the kitty literary

In Which: There is a New Cat on the Blog

2011-08-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

Hello. Elliot here. I am the new cat. Not much of a computer guy. But it's part of my job description to do the blog thing. Sigh. I'd rather be having an adventure - nothing huge, just a cat-sized adventure.

Anyway, here I am:

As you can see, I am an ordinary cat, at least from the outside. I have a fascinating internal life about which I am reticent. At the moment, I am chasing squirrels.

Well, I'm really sitting at the bottom of a giant silver maple looking at squirrels. The little buggers never get quite close enough....

In Which: Plans are Made

2010-08-14T19:47:00.000-07:00

Ho-hum. It's merely that the Librarian plans to go hiking in the Beartooth Mountains tomorrow. Just a baby hike, since she hasn't done anything but walk up in Swords Park for ages.

Hmmm, well she did hike up to Avalanche Lake.

I suppose that counts.

However, tomorrow she will be going somewhere completely new. How trepidatious of her. Trepidatious. I am not sure that is a word. If it is a word, it seems likely to have been made up by Anne of Green Gables. I would look it up in the dictionary but I am busy licking a paw.

Well. So I tell her, she had better be careful of those bears. I think she will be all right if she follows my plan: bring tuna sandwiches for lunch. If a bear appears, throw a tuna sandwich at it. Any bear would prefer that to a human smelly with bug repellent. I know I would.

In Which: the Librarian is Older. A Lot Older.

2010-08-10T19:51:00.000-07:00

The last time the Librarian saw Bob Dylan in concert, it was 1976.

I looked up the date of the Rolling Thunder Revue, because she thought it was in 1975. That would have made it 35 years ago. Due to my attention to details, she has staved off one year. Thirty-four years ago, she was almost someone else. She didn't even know about Me.

Bob Dylan looked a lot ~~better~~ different then too.

Don't be misled by the date on that poster. The Revue lasted into May 1976, when the Librarian saw a lackluster concert that was drowned by rain (but no thunder - just a downpour) in Fort Collins, CO.

This time, the concert is a mere 1/2 block away. If she gets bored, disgusted or rained on, she can just walk home. I shudder to think how many cans of Fancy Feast she could have bought instead of the ticket, but she says it's the Last Time she'll ever get to see Bob Dylan, not to mention John Mellencamp whose Little Pink Houses album used to reside in her yellow Sony Walkman (remember those?) when she walked up to the "M" on Mount Sentinel in Missoula. I was around for that. I looked like this (since everyone else is getting a "younger" picture):

Ahhh, Me and Luigi. I am the Fatty Kitty, he is the stripey one. I believe I'm starting to understand the nostalgia the Librarian has been experiencing.

However, I must briskly shake that off. Trucks have been arriving,

roadies set up a big tent in the parking lot,

a stage in the outfield (center - right),

and a regiment of blue porta-potties stands alertly at strategic points.

I hope the Librarian enjoys herself. She will if she remembers her earplugs. Loud music gives her a headache.

In Which: Fatty Kitty consorts with dogs.

2010-07-24T08:34:00.000-07:00

I am surprised at myself. I am actually participating in a chatty dog blog called Chet the Dog.

Of course, this is the Librarian's fault as per usual. She would read those mysteries and laugh out loud and mutter to herself, i.e.: "Oh no! Don't do that!" or "Get'em Chet! Atta boy!" Harumph. About a dog. She never did that when she read those Cat mysteries...she did not appear to be entertained. After all, I must admit:

Cats do not run all over the desert;

Cats cannot leap at the perpetrators' throats (and threaten to tear them out, even. Egad.)

Cats can't smell as much - oops, I mean as well - as dogs.

Alas.

But if I can be allowed to make a case for Cats:

A Cat could distract the perpetrator, by running between his/her legs, scratching, or a loud yowl at the right time:

A Cat could pee on something, rendering it unusable (or at least thoroughly disgusting). This would be helpful in disarming weaponry, for instance:

A Cat can eat grass and puke next to a pertinent clue....

Oh Holy (Furry) Balls. I cannot believe I am even discussing this.

The odd part is...I don't mind the dogs (except they talk too much). I might even grow fond of a dog who thinks he is Henry the VIII and thus wears a ruff.

When I think about being a Cat detective, I believe I would be more of the Sam Spade type: moody, given to terse statements, a real loner. Hmmmm. I shall direct the Librarian to find a Kitty Fedora and practice meowing out of the corner of my mouth.

Mrrrrrrrrrrritttsh!

Er, no. Mweowww. Better.

Mwwwwwwow. Mwwwwow. Well, this is exhausting. But there - it's time for my nap anyway.

In Which: the librarian approaches the Big L

2010-02-26T21:30:00.000-08:00

I have been watching over the librarian. She has 16 days left until she becomes the Librarian. It's been a Long hauL, as she wouLd put it. And in ceLebration, I have fLoated down (figurativeLy, not LiteraLLy) to post in her honor.

I'm sure it's been difficuLt for her to continue without me. I was the bane and joy of her existence, and I am quick to add that joy overcame bane by a Large margin. Oh, certainLy, some wouLd mention the cessation of hairbaLLs, but that is a minor inconvenience compared to the Loss of my effervescent companionship. It couLd not be otherwise, for I am Fatty Kitty. I am aLmost tempted to grin, figurativeLy of course, since I no Longer have a body.

I suppose you want to know what I am, and in your feebLe human mind, I am a ghost or an angeL (I am tempted to grin again). Oh no, I am so much more than that now. I wiLL forego expLaining, since it is impossibLe for any human to understand. Why eLse the chiLdish cLinging to superstition and ego?

But, as usuaL, I digress. It's just that I enjoy being superior so much that I tend to dweLL on it. Again, the grin. So now, from my exaLted position (no, not in the sky, fooLs, in the hierarchy of being, of course), I bestow congratuLations on the soon-to-be Librarian, and Leave her with these words of wisdom:

Stop noodLing about and do your homework!

