Wednesday, July 29, 2009

The Dog Pound

By Susie-Q

Sound the alarm !!! Today the Happy Campers boxed me up in the“Cat Garage” and loaded me into the back seat of the Honda. Now what? Like Rex, I don’t like to be separated from the camper, and all my stuff.

It was a long trip, reminded me of my first trip five weeks ago when they brought me home.  Hey, where is my feeder, water, and my sand box?

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OH MY GOD !!! It’s the Dog Pound !!! I don’t believe it !! I’ve been good, come on guys, give me a break, I’m just a youngster. P-L-E-A-S-E …….. don’t send me back to the Dog Pound!!!

This isn’t looking good.  The over-flow cages in the hallway are full, Mary’s at the window doing paperwork.

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I’m still with Rex in my Cat Garage. Really this Cat Garage isn’t such a bad place.  I’ll even quit whining about it!

I guess this is The End, the Animal Control Officer took me and the Cat Garage into the back room.  She removed me from the Cat Garage and immediately gave me a couple of shots in the butt. OUCH !!!

Hey wait …….

She returned me to the Cat Garage instead of the hallway cages. Look the Happy Campers are still here, and everybody is smiling.

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Turns out they just brought me back to Animal Control for some free cat shots, including a Rabies shot.  They donated a couple of bags of cat food they got at Petco after they returned that God awful pet bed.

It turned out to be a terrible day, spending 6 hours in the Cat Garage and car doing errands in Las Vegas, but even with a sore ass from the shot, it’s good to be back home with the Happy Campers!!

Monday, July 27, 2009

Happy Birthday Randy J !!!

YOUR SECOND BIRTHDAY IS A SPECIAL ONE !!!  NOW IS THE TIME TO LEARN THAT BIRTHDAYS ARE ALL ABOUT ME !!!

GET ALL THOSE BIG SISTERS TO HELP YOU CELEBRATE YOUR DAY !!!

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Happy Birthday Jesse !!!

HOY !!!  HOY !!!  HOY !!!

AND HAPPY 37TH BIRTHDAY JESSE !!!  TAKE GOOD CARE OF ALL THOSE LOVELY LADIES AT YOUR HOUSE !

Friday, July 24, 2009

Junk Drawer

A few years ago we had a web site on which we posted pictures of all of our travels. It was easier to share pictures with people if we just posted them to the web site. That way people could look at them when and it they wanted to. Although we haven’t updated the pictures on the site it is still up and the address is: www.angelfire.com/az3/rex0122.

Sometimes we would have pictures that we wanted to share but didn’t fit in any particular category so we put them on the “junk drawer” page. I mention this only because this is sort of a “junk drawer” blog.

Since we have moved to our current summer camp site, the work commute has gone from 10 miles to 22. That can be a really long drive at 2, 3, or 4 AM. And to make it even worse we see stuff running across the road that really grosses me out. We don’t see animals like deer, opossum, or raccoon….no we see animals like coyotes, jack rabbits, and MICE. Yes mice actually run across the road here. I just can’t believe it!!

When we first came up with a mouse problem, that was devastating to me. I am the screaming woman on a table top when it comes to mice. Don’t know why because snakes, spiders, and bugs don’t bother me but rodent things really get to me. That is why Susie came into our lives and camper. I do have to say that Rex and Susie have done a wonderful job of handling that problem. I can honestly say that I have NEVER seen a mouse in this camper…..not even a picture of one.

I have been kind of closed mouth about the cat. Just not much of a pet person but I do have to say that Susie sure has entertained us with her kitten antics. Her graceful leaps and bounds are something to see. When we first got her, naming her was the first problem…a people name or a pet name?? Of course with some of the names people come up with for their kids, I’m not sure you can tell anymore. For some reason Susie sort of rolled off my tongue and it stuck.

I found it really funny that Susie seemed pick out her own place to sleep and that place was on the pillow right on top of Rex’s head. I thought I’d take a picture to show you where she sleeps…

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Think I startled Rex much??? But, but, I really needed the flash….

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Missing Lake Tahoe

So now it is July and I am really, really missing Lake Tahoe.  So what specifically do I miss about Lake Tahoe?

