worked out, and attacked the house with that electronic beast (AGAIN). I hate that big, noisy thing!

Now she’s in pain, and “can’t” play with us. We knew this was going to happen, but we couldn’t stop her from wanting to “get things done.”

Staying busy helps her deal with grief. But, when is there time to relax and play? So, since I can’t stop her from all this busy- stuff, I just sit and glare at by her and work on my guilt inducing glares. Apparently, she either isn’t noticing, or I’m losing my touch.

So, I consulted some of my cat pals in the neighborhood for ideas on how to distract her from her distractions and get her attention. I found some pals that are (almost) as cute as me. I’ll try some of their ideas and hope for the best!

I wonder what she’d do if I sunk my teeth into her desk drawer like this? Probably would hurt…
Maybe I’ll borrow her blow dryer like this guy did- if that doesn’t get her attention, nothing will!
Hey! This will WORK! Now I wait until she goes to bed….
Now, here’s an idea… If I sit in one of her favorite plants and stare like this, she just may wonder what’s up…
Well, not a bad idea for such a tiny little kitty. I’ll try this next.
And now I wait… She can’t stay awake forever!

We’re Back!

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It’s been a difficult couple of months- and it still is. But we conned the Can Opener into typing for us! FINALLY!

We think it’s time for some laughs.

The memorial was last Saturday. The Can Opener is needing to laugh again and we’re helping. We also know the whole world is needing a good laugh right now, so I kicked Sushi off the laptop – (I’m surprised she hasn’t flattened it)- and I’m going to share some laughs before the Can Opener gets ready to write about the memorial.

Wait- the laptop is FLATTENED! SUSHI’S IN TROUBLE!!!!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! 😹

The laptop was already flat, you little flea!

(from the Can Opener)…

Thank you all for waiting patiently- You give me so much strength! ❤️

Image by Darkmoon_Art from Pixabay

Thursday Therapy

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Quit spinning the chair so fast, human!

Grief Counseling today made the Can Opener feel better. Now I need therapy!

Now that the human is starting to feel more like herself, Sushi and I are getting nervous. Now she might start thinking about things other than preparing for the upcoming Celebration of life- and start thinking more about other things… like taking Sushi and me to the vet! Or, clipping my claws, or re-arranging the house -(again)- or buying the wrong cat food- or worse yet, VACUUMMING!

That’s what she did yesterday – (conveniently right after I settled in for a nice, long, nap). She moved everything out and vacuumed everything in the house! Moving out couches, chairs, the Critter’s toys, the entire house, and even the cat tree!! Now it’s polluted! The worst part is, every time she turned it off for a little bit, and I started to relax, she turned it on again!

Two hours later, my nerves were shot, Sushi was still asleep, and the human was just getting started. I told her to cut it out because she’s seriously messing up my life and making me look bad to the other cats in the neighborhood- Lucky for me, she was hungry, so she finally put the electronic beast away and gave it a rest. But my nerves were shot for the rest of the day and I couldn’t find the catnip anywhere. I think she’s secretly trying to kill me to save on cat food.

More later. I hear a can opening…