If you do, I promise I won't mess about with these capital Ls any Longer. They are annoying, aren't they? Ho ho! Now I know why that Cheshire Cat was so toothy...grinning as the worLd trudges by is a worthy occupation. Now, since there are stiLL naps where I am (and why shouLd there not be?), I wiLL partake ...........shnoooorrrngh.

signed, the Fatty Kitty

In Which: a New Creature arrives at Fatty Kitty's

2009-12-27T21:57:00.000-08:00

Hello, it is I, Library Kitty. I've been sojourning at Fatty Kitty's for awhile now. I went a few places with the librarian, for instance, to a great big lake. It was windy and I almost blew in, but the librarian saved me:

Then we went down a country road. I navigated from the dashboard:

And there I met someone who must have been my relative, because his name is Kitty Kitty. He showed me how to roll on the dirt and scratch my back.

I remember Fatty Kitty enjoying this also, but a Woolly Kitty such as myself prefers not to get dirty, although I did enjoy hiding under the pepper plants. I was as still and quiet as a squash.

But that was all a long time ago, and since then we haven't gone anywhere, and I am ready to be back in the office with Marilyn, who is my True Companion. Soon, says the librarian, but first, I was part of the Holiday decorations.

and then...I met the New Creature. He happened after they put the turkey in and before everyone came over to eat. The librarian said he was a Woolly Mousekin.

He is very light, because there is nothing inside of him except catnip from Fatty Kitty's Memorial Garden. Fatty Kitty was very partial to it, but since I am also Woolly, I decided not to bite the Mousekin. Today the librarian brought him over to Molly's house and she didn't bring him back. I hope he is all right. Since Fatty Kitty is not here, I feel responsible. However, I have a funny feeling that Fatty Kitty would feel rather vampirish towards the Woolly Mousekin. Or maybe that's just because I've been reading the Twilight series. However, there is something about that Mousekin that makes me think Fatty Kitty would want to roll all over him, and you know how ~~fat~~ large Fatty Kitty was. Is. I meant IS. Even though I haven't seen him, Fatty Kitty is still here. The librarian knows it too. I feel certain we'll be hearing from him sometime soon.

I am Molly

2009-09-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

Bonjour, mes amis. I am Molly. You are meeting me because I have sent my companion away to France, with her Mother. She needed a rest, poor thing. What with the hiking, and camping, and a few desperate weeks of work, she was simply worn out. Fatigued. Which I would say in French but this foul Blogger has not the accent symbole.

En tout cas, I am here, at the home of le Fatty Kitty. Fatty Kitty is, of course, dead. Nevertheless, this is still his home, his domaine, no more so than when I repose in the garden which bears his name.

You see me on a small rock, which sometimes holds water, surrounded by the burgeoning catnip. and many squash which will never bear fruit. I fear this librarian is no gardener. However, the catnip is exceptional and that is all that really matters.

I spend my time in the usual manner: in repose upon my fur-lined bed

(I have a lovely view of the woodcutter who lives next door - so restful to watch others sweating and hauling and perhaps, swearing);

I also go for les aventures in the back yard. There are trees, birds, squirrels, and a rival cat to amuse me.

I surprise my concierge by walking along the ground one moment, and the next instant I am...

vous voyez?

Eh bien, je dois partir maintenant.

J'aime le traducteur Google.

Until next time, mes amis. Au revoir....

The librarian expects a Visitor

2009-09-03T05:58:00.000-07:00

A visitor is coming this evening, and her luggage will include: her bed, her food, her toys, her litter box, her blankie. Maybe some other stuff.
Her name is Molly, and she looks like this:

Her companion is going to France and Molly can't travel with her. Three and a half weeks is too long for Molly to stay home with visitors; she needs more companionship than that! So she is coming to stay for awhile. What a lucky librarian! And more than that...perhaps Molly blogs....

W.W.F.K.D?

2009-07-07T09:57:00.000-07:00

What Would Fatty Kitty Do? With this blog, that is. His unique attitude on life has fled with his earthly existence, and leaves only a librarian (Fatty Kitty would not allow a capital "L" until my graduation, so I'm waiting until March 2010) who feels unequal to the task of following in his footsteps...or pawsteps...or more likely, his naphollows. I'm sure you can figure out what a naphollow is from the context, right?

Compounding my feelings of inadequacy is the fact that I have to go to work - something Fatty Kitty never had to do. Although I believe he defined any effort he made to do anything that wasn't pleasurable as work. But you know what I mean. So I'll go to work and ponder...W.W.F.K.D?

the librarian

In Which: we pay our last respects to Fatty Kitty

2009-05-10T17:22:00.000-07:00

PJ, the Fatty Kitty died on April 13th. We miss him so. In memoriam, we have released pictures of Fatty Kitty in his younger days, before he became famous. Some of the earlier pictures show him with his brother, Luigi, who died in 2005.

Exploring the lilac with Luigi on the left, PJ on the right.

The brothers had similar markings, which became more pronounced as they grew older. But Luigi had short fur, and PJ had long fur, thus he became known as the "Fatty Kitty."

Luigi is looking at the camera. PJ is the one in the yoga pose, naturally. It is the pose known as "Pork Chop."

In the photo above, PJ is above Luigi for once. Luigi dominated the pair while he was alive, but PJ made up for it after Luigi died.

PJ felt he was a great help with schoolwork, as he liked to sit on my lap while I typed, starting in 1996, on my trusty Brother word processor...

and on to Missoula, where he perfected his snoozing technique while I finished up my Social Work degree:

to this winter when he helped me with the statistics in my research class.

I'll miss all the little hairballs we used to make after we brushed you, Fatty Kitty, and your purrs, and the way you smelled when I picked you up and squeezed you. Thanks for not minding tooo much. We shared much more than I can tell in one blog post, of course. I love you, Fatty Kitty!

Special thanks to the staff at Alpine Animal Hospital, who lost someone very dear to them in April as well.

In Which: I Recommend a Training Video.

2009-03-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

Fatty Kitty does not usually lend his name to commercial enterprises or the endeavors of others. However, in the interest of continued superiority of the Cat, I recommend the strategies employed by Simon's Cat. Watch and Remember!

In Which: I Return. And I have a New Bed.

2009-03-17T20:57:00.000-07:00

Here I am. Are you glad to see me? Of course you are. I've been busy doing statistics. Let's see: I now know the difference between descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. See, I'm reading my textbook.

However, I prefer qualitative analysis. But enough about me, what do you think of my new bed?

Of course, my bright wool blanket with the Killer Whale on it distracts from the central theme, which is that of wood, and support,

and lots of room underneath to lounge and cough up hairballs. They're threatening storage but so far, so good.