Here is what I miss about Lake Tahoe:

1.  The Tuesday Farmer’s Market..I cannot begin to tell you how much I miss the fresh produce I got each and every week at this Farmer’s Market.  Also my weekly batch of fresh salsa is missing because I don’t have that wonderful produce from Northern California to make it.  I also miss my occasional trips to the Farmer’s Market in Carson City.  Speaking of Carson City, I miss my weekly trip to Trader Joe’s!!

2.  My morning walk through the forest.  What better way to get your exercise that walking through a forest of Jeffery pine trees and a vast array of wild flowers?

3.  Taylor Creek—I love that nature hike through Taylor Creek. It has examples of all the ecosystem components that makes Lake Tahoe the clean, beautiful lake that it is.  It is also a very cool place to visit in the fall when the salmon come to spawn….a really interesting phenomenon—colorful too as the salmon turn a bright, bright red.

4.  Brother’s.  Ah, our favorite bar and it was within walking distance of the campground.  Well walking distance for me, but Rex always chose to meet me there with a vehicle.  When we first starting going to Lake Tahoe, the owner (he sold last year) had a childhood connection to Wrigley Field……his father worked for the Wrigley’s I think.  They also had a bartender whose girlfriend was from Iowa…..someone Rex enjoyed visiting with at any rate.

5.  Our annual trip to Virginia City.  No matter how many times we have been there I always find something new to see.  I am so grateful that I bought a jewelry piece in the rock shop there last year.  It is a necklace drop that has peridot, garnet, and citron.  Which happens to be the birth stones of three of my children.  It is a truly beautiful piece and one of my favorite possessions.

6.  Placerville, San Francisco, Napa Valley, and Sutter’s Mill.  Of those three places the only one I have actually visited is Placerville, but we have had plans to visit the other locations on our visit list.  They are all within four hours of Lake Tahoe…..and I regret that we didn’t get to San Francisco, Napa Valley, and Sutter Mill in all of the years we spent at Lake Tahoe.  What a waste!!!  Can’t begin to tell you how much I regret that…

7.  The Weather!!!  My comment about Lake Tahoe summer weather is this: “You can wear shorts everyday and never have to run your air conditioner”.  When it comes to summer what could be better than that???

8.  Bugs.  One thing about winter in Arizona – no bugs.  Well that is also true of Lake Tahoe in the summer time.  I really love to open the doors and windows and not have to worry about bugs.  Unfortunately, in light of where we are spending this summer, Mohave Valley, Arizona DOES have bugs in the summer time!!  Who knew???

9.  Co-Workers.  We really worked with some great people at Harvey’s.  I would love to list them all, but for fear of missing someone, I think I’ll just say that I will miss some of these really incredible people---maybe next year!!

So what don’t I miss about Lake Tahoe in the summer time??

1. I don’t miss 6 AM starts for work.  Have you ever gotten up at 4 AM to go to work??  It SUCKS!!

2.  I also don’t miss the shower house at Chris Haven (the campground).  It was ok but had problems that I found a pain to live with.

Well when I look at it and blue and white…it’s true  I MISS LAKE TAHOE!!

 

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Home Alone

By Susie-Q

The Happy Campers left camp for 10 days of house sitting.  The first 7 days I got to go along.  I wasn’t very happy with the “Cat Garage” and travelling in the backseat of the car, but my whining had no effect on them at all.

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When we arrived, I was so pissed off, that I immediately found a place to hide.  They put me in the master bathroom to keep me away from the puppy.  There was a bottom drawer slightly open, and I crawled in.  Inside the back of the drawer I squeezed over the top and down under the drawer. Aha, let them find me now !!!

It was a couple of hours before Mary came looking for me, to see how I was doing back in the master bath.  She didn’t have a clue, It was like I vanished into thin air. Maybe if I get tired of camping I can find work in Vegas with one of those slippery magicians.

Another hour passed, and Rex came to look for me. The Dumb Stupid Idiot, looked in the bottom drawer and shoved it closed tight! and left !  DAMN IT !!!  Now I’m stuck and can’t get out.

I screamed, hollered, and cried for another hour.  Neither one of them can hear for Shit.  Finally they both came back to the bathroom to search again.  They finally heard me crying and removed the drawer from the cabinet to release me from the trapped, dark, hiding place.  Basically, I wished I was home in the camper!

Instead of Hiding (plan A), I next worked out an escape (plan B).  I hid under the bathroom vanity right by the door.  The next time they came into the bathroom to check on me I high tailed it out of the bathroom and under the bed.

Aha, success, they didn’t even see me escape the bathroom and now I had a whole Master Bedroom to live in and explore. I layed comfortably under the bed and watched them come search the bathroom every hour, and leave just shaking their heads at my disappearing act.

Eventually while Rex was down on his hands and knees, calling my name, he heard me laughing under bed.  I figured I was in trouble, and would be spending the rest of the day locked in the Cat Garage, but Rex just picked me up and put me on top of the king size bed, rubbed me behind the ears, and told me to stay in the bedroom and away from the puppy out in the other rooms.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!

The last three days of house sitting they brought me home to the camper to stay by myself.  They stopped at Pet Smart and bought this gallon jug.

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I thought maybe they’d use a liter of Jack Daniels to keep me “Happy” for Three Days Home Alone. Nope I got water, and here is a shot of my self feeder. They have to remember to feed me once a month.

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I survived Three Days Home Alone, and The Happy Campers were very proud of me. They said it was part of my Basic Training, because they like to go up to Laughlin and Vegas and stay on their days off once in awhile.

I can’t tell you how glad I was to see them return. I ripped around the camper as they unloaded, helped them put stuff away, and played with them the rest of the day, skipping my afternoon Cat Nap.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

SKINNY DIPP’N

I DO A LOT OF PISS’IN AND MOAN’IN ON THIS BLOG, BUT REALLY I AM A VERY POSITIVE PERSON.

IN OUR PURSUIT OF “SUNNY & 80” THIS SUMMER HAS BEEN A BUST. BUT I FINALLY FOUND SOMETHING THAT THIS EXTREME HEAT IS GOOD FOR……

SKINNY DIPP’N !!!

THE LAST 10 DAYS WE’VE BEEN HOUSE SITTING. WHY WOULD YOU HAVE REX AND MARY HOUSE SIT WHILE YOU GO ON VACATION?

THE ANSWER IS PETS. WE TAKE CARE OF YOUR PETS, WATER YOUR LAWN, AND DO POOL MAINTAINENCE WHILE YOU’RE AWAY ON VACATION.

THE ONE THING THAT THIS DESERT SUN DOES WELL, IS HEAT UP THE POOL WATER. IT’S LIKE BATH WATER AND THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE TO BE ON A HOT SUNNY AFTERNOON.

DID WE TAKE ANY PICTURES?

OK, JUST ONE.

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Sunday, July 12, 2009

HOW HOT IS IT?

HOW HOT IS IT?

IT'S HOT ENOUGH TO FRY AN EGG ON THE SIDEWALK !!!


WE RECENTLY ATTENDED THE 19TH ANNUAL FRY AN EGG ON THE SIDEWALK CONTEST IN OATMAN.

THE CONTESTANTS HAVE 15 MINUTES TO FRY AN EGG USING ONLY THE HEAT OF THE SUN. IF IT'S OATMAN, THE COWBOYS ARE SURE TO BE THERE, AND HERE THEY ARE FIRING OFF THEIR GUNS FOR THE "GO" SIGNAL TO START FRYING THOSE EGGS.







THE GROUP IS MADE UP OF MOSTLY KIDS.









THE TEMPERATURE WAS ONLY 105 DEGREES, AND THE EGG FRYERS WERE A BIT DISAPPOINTED.




BUT EVERY CONTEST HAS A WINNER, AND LIKE MANY OF THE PREVIOUS YEARS THE WINNER WAS ERIC, AND HIS WIFE, XINAXIAO CHOU, WHO WAS A PHYSICS PROFESSOR IN BEIJING, CHINA. THEY COOKED A PERFECT SUNNY SIDE UP EGG IN 60 SECONDS.