The sailor decorated it for me: a tree to run up with my claws and meow for a couple of hours until I realize they're not going to get me. Then I come down.

and a bear foot.

That has something to do with the sailor and his bare feet. He rarely wears socks. This somewhat distresses the librarian, as she likes to knit socks. Oh well, knit a kitty bed for me, I say. On the other hand, I like the bed the sailor made me well enough. I leave my hairs on it to show him my appreciation. I think he understands; he mentions it every time I leave some for him.

Well, ta-ta for now. I'm off to get groomed. Grooming is big these days, with spring coming, and I must keep up appearances, you know. Rrrrreeeeooowww!

2009-02-14T21:14:00.000-08:00

OWEO, oh OOOO oh. OWEO, oh OOOO oh.

No, it's not the Wicked Witch's guards from the Wizard of Oz. It's the Working Women of Whitefish dressed up as Fairy Godmothers. What a relief. Those guards always gave me the creeps. And that music:
Da da daaa, d-d-d d-d-d daaaaa. You know what I'm talking about, don't you? Ooo, I didn't know a Cat could get goosebumps.

Thank goodness that most of the time it's peaceful and quiet around here. I relax watching the squirrels come out to eat sunflower seeds.

We had quite a bit of snow, which has deteriorated into ice. Luckily, the librarian has kept the back deck clear. My Domain must be habitable for a Cat of delicate sensibilities and paws, y'know!

Lately, she's been taxing my brain with statistics. She's been staying up far too late, and I become quite disgusted with her for not going to bed on time. I can't be calculating p-values and what not. I need my beauty rest!

I post this picture in spite of her protests that everyone will look up her nostrils. I always have to look up her nostrils. Harumph!

In Which: I wonder what will happen next

2009-01-13T20:31:00.000-08:00

Nothing is happening. There isn't even any new snow. All the snow is old and crusted with the sunflower shells left by messy squirrels. How they do make my whiskers twitch! The large accumulation of powdery snow teamed up with the heavy, wet snow to break branches on the lilac in the back yard (My Domain!) The librarian will be doing some more pruning this spring.

Speaking of, she's been hard at it again, trying to change from a librarian to a Librarian. I used to mind that she hogged the computer, but now that I have claimed her schoolwork lap as my own, I am quite comfortable. She has everything she needs around her so that she doesn't have to get up - pencils, paper, articles, my brush, some catnip, and a pair of scissors that she thinks she's going to use on that mat on my hind leg when I become less vigilant. However, I believe in constant vigilance, as espoused by Maggie Drew when playing cards.

I would illustrate my prose with pictures, but the librarian has lost the cable to my camera. Hmmm, while she's out of the room I could always order a new one...her debit card is right here...miaowwww. If nothing's happening, a Cat must make do. Ciaow.

In Which: the librarian wastes a lot of time making silly movies.

2008-12-25T18:16:00.001-08:00

The librarian challenges her siblings to recognize their inner John Travolta:

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

In Which: Fatty Kitty writes a Poem.

2008-12-21T18:23:00.000-08:00

Ode to She Who Understands Cats
on the Occasion of Her 256th (in Cat years) Birthday,
with Apologies to Pablo Neruda.

The only child

the first miracle of six
who jumped
over barricades
like horses
and twirled,
dreaming,
amid grubby siblings,
of ballet shoes
no less grubby
with effort and
determination.

The faint light on her
upturned eyes
of stars
show through
branches
of a horse chestnut tree
with many faces
while Cats
circle
her ankles.

In Which: I become a Useful Item.

2008-12-14T20:50:00.000-08:00

I am suddenly in demand. It appears that when the weather is cold enough, I am requested - no, I am begged - to come and sleep next to the librarian. Apparently it's not enough anymore to have a rice bag at the feet, and a hot water bottle in the Arctic regions (what she'd call her rear, but I Know Better. It's positively glacial.)

At any rate, the temperature hovers just below zero, this 1919 house is so charming and inefficient that it hovers ten degrees below the thermostat, and pretty little frost climbs up the charming wood-framed storm windows. And we wish the current Daily Inter-Lake editor's columns were included in the ground-up newspaper that is currently the sole insulation between the walls. Then there would be a lot more hot air in here.

The librarian took this picture to show how the snow slides off our roof faster than any other house on the block - because we have so much more heat escaping is the complaint.

Well, I'm doing my part. Of course, if I were fed more, I could become fatter and therefore a better source of heat. I think a little cream might even be called for. I think I'll pour on a little Fatty Kitty Charm. Excuse me. I must wander into the kitchen and state my case.

In Which: I meet a Formidable Cat

2008-11-16T11:50:00.000-08:00

AbbietheKitty asked about my recent trip across Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana. Thank you very much for your concern, AbbietheKitty. The trip was fine. I am not happy about travel, but one does what one must.

My librarian drove safely, if not quietly. She sang along with the radio and CDs, played the harmonica occasionally, and cackled while listening to David Sedaris read "Naked." I think I put up with it quite well. She didn't need to stuff the motel pillows into the holes that led under that bed; I wasn't going to stay there.

However, in Missoula, we stayed at the home of Ben and Amanda. They look like this:

They appear to be normal, I suppose. But their Cat, well...

He is Formidable.

For one, he is large, very large, larger than I, and nothing Fatty about him. He is also very expressive. You might even say articulate. And what he was articulating sounded distinctly threatening. I think I'm glad I didn't meet him nose to nose, even if he does wear Soft claws.

But, what can one do when one's home is invaded by a Stranger? I empathize with Hendrix. We sniffed at each other with a door panel between us, but that's all we were allowed to do. Who knows what great partnerships have been thwarted by over-protective companions, eh, AbbietheKitty?

In Which: I find a Role Model

2008-11-06T10:01:00.000-08:00

My new favorite comic strip: Get Fuzzy

Here's the strip from Nov. 4, 2008:

You can find more of the Supreme Cat Here.

In Which: I am supplanted by squash

2008-10-31T14:52:00.000-07:00

Really. You'd think that squash would be low on the hip list, but apparently not in this household. The librarian and her siblings spent all afternoon on two pumpkins.

In the other paw, I'm glad I wasn't attacked with special orange and purple tools. At least they had the good taste to put a Cat on one of the vegetables.