"The Frensel lens sequesters the carbon from the carbon dioxide. The heat coming out of the lens is about 3800 degrees," Eric said. The frensel lens, named for French physicist Augustin Jean Fresnel, is a thin, optical lens of many concentric rings, which amplify light - and heat.

"We don't have an energy crisis in this country, we have an innovation crisis," Eric said.







TO DEMONSTRATE THE POWER OF THE SUN, ERIC COOKED SAUSAGE AND BACON BEFORE THE CONTEST STARTED, AND RAN A SMALL STEAM POWERED TURBINE. IT WAS THE ONLY COOKING AREA ON THE SIDEWALK THAT INCLUDED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Swing Shift Cat



I’m getting the Happy Camper’s routine figured out now after a couple weeks of living in the camper. When they begin getting ready for work, I get up from my cat nap to send them off with a smile on their face.

When they go to work on swing shift at the casino, I set up for work as well. I take up my position on top of Mary’s glass desk and assume my surveillance on Mouse control. I hate to brag, but I showed Rex where a dead mouse was inside the duct work for the furnace, made me the Cat Of The Day in Mary’s eyes, but the Mouse War continues.

After two days I gave up my secret Hide-Out, there isn’t much point hiding from the Happy Campers, they really don’t bother me much and there is nothing to be afraid of. The Hide-Out was super secure and cool. I slipped unnoticed under Steve’s chair and climb up on a board inside the chair where nobody could reach me. I’ll keep that secure spot on reserve for emergencies.

My quest for some of that delicious human food continues. I’m sure that Mary is the one that will cave in on this issue so I give her the evil cat eye and pester the hell out of her when ever she eats. So far, I’ve made zero progress. I’m beginning to understand where she got the will power to quit smoking six and half years ago.

Here is the only problem in my life:



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This the Green Squirt Bottle Weapon!!!

I hate the Weapon, and the firing of it, I have no choice but to make a hasty retreat to the Cat Hut. It’s completely UNFAIR when they use the weapon!! They don’t give me a warning, no polite “NO” or anything!

I can get away with all kinds of cat pranks, like walking around the table, bed, jumping up on chairs, waking them in the middle of the night with “kisses”, climbing up to look out the widow, prowling behind the furniture, but when I climbed up the screen door with my sharp little claws chasing bugs on the outside of the screen, ZAP ! Then the next day I was playfully chewing on the cell phone charger cord ZAP ! Climb into the kitchen sink ZAP !

God Damn It !! I hate that Green Squirt Bottle Weapon!!

I taught myself to stay away from those dangerous mirrored closet doors, and I’m never going to climb up the screen door again!

I love it when the Happy Campers come home from work. Rex opens a beer and plays with me for an hour. If Rex is busy, Mary gets out my toys to play. I’m getting quite a collection toys, check out my scratching post.



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I spend hours chasing my own tail, what fun !! Try it sometime.


Thursday, July 9, 2009

Happy Birthday Randy !!!

HOY !!!  HOY !!!  HOY !!!

AND HAPPY 42 AND BIRTHDAY RANDY !!!!  ENJOY YOUR DAY AND CELBRATE WITH ALL THOSE KIDS.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

COMMUTE TO WORK

USUALLY MARY WRITES THE BLOGS ABOUT OUR COMMUTE TO WORK, BUT I THOUGHT I’D GIVE IT TRY THIS TIME.

FIRST THING IS THE HIDDEN DRIVEWAY DOWN TO THE MAIN DIRT ROAD.

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THE SECOND PICTURE SHOWS THE WASH THAT THE DRIVEWAY GOES THROUGH. THIS IS THE AREA WE ARE WORRYING ABOUT DURING THE MONSOON SEASON. HERE IN THE WEST INSTEAD OF BUILDING UP THE ROAD AND PUTTING IN A CULVERT THEY JUST BUILD THE ROAD OR DRIVEWAY DOWN THROUGH THE WASH AND IF IT’S A PAVED ROAD, THEY PUT UP A LITTLE YELLOW SIGN THAT SAYS, DO NOT ENTER WHEN FLOODED.

HISTORICALLY THE MONSOON SEASON STARTS THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF JULY, AND CONTINUES THRU AUGUST.