Other excitement around here? Well, not much. I do live with a librarian after all. Bruce gave Maggie 18 red roses. Then they sat by the roses and held hands for awhile. That was exciting.

Frankly, anything to do with excitement has been overshadowed by this pile of paper:

This is what the librarian has to read for the rest of the quarter. And it's not all of it, either. Some were just too long to print out. This pile is $45 worth at the copy shop. I'm somewhat disappointed that I won't be treated to the librarian swearing at Bruce's "legacy" computer and printer anymore. I enjoyed it immensely.

In Which: I blame it on the librarian....

2008-10-06T20:29:00.000-07:00

I always blame her. That's what she's there for. So, it is her fault that I haven't posted for a month. She hogs the laptop because she's doing homework - at least that's what she says. She went away for a weekend to be at school - at least that's what she said. She says this picture is proof, and that it's her at the College Inn in Seattle, homeworking.

Well, it certainly doesn't look very trysty. And I did have a good time with Nancy Drew, She who Understands Cats. So I suppose I'll forgive her for the weekend away, but not for hogging the computer. I'm only on it now because she finished a paper. Harumph. Well, to bed. I hate to say it, but as soon as the librarian goes to bed, I simply must jump up there with her. I can't resist waving my tail over her nose. It's one of my ~~bad habits~~ features. Like this: purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

In Which: Art Museums get checked out of the library

2008-09-03T20:15:00.000-07:00

My librarian keeps track of what's going on at the Minneapolis and Hennepin County libraries. For one thing, they need a new director. So if you're a high-powered librarian executive type, look here.

For another thing, the libraries just ended a year-long partnership with businesses and museums in the metropolitan area, in which library patrons were able to "check out" a membership to a museum for a week, and thus enjoy some of the cultural icons of the area. And my librarian knows a good (free) deal when she sees one. (UPDATE: the year-long agreement has been extended for another year!)

So it is that she's been to the Walker Art Center and the Weisman Art Museum in the last two weeks. Of course, no pictures are allowed inside, but the outsides are fascinating as well.

Behold the Walker Art Center:

And behold its sculpture garden (very famous cherry-on-a-spoon fountain)

And the ramp for the pedestrian bridge that goes across eight lanes to Loring Park:

and Loring Park itself:

The librarian's Mom (AKA Maggie; she has kitty treats) told her to walk across the pedestrian bridge. Never having learned to drive, Maggie is somewhat of a pedestrian activist (she once pounded on the hood of a car that was nosing her along a crosswalk.) I think I shall take after her and become a kitty activist. Hmmm, I need to think of a slogan....

But, as usual, I digress. The Walker was predictable, in that the art was so avant garde and abstract that it became boring. Nothing connected to anything else. Rows of brushed aluminum cubes. The iconic 70's artist who had naked women roll in a trough of paint and then roll on a canvas. Sigh. The Walker prides itself on being cutting edge, but the librarian found it quite dull for the most part. Except for the sculpture garden, and this wonderful concept: Artist Designed Mini Golf. Now there's a concept!

Today, the librarian (and Lisa Dean) went to another museum. This one was architecturally designed by Gehry, of Experience Music Project in Seattle (the librarian thinks that building looks like a booger.)

As for the Weisman: talk about your brushed aluminum! It's actually stainless steel.

The Weisman is on the campus of the University of Minnesota, and the librarian has personal experience that the bus stop on that bridge above is the coldest place in the world on a Minnesota winter's day.

If the Experience Music Project is a booger, than this is a sand castle built by The Mad Welder. What would Prince Charles say? Yes, it's visually interesting, in fact, I rather like it just because of that. I could perch in a window and be right up there with the birds. A few windowsills with pigeons would assist my fantasy, but we all know about those pigeons. No Good, No Good!

The librarian's favorite exhibit there was Hindsight is always 20/20, a project by R. Luke DuBois. She's been talking about it to everyone, so I may as well let her blog a little bit about it, while I go beg Maggie for a treat:

The exhibit was based on an algorithm that took the 66 most-used words from each President's State of the Union Addresses. Lisa and I enjoyed discussing the differences between the Presidents. For instance, Washington's most-used word was "gentlemen" and George W. Bush's most-used word was "terror." We thought Lincoln would have "slavery" in his list but he didn't. The President before him, James Buchanan, had "slavery" as his most-used word. Lincoln's most-used word was "emancipation."

Other things came up: Reagan had more emotional words than other presidents: blessed, needy, victims, honored, love, hearts, etc. And more recent Presidents - say, after Jimmy Carter - used poorer vocabularies than previously. Are they becoming stupider? Or are they just trying to dumb down to the lowest common denominator of their constituents? (I'll bet they wouldn't use the word, "constituents.")

At the very least, it was an interesting overview of issues during each President's incumbency.

And there you have it: my librarian's review. It was hard to pull something even mildly intellectual out of her. She's all about biking and knitting these days. I suppose she's trying to get in all the fun she can before she starts school in 18 days, 9 hours, and 43 minutes. Ha ha! I'm so glad to be a Cat, with its perquisite schedule: eating; personal grooming; playing with the occasional feather; submitting to caresses, all surrounded cosily by naps. Cat-naps. Yawwwn...it's time for one now. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

In Which: the librarian gets carried away at the Minnesota State Fair

2008-08-29T14:09:00.000-07:00

The Minnesota State Fair, from what I've heard via human media outlets, is an event which is packed with humans getting sunburns, walking walking walking endlessly on crowded streets in search of food on a stick. The librarian made her plans on the internet. She was amazed to find a daily checklist of events from which she could pick and choose, and then command the computer to print her a personal PDF of things she wanted to do at the fair. Such are the things that make her happy and excited...I was hoping for a can of tuna, myself.

So she went, last Monday. She picked this day partly because she could watch the stock dog trials. It's about time that dogs went on trial! All that tailwagging and panting. Harumph! I hope justice was served!

Otherwise, she seemed to spend her time in some strange ways...lots of it centered around food she might eat,

food she wasn't allowed to eat,

and food she actually did eat (in this case, tater tots with onions, cheese and bacon, on a stick of course!

And she really walked around the fair like this (but she wasn't the only one):

only because she couldn't find out where people were getting the pickle hats.