A MILE UP THE MAIN DIRT ROAD TAKES US TO THE ORIGINAL ROUTE 66 AND INTO OATMAN. DRIVING THE TWO BLOCKS OF THE MAIN DRAG IN OATMAN IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE. THEY CLOSE THE STREET TWICE IN THE AFTERNOON SO THE COWBOYS CAN DO A GUNFIGHT, THE BURROS STAND OUT IN ROAD WHENEVER THEY WANT, CARS ARE OFTEN DOUBLE PARKED, AND THE PEDESTRIANS USE THE STEET INSTEAD OF THE BOARD WALKS.

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AFTER OATMAN COMES MY FAVORITE PART OF THE 22 MILE COMMUTE. FROM OATMAN TO THE CEMENT PLANT DOWN BY HWY 95 YOU CAN SLIP THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND COAST FOR 13 MILES DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.

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IF YOU LIVE IN OATMAN, YOU NEVER SAY, DRIVE DOWN THE “MOUNTAIN”, THE LOCALS ALWAYS SAY DRIVE DOWN THE “HILL”. IT’S SOME KIND OF “WESTERN CODE” LIKE A SECRET GANG HANDSHAKE. THE SAME WAS TRUE AT SOUTH LAKE TAHOE. IF YOU LIVE ON THE MOUNTAIN YOU SAY “HILL”, BUT IF YOU LIVE IN THE VALLEY OR ARE A VISITING TOURIST YOU SAY “MOUNTAIN”.

ANYWAY BACK TO THE COMMUTE……

HERE IS THE AZ CAR COASTING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN PAST THE INTERECTION WHERE ROUTE 66 SPLITS OFF TO NEEDLES, CA WHERE THERE WAS A BRIDGE ACROSS THE MIGHTY COLORADO RIVER, DURING THE HEYDAYS OF THE MOTHER ROAD.

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OF COURSE FOR EVERY DOWN THERE IS AN UP, AND HERE IS THE SIGN GOING BACK UP INTO THE BLACK MOUNTAINS AND HOME. YES, THAT MOUTAIN ON THE RIGHT IS OUR OLD FRIEND THE BOUNDRY CONE. ALSO WE’VE LEARNED FROM THE LOCALS THAT THE MOUNTAIN IN THE PICTURE ON THE HEADER OF THE BLOG IS CALLED WATERFALL MOUNTAIN.

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Monday, July 6, 2009

THE 4TH OF JULY

THE “OD” USED TO SAY THAT SPOONER, WI ONLY HAD TWO SEASONS, WINTER AND THE 4TH OF JULY. WELL, HE SHOULD HAVE TRIED THE 4TH OF JULY HERE ON THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT.

WE ZIPPED THOUGH JUNE WITH SMILES AND LOT’S OF “SUNNY & 80” HERE IN THE BLACK MOUNTAINS. THEN CAME JULY !!! THE HEAT IS TRULY EXTREME !!!

I HATE THE HEAT !!! AFTER 110 DEGREES MY PERSONALITY IS LIKE AN ASSHOLE TURNED INSIDEOUT !!!

EVERYTHING GOES WRONG FOR ME IN THE HEAT. THE OTHER DAY THE AZ CAR QUIT, TOOK A HALF A GALLON OF ANTIFREEZE AND IT WAS GOOD TO GO. CO-WORKERS SAY I CAN EXPECT THE CAR BATTERY TO DIE NEXT, SEEMS THE BATTERIES ONLY LAST TWO YEARS HERE ON THE DESERT.

THE FRIDGE GETS BUCKY AT 110 DEGREES TOO. I BOUGHT THIS FRIDGE FAN TO GIVE IT SOME HELP.

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THE LAST DAY OFF MARY AND I RAN DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO DO LAUNDRY AND SOME ERRANDS, INCLUDING A NEW GRILL HANDLE, SEEMS “HOT REX” MANAGED TO TIP OVER THE GAS GRILL WHILE PULLING A WATER HOSE PAST. LET’S NOT GO THERE !!!

I SPOTTED THIS SIGN AT OUR NEW VALLEY VIEW HOSPITAL.