She has a couple of extras, so if you're dying to have your own Minnesota State Capital hat, or a pair of "fireworks sunglasses," give her a yell, as the sailor says.

And if you think I'm miffed that I didn't get to go, then you don't know your Fatty Kitty. Crowds and heat are not my thing. However, that walleye on a stick....

In Which: I try to ignore an annoying object

2008-08-17T20:06:00.000-07:00

In this weather, it's better just to keep quiet and be cool. But no, the librarian must taunt me with a noisy, aromatic irritation. See for yourselves.

I make no apologies for my fitness or lack thereof. I have just found out that, according to this webpage, I am in my 70s in human years.

In Which: a large tomato is named in my honor.

2008-08-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

Well, I could tell something was going on. I heard the librarian and her pals saying "fatty" but it didn't really seem to require my attention. Besides, I was busy.

Finally they came out with it. They appeared to think that a large tomato growing in the garden was a remarkable event.

Of course, they correlated one remarkable event with another remarkable item: Me. So, naturally, they spent quite a bit of time fussing over it.

And, well, they had to commemorate the event in some way. What better way than to anoint the fruit with a splendiforous moniker: Behold, Fatty Tomato!

It weighed in at one pound, ten oz. I gave it my official blessing:

And then it was anointed with olive oil, and...eaten, along with fresh basil, balsamic vinegar, minced onion and garbanzo beans. But not by me. I celebrated with kitty treats. Much better and they were organic, too. Slurrpp!

In Which: I recover from a hellish experience.

2008-07-26T19:20:00.000-07:00

I hope I didn't leave anyone on tenterhooks, but really...I had to take some time to recover before I could possibly post. Behold the instruments of my incarceration:

a harness, and a Cat carrier. I don't care how soft the blankie, it was extremely upsetting to be dropped feet first into an upended box, bars snapped shut, and carried into that noisome car. Besides which, I had to listen to Elmore Leonard's The Hot Kid for three days. And the nights! In smelly (not a good smelly, oh no) rooms with no air circulation. I protested loudly to no avail. Loudly and constantly, if I do say so myself. Yes, it was horrible. And for what? I still don't know.

So here we are, in a strange house. My librarian and I are sharing this (rather large) house with others. I hid in the dank lower level for hours the first day in protest of my enforced move until hunger and the need for pampering and caresses drove me upstairs. I do allow them to pet me.

There obviously have been other Cats here before and these people appear to understand my rudimentary needs. I've been able to maintain my rigorous napping schedule, and there are numerous nooks and crannies in which to snooze. So here I remain. The librarian acts as if nothing happened, even placing the dreaded Cat carrier in my new sitting room as if it were a special furnishing. Ugh! She can't fool this kitty.

Oh, by the way, I went to the vet, and he was impressed with my overall health and good looks. I feel vindicated in some odd way. Yes, I am Fatty Kitty, all 12.9 pounds of me. Yeoooowwwwllll!

In Which: I am kidnapped...

2008-07-23T15:29:00.000-07:00

but it's going to be difficult to do anything about it because the offending party is my librarian. I will record the entire horrifying experience when I get out of this cage. Meoowwwllllllll!

In Which: the librarian snaps and drives

2008-07-18T18:18:00.000-07:00

What happens when someone decides to take pictures while driving - literally?

I started taking pictures in Minnesota on my way to Montana. Who can resist a giant Grain Belt bottlecap sign? On the Hennepin Av bridge over the Mississippi:

Typical midwest scene, still in Minnesota:

Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes. Here's one:

I took a lot of pictures of North Dakota. Most of them looked like this:

Ever wanted to be Home on the Range? It's one of the last towns in ND before you hit MT on I94:

In Montana now, Yellowstone River from a rest area (ok, I'm not actually driving in this picture, but it keeps the westward flow)

Being a librarian, I couldn't resist this:

They'll put a Ron Paul sign anywhere. I especially like this picture because of the Salted Nut Roll reflection in the windshield.

When I come over Ravalli hill and see the Mission Mountains, I am always impressed. I've taken pictures of this view countless times:

Getting closer to Fatty Kitty - driving into Polson from the south and the view of Flathead Lake:

Well. That was rather self-indulgent. But hey, I'm Fatty Kitty's librarian, and apparently now, his student in the school of attitude. Besides, now that I'm home, he's going to take the blog back anyway, and I'll become merely a backdrop for his self-aggrandizing remarks...unless, of course, he's hungry or itchy.

posted by the librarian

In Which: the monarch is missing

2008-07-15T10:18:00.000-07:00

No pictures of emerging butterflies available. Sigh. When I went to look at the chrysalis the day after I last posted a picture of it, it was missing. I hadn't looked at it all day, so the butterfly could have emerged and flown away. Well, here is a picture of a monarch that I pulled off of Nancy Drew's webshots page:

Posted by the librarian

In Which: Katie is 9 years old

2008-07-07T10:45:00.001-07:00

Katie is a special person. Here is a picture for each year of her life:

ONE:

TWO:

THREE:

FOUR:
FIVE:
SIX:
SEVEN:

EIGHT:
NINE:HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KATIE!
posted by the librarian

In Which: something is happening in the tomato patch

2008-07-06T10:48:00.000-07:00

Here is a caterpillar, hanging upside down next to a little tomato:

It's a monarch caterpillar, hatched from an egg on a nearby milkweed plant. Why there are no monarch butterflies in Montana? There are no milkweed plants. Milkweed is the only place monarchs lay eggs, and milkweed is the only food the caterpillar eats. Jon Drew has made sure there are lots of milkweed plants in the parents' back yard:

So, the next day, look what is found hanging next to the little tomato:

It's well camouflaged, this little chrysalis. After a few days, there were tiny golden dots on it - too small for me to take a good picture of. When I checked it a few days later, I could hardly find it, because the tomato had grown so much:

I'll keep you posted - on the chrysalis and the tomato.
posted by the librarian

In Which: the librarian gets a card

2008-07-03T06:46:00.001-07:00

Not just any old card; a library card. I love how the Minneapolis Public Library System acronym and the abbreviation for Minneapolis are the same: MPLS. Now I can put books on hold, and use the computers, and otherwise mess around in the library.

This room upstairs has new fiction, mysteries, and some other stuff I haven't looked at yet. The circular staircase is now gone - since 2001 said the librarian, but I swear I was just on it last year. He was about my age, so I suspect his memory as much as I suspect mine.

Dad and I have a plan to go downtown and get a look at the new Central library sometime.

Meanwhile, here is how I'm getting around these days:

Jon leaves this bike in Mom and Dad's garage for visitors to use. Today I rode around Lake Harriet.

This is actually the walking path, but you get the idea. It really wasn't too crowded considering it's the Fourth of July. Later, Jon and E came over and we played cards. I lost both games, as usual. Ah, well, there's always next time.
posted by the librarian

In Which: the librarian gives Fatty Kitty a heads up

2008-06-29T18:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Fatty Kitty,

I hope you are well in Montana. I hear it is in the 90s; not good for kitties. Just wait until you get to Minneapolis, where it gets in the 90s and then it is humid. (Sometimes I hear people in Montana complain about humidity - they don't know humid.) I expect to do a lot of brushing on you. Even I have too much hair here.

Yes, you are coming to visit here for a few months, while I hang with Mom and Dad. If you're nice, Mom will give you a ride on her walker...but you have to be as nice as Alice. They're used to nice kitties here.

Sincerely, Your librarian.

In Which: the librarian goes on a walk with a high school buddy

2008-06-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

What kind of a person returns a poetry book to you after 30 years? An old friend, that's who.

A couple of years ago I received an email from Lisa Dean, with whom I graduated from Southwest High School in 1974. She wanted to know my address, because she had a book to return to me. I knew the book exactly: by Canadian poet Mariam Waddington. I didn't remember the title, just that it had a poem called "The Eight-Sided Barn." I had never forgotten the book, and Lisa hadn't either. She sent it back in an envelope that I had sent her over 20 years before, with a picture I'd drawn of Montana with a star for Whitefish, so she'd know where I was.

We got together this morning, where Sheridan Ave. hits Lake Harriet, and took a walk around the lake. The shorelines of the lakes in Minneapolis are all public property. You can still have a big house "on the lake" (across the street), but the bike paths and walking paths, beaches and shorelines are public. Having grown up with that resource, it irks me that Whitefish Lake is ringed with private homes. It's a huge mistake and a disservice to the community to develop lakefront that way.

It was so reaffirming to catch up with Lisa. She told me about graduating from St. Catharine's this spring with her daughter: here's a picture of four generations of Dean women. We plan to walk again Saturday, this time with her granddaughter. Here's to good, old friendships!

Hey, speaking of toasts, I'm planning on making this recipe from today's Taste section in the StarTribune. I'll let you know how it goes!
posted by the librarian

In Which: it is Too Hot

2008-06-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

And since it is too hot, I will post a cold picture of a giant snowman.

Nancy and Christy posed by it in order to show how giant it really was. Whoever was living on this corner of 51st and Queen Ave. South last January gets the credit for this amazing example of snowman creation.

There. I feel better already.
posted by the librarian

In Which: we recall the weirdness that is Minnesota....

2008-06-21T07:20:00.000-07:00

The headline today on the front page of the Minneapolis StarTribune:

THEY'RE BACK
AND THEY'RE AFTER
YOU

This headline refers, of course, to mosquitos. For the full story of these Minnesota monsters, click here.
posted by the librarian

In Which: it's a wonderful day in the neighborhood

2008-06-21T06:16:00.000-07:00

Where I'm at right now
(says the librarian, since Fatty Kitty is lording over his domain in Whitefish - his servant emailed saying he enjoyed writhing on the sidewalk the other day - "yoga" he calls it)
is in the Linden Hills neighborhood in Minneapolis.

44th and Abbott Ave South to be exact. As you look up Abbott Avenue, you see trees. In my childhood they were giant elms that formed a canopy across the entire street. Dutch Elm disease took its toll and the city planted a variety of trees to take the elms' places.
The Linden Hills library hasn't changed much on the outside since I used to go there and get my Beverly Cleary books. It's on the National Register of Historic Places, so they've restored it rather than tearing it down.

The roof is made of slate slabs in various colors and is my favorite part of the building - besides the spiral staircase inside that only librarians could use. Imagine my surprise to find out that patrons can now go up the magic stairs. Ooooo, I just had to do it. I found a comfy reading room up there, and my brother-in-law was reading the newspaper! Who knew?

In my day, the neighborhood was partially defined by St. Thomas Catholic Church and school - that's one reason every block was crawling with kids. We had five, and had neighbors with six, six, ten, and four children, respectively. The tiny families on the block only had two or three kids, and they were always shyer and less rambunctious children by dint of never having to fight over the mashed potatoes, I guess.

Back then, this violin shop was a corner store called Branson's with a tiny soda fountain.

And this bakery located two short blocks away was Langer's grocery store where I used to buy candy bars for a nickel. It was conveniently located on the way to and from school, but closed early, unlike the corner store.

And the school, Audubon Elementary (Go Orioles!) is back in business after being closed for a decade or two - but it's now known as the "lower campus" of Lake Harriet Community School,

Younger children went in doors to the left - the "new" part of the school in the sixties. In third grade, you went to the old building on the right. I wonder if the halls still smell the same? There was a carnival every year put on the by the PTA with a house of horror (aka Mrs. Pascoe's first grade classroom), a fishing booth, and a cakewalk. I won a cake at the cakewalk. My big brother Jon offered to take it home for me and the cake was never seen again...unless you count the crumbs around his mouth.
posted by the librarian

In Which: We Discover Our Fashion Heritage.

2008-06-19T08:47:00.000-07:00

Or should I say we admit our fashion heritage? Nancy took a picture of Dad in all his sartorial splendor:

We admire both our Dad and our Mom for their adherence to wearing whatever pleases them. What pleases Dad is to mix plaids, belt his trousers firmly around his upper waist (what's an upper waist? I don't know, but he has one), and high white socks.
When the heels wear out on the socks, he recycles them by cutting off the feet and up one side until he has a handy washcloth-sized rag. We are never without a rag in this household. It could be a holdover from when all us kids were messy brats, but probably is related to the fact that Mom and Dad are fervent recyclers. For those of you wanting to emulate Mr. Drew, note that it works best on all-cotton socks. Happy rag-making!
posted by the librarian

In Which: we arrive at the farm

2008-06-16T17:20:00.000-07:00

Something we have noticed about North Dakota: they like to decorate with faux palm trees. I regret not being able to snap the neon ones we saw around a car dealership, but we did find these outside an establishment known for faux items:

We arrived at Clifford early in the afternoon, and headed down the lane:

Fatty Kitty would love it here. It could be a shrine to the Cat. Here's the screen porch, with a reflection of the yard:

Jim calls this "Yard Art":
Nancy wanted to see the limb that the crabapple lost in the storm a few nights ago:

And Christy took advantage of the bumper rhubarb crop to make a crisp.