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AN INTERESTING PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE. SO JUST HOW HOT WAS IT?

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IT’S JUST LIKE BEING HOME IN WISCONSIN AT –20 DEGREES. PEOPLE STAY INDOORS, CANS OF POP AND BEER BLOW UP IF LEFT IN THE CAR, PLASTIC CARDS LIKE CREDIT CARDS WARP AND BEND IF LEFT IN THE CAR AS DO CD’S, THERE ARE STRANDED MOTORIST ALONG THE HIGHWAY, THE ONLY EMERGENCY VEHICALS MISSING ARE THE SNOW PLOWS.

PEOPLE THAT WORK OUTSIDE USUALLY START WORK AT 4AM OR 6AM AND WORK UNTIL NOON OR 2PM. THE TEMPERATURE PEAKS BETWEEN 2PM AND 3PM.

I’VE RECENTLY BEEN DEVELOPING SYMTOMS OF CABIN FEVER. I HAVEN’T SUFFERED FROM CABIN FEVER SINCE THE WINTER OF 1998.

ONCE AGAIN I RECOMMEND YOU NOT CAMP ON THE MOHAVE DESERT IN THE SUMMER !!!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

CATS AND TRAPS

CATS AND TRAPS, THE MOUSE WAR CONTINUES.

I’M SURE THAT MICE IN THE DESERT, PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THE FOOD CHAIN AND ECO-SYSTEM OF THE DESERT. ONE LOCAL EXPLAINED THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MICE IN THE AREA, HOWEVER IN THE LAST 10 YEARS THERE SEEMS TO BE MANY MORE THAN IN THE OLD DAYS.

SHE WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT SINCE THE MOHAVE VALLEY HAS EXPLODED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOMES AND RETAIL TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE ESCAPING CALIFORNIA PEOPLE, THAT THE MICE SEEMED TO HAVE MOVE UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS.

WE MADE A MISTAKE IN THE MOUSE WAR. WHEN WE BROUGHT IN THE KITTEN, MARY SAID SHE WOULD LIKE THE KITTEN TO STAY OFF THE FRONT KITCHEN COUNTER WHERE SHE PREPARES FOOD, STORES HER FRUITS, AND BREAD ITEMS.

THE KITTEN IS VERY SMART AND LEARNS QUICKLY. ON HER SECOND CRUISE OF THE KITCHEN COUNTER, SHE JUMPED DOWN INTO THE SINK AND I NAILED HER WITH THE SQUIRT BOTTLE. AT THIS POINT WE THOUGHT THE MOUSE WAR WAS OVER.

THE MICE BEGAN A SECOND INVASION AND THE EVIDENCE WAS CLEAR, THE KITCHEN COUNTER, FOOD, WATER, AND LOWER KITCHEN CABINATES ARE THE OBJECTIVE OF THE MICE. OUR MISTAKE, IS THAT WE HAVE EFFECTIVLY TRAINED THE NUMBER ONE WEAPON, THE CAT, TO AVOID THIS AREA.

TO UNTRAIN, OR RETRAIN THE CAT TO RETURN TO THE BATTLEFIELD WAS THE OBJECTIVE. I DON’T KNOW IF YOU’VE EVER TRIED TO TEACH A CAT ANYTHING, BUT EVEN THE BOOKS AND VIDEOS WE SELECTED FROM THE LIBRARY AGREE A CAT DOES WHAT EVER IT WANTS!

IF YOU TRY TO TEACH A CAT SOMETHING, THEY SIT BACK AND SIMPLY ASK, “WHAT’S IN FOR ME?”

I BOUGHT THESE CAT TREATS.

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I LEAVE ONE OF THESE TASTY CAT TREATS ON THE COUNTER TOP EACH DAY AND ENCOURAGE HER TO PATROL AND FIND THE TREAT. SUCCESS !!! SHE HAS RE-ENTERED THE BATTLE GROUND.

I ALSO LEAVE ONE OF THESE TREATS IN HER NEW PET CARRIER (CAT GARAGE), AND SHE GOES IN TO CHECK THAT OUT EACH DAY TOO. BEING RV’ERS SHE NEEDS TO LEARN TO TRAVEL. HER NEXT BIG TRIP WILL BE AT THE END OF THE MONTH WHEN WE TAKE HER BACK TO VEGAS FOR CAT SHOTS.

SUSIE-Q IS PRETTY YOUNG TO BE MUCH OF A “MOUSER”, BUT I THOUGHT HER PRESENCE WOULD KEEP THE MICE OUTSIDE.

OUR NEXT OFFENSIVE IN THE MOUSE WAR WAS TO MOVE EVERYTHING OUT OF THE LOWER CUPBOARDS. WE SET THE TRAPS INSIDE WHERE SUSIE-Q COULDN’T ACCIDENTLY TRIP A TRAP, AND THEN THE NEXT WEEK OPENED THE CUPBOARD DOORS TO GIVE THE CAT FULL ACCESS AND PATROL FOR MICE.

SO FAR WE HAVE TRAPPED 4 MICE, AND THE CAT HAS SUCCESSFULLY STARVED ONE TO DEATH KEEPING IT TRAPPED IN A FURNACE DUCT.

THE WAR CONTINUES……..

Thursday, July 2, 2009

I’m Home

By Susie-Q

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I learned a lot on that hot car trip across the Mohave Desert.  It seems my purpose in life is to keep the mice out of the camper. Failure or or any unacceptable behavior will result in something called “Coyote Bait”.

A couple of phone calls were made to get advice on kitten training. The first call was Uncle Neil, who described the squirt gun training method, and what “fun” it is to correct mistakes in behavior. Not sure I’m going to like that “Uncle Neil” fellow!!!

The second call was Steve, and I liked his advice much better, which was to teach me the word “NO”. I think Steve and I are going to be great pals!!

In the end, I helped them out a little, and had them make a stop at the Laughlin library for this book.

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One thing for sure, becoming “Coyote Bait” is to be avoided. I made a plan in my head to put on the cutest kitten show of my life once I was released from this box!!

On my release in the camper I found they created a Cat Hut under the table in the camper. WOW, is this cool, look at that, a my size sand box, and food vending tower with at least 10x my body weight in dry cat food!! They only have to feed me once a month at the most. But look at that cat bed? I haven’t seen anything that ugly color since the 1970’s.

I put my plan into action, and made a stop at the feeder, water bowl, and climbed into my sand box to shit and piss.  Better suck up to Mary, she signed my papers, and named me “Susie-Q”.

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Man I’ve had a couple of ruff days, Major surgery, freedom from the dog pound, all in all, a lot of stress !!! I need a Cat Nap Now!!  So I continued the short version of the kitten show and curled up in that God Ugly cat bed in my new Cat Hut, under the table for a nap.

I slept with one eye open, to keep an eye on the Happy Campers. Strange, they are filling a flask with Jack Daniels to smuggle into the beer bar in Oatman. Hmmm, a couple of rule breakers, I may fit in just fine. While they were on their run to Oatman I enjoyed my nap and slept so soundly that I didn’t even dream about coyotes.

A few hours later I awoke to to the delicious smell of fried pork chops and fried rice with shrimp.  I got to get up, and checkout that fried rice!! I forgot my manners and immediately jumped and climbed up on the table to taste that rice. “NO”, was the response, at all 20 of my attempts, but my lucky day continued and there was no sign of that green squirt bottle weapon.

After supper I took my first computer and blogging lesson.

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This is easy. All you have to do is read the book.

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One more story, and I’ll let you get back to work, or go check your e-mail.  That first night, I gave up on that God Ugly cat bed and found it a snap to slip under the closed doors and join the Happy Campers back in the big bed. Holy Cow, this camper has a whole another room back here, and look at the closet, the whole wall, and mirrored doors to boot.

I inspected the whole room, including under the covers. As Rex was sleeping and Mary was quietly reading her book, I pranced down the bed and suddenly spotted, what I thought was my sister, in the closet. I was so happy to see her I took a flying leap to bump heads with her, say hello, and BAM!!

(note to self: glass mirrors are hard, and I Damn near knocked myself out! Don’t try that again.)

Till next time, when I may reveal my secret Hide-Out.