Along with the key lime pie that Jim made, we are doing jusssst fine.

Abbiethekitty says HI to Fatty Kitty - she hung around on my lap today.

In Which: Fatty Kitty is dethroned.

2008-06-15T20:11:00.000-07:00

The blog has been wrested from Fatty Kitty and is going on the road with the librarian. Of course, he was a little peeved, but that can't be helped.

He must take care of his domain, and I must visit my parents, in the home of my youth - Minneapolis.

The trip started with the drive to Missoula to pick up my daughter, Christy. This morning we arose and paid homage to the corporate gods with a quick jaunt to the big red ball - only because it has a coffee bar - ahhhh -and a wall of sunglasses. For the record, we have lost sunglasses, a contact (lost last night and miraculously found this morning), a debit card (found in pocket) and we're not done yet. So Christy got new sunglasses.

OK, then we went to Albertson's and got bags of food. Can't go on a road trip without bags of food!

We made it past Butte (we called Stef Johnson but she was in Portland). Note the price of gas...
and cruised through the business loop at Miles City - a pleasant looking town. If I had been with the sailor I might have stopped...but, alas, he is on the ship.
So we are now in Bismarck, North Dakota in a small, odd-smelling room of a large motel chain watching the Celtics and Lakers. We made it farther than I thought we would. Tomorrow should be a few quick hours to a small North Dakota town - the home of Jim Erickson and Nancy Drew. Yep, we're going to Nancy Drew's house! Exclusive pics tomorrow only on this librarian's site!

In Which: I Survey My Domain

2008-05-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

So sorry to have kept you waiting. Blame the librarian. She's been hogging the computer this quarter, stressing out over her web development class. The poor thing rarely has time to give me a good brushing anymore. Luckily we've had a colder spring than usual, and I can use the extra fur.

But it is warm enough to enjoy the backyard. It is quite pleasant, with the sagging chain-link fence making it exclusive without denying the view. The librarian is sneezing her head off, huddled as she is over the laptop. Despite the pollen, she enjoys sitting outside watching me eat grass and do yoga on the sidewalk (scratches your back at the same time - try it!)
Here is the north side of the yard, as I face east from the little wooden deck outside the back door:

The librarian was pruning that lilac once upon a time, before she realized that not knowing anything about HTML was going to be a big issue. Maybe she'll get around to it after June 8th. Meanwhile, it's home to some lovely creatures that I very much enjoy watching (heh heh).
And here is the south side of the yard, with its bird feeders, much ravaged by squirrels.

Between those two trees are some tulips and grape hyacinth (and some good long grass to chew and regurgitate). The dog that lived here last summer had made it into a dust wallow, so those flowers coming up were quite a surprise. We don't know where we shall hang the hammock now.

And one of the aforementioned squirrels; this one is a mamma. We could tell by the teats and the little squirrels following her about. Here she appeared to be taking a rest, judging by the relaxed way she hung on the lilac twigs for about five minutes. On the other hand, she couldn't have been too relaxed, because she scampered off quite nicely as I tiptoed her way.

And was I complaining about my librarian ignoring me? Well, she does. I am quite annoyed. However, she's come a bit up in my estimation with her purchase of this sweater, honoring The Cat. The buttons are so clever: little Cat heads. Pppppurrrrrrrrrrr. Why won't she let me lay on it?

In Which: Someone appreciates the Cat

2008-04-15T21:45:00.000-07:00

We Cats have long been the muse of artists; now those of the science world pay their homage.

via videosift.com

In Which: Fatty Kitty reviews a book

2008-03-29T23:48:00.001-07:00

You can imagine my anticipation when the Librarian brought home Cat Yoga: Fitness and Flexibility for the Modern Feline by Rick Tillotson. In fact, look at that cover, and then look at

my friend abbiethekitty.

It should be obvious that my friend has a great talent. That the asana is known as beggingforfood does beg the question: why on earth does Abigail need any more food? But that is not a question for someone named Fatty Kitty to ask, is it?

I studied the pose:
It's just not in me to beg for food. I prefer to demand.

As for the other poses:

...grunt...I am suspicious...

...of a cat that can extend his rear leg straight back! In fact, the photos in the book were obviously photoshopped (one of those new verbs engendered by the computer world), but Abigail's photo is not. It is genuine. If someone wanted to make a real book of cat yoga, I could supply plenty of pictures that are eminently more suitable than these Cat contortionists.

I give this book a dewclaws down for faux photos where authentic photos would be ever so much more inspiring to those of us who love to stretch. Mreow!

Note: the reviews in this blog are the opinions of Fatty Kitty only, and not of the management.

In Which: Fatty Kitty flatters the Librarian

2008-03-15T22:56:00.000-07:00

Well, she was getting pretty frustrated. Every time she tried to make an avatar, something would happen. The buttons would stop working. One avatar site tried to sneak a Live Web Search program onto the computer. Another had rude pictures on it. It was enough to make a librarian swear. (Note: my librarian swears all the time; she's married to a sailor. But she knows where not to swear.)

So I had to do it myself. Voila: a librarian avatar:

I put her in her favorite season, doing one of her favorite things. And if she's a little younger and skinnier, well I couldn't help it. I couldn't find an old avatar. I did it for her, because I am so fond of her, and I think of her welfare constantly. And this has nothing to do with getting in trouble by sleeping on those clean towels in that open drawer in the spare bedroom for the last week.

Now, the next thing is to find a very dignified avatar. I picture myself with well-groomed salt and pepper hair, a beard and mustache, a bit on the stout side, with a deep, slightly ironic voice. A pleasant picture. Drat, no voices on an avatar. I would be wearing a suit. A tux, I think, yesss. I think I shall have to nap on this for awhile. Alas, the drawer is closed. However, I spy a feather bed that has been left out while the sheets are being washed. That will do nicely. Shnore.

In Which: Fatty Kitty has a 2.0 Experience

2008-03-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

Consider the dignified kitty:
while resting on a sun-drenched cushion may be quite enjoyable, it is hardly intellectually stimulating. When my Librarian logged onto the Library 2.0 wiki, I became intrigued, and finally enamoured.

I found out about mashups. What a bunch of fun things there are to do out there. I am now totally addicted to playing on my Librarian's computer. YouTube – I can finally watch the Sesame Street Martians whenever I want. They are so deliciously pounceable. Yip, yip, yip, yip, yiiiiip.

An unintended and surprising consequence: my Cat friends in Minnesota followed along on the wiki, and we went back and forth, discovering different things and sharing them. I'm still a little upset that they have better trading cards than I. Harumph.

I desired more familiarity and facility with the web, and the framework of the program allowed me to learn while playing. I would definitely try to participate in another program, if it didn't interfere with snoozing, eating, or my grooming regimen.

My librarian appeared to enjoy the program as much as I (at least the Martian part, anyway. She doesn't pounce, but she can be so juvenile.) While I found everything about the program delightful, she had one caveat. I will allow her a moment at the keys:

One thing: everyone I know who actually completed the challenge spent a significant amount of time doing it at home. Doing it at work as was suggested, was impossible. One hour a week when you’re learning new things and trying to incorporate them into a blog is a fantasy.

And that's all for now. Except for one thing. My Librarian and I both agree that we should celebrate finishing the Montana Library 2.0 Challenge with an entrancing little video, in which the Martians...well, you'll have to see for yourself. Caio, Fatty Kitty.

In Which: librarykitty visits Columbia Falls Library and meets a Crocodile and a Rat

2008-03-07T07:48:00.001-08:00

Hello! Fatty Kitty is pretending to nap, but I know he's really keeping one eye open on me while I play on his blog. I have so much to tell you!

Fatty Kitty's librarian (she is fabulous!) took me with her to the Columbia Falls branch of the Flathead County Libraries yesterday. And guess what! They have a crocodile in their children's department! If you don't believe me, just look at this:

I am snarling ferociously at that crocodile - that's why he had to let me go. I was brave.
But that's not all. I also met the library rat, Ariel.

She was sweet, and a little tickly. It's the whiskers. I'll bet Columbia Falls is the only library in the whole world that has a rat. Rats make pretty good pets for a library, and a lizard might be nice, too.

In the Columbia Falls branch, you can think of a name for a bass (that's a kind of fish, but it didn't smell like a fish) and win a prize, or go to storyhour (and sit by the crocodile) or see Ariel sit on the librarian's shoulder.
There's even an eagle to look at in a glass case. It was being ferocious too, and the picture got fuzzy. I think my paws were shaking. But he's stuffed, so he couldn't get me. Still, it was exciting to be so close to a stuffed eagle.
Fatty Kitty says he wouldn't be afraid, but then, he is so much fat...um..larger than I am. Aren't you, Fatty Kitty?

In Which: Fatty Kitty becomes an Editor

2008-03-03T15:26:00.000-08:00

I think I have found my niche. I am an editor. Of what, you ask? Cat Fancy? No, no, no, that's for the pretty kitties, those of less substance.

Why don't you just go to the Montana Librarians Wiki and check out the Montana Library Websites link on the left toolbar?
Well?
Ahem.
Oh all right, the link's right here. I'll go easy on you because I'm simply puffed up to see my name at the bottom of the page:
Latest page update: made by fattykitty , 9 minutes ago.

Aha! I see a link to a Montana Library Blogs page. Hmmmm, maybe I can "edit" that page too. This is as much fun as leaving a muddy pawprint...

...although someone was a little upset over that!
Ooooo, the Librarian is making me scootch over. I say, your big rear isn't giving me enough room..stop that...merooOOOWwww (sound of claws skittering across wood.)

(This is now the Librarian writing)
For lesson 9, we're supposed to create a blog post about what we found interesting about wikis. I checked through some of the links on the lesson page. The wiki, wiki, wiki link explained wikis a little more, because I still wasn't sure quite what they were about. I ended up spending the most time on the library wiki examples link, finding out what kinds of things libraries used wikis for. A couple of things I would like to our library to have wikis for:

Book review wiki - what a great idea! All the staff and the patrons could contribute to one of these.
How to use the library website wiki - we could add to an FAQ as patrons asked questions. The interface for the catalog isn't as user-friendly at first glance as it could be, but just a little tutoring gets you going, and most people really like to use it once they know how.
Library Best Practices wiki - this could take the place of the emails that are sent out to update staff on procedure, for one. Then we wouldn't have to save all those emails which clog up the system.

Some of the other exciting ideas I found, just by following links within the wikis:

The Multnomah County Library “What I'm reading now” badge, which carries those words and a picture of the book jacket from the book you're currently reading - from an article in Library Journal about the Paraprofessional of the Year, Steve Roskoski.

In two different places I read about having a teen book club; one was in a detention center for girls. I think it's a great idea to bring the library to people who can't come to the actual building. After all, that's what we're trying to do virtually, why not in real time as well?

Ok, that cat is yowling. He's been so demanding lately...thinks he's something, for sure. And this chair is covered with hair...yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll get you some food, you fatty kitty. Yeah, you, you're the fatty one....uh, huh.

In Which: Fatty Kitty displays Enthusiasm

2008-03-02T16:07:00.000-08:00

This podcast thing is phenomenal. And I'm tagging them all with my Del.icio.us buttons up on my toolbar. Goodbye, bookmarks!

Right now, for instance, I'm listening to my podcast from WGBH in Boston - classical music. So when the local station is playing the news for the third time in the morning, I can enjoy my podcast, instead. La de da de daaaaa.

The Librarian is going to show her coworkers Daniel Pinkwater's podcast of his broadcasts on children's books. We've tagged it with a mtlib20 tag in Del.icio.us, for everyone's enjoyment. An erudite man, Pinkwater...he has a picture of his pet on his page. Even though it is a dog, I think that shows his good taste in companions. I will give dogs their doo...er...due.

While listening to classical music, it's nice to see some pretty kitties. I recommend this set of photos by a kitty friend. The TechnoCat has been mentoring his friends, you see, and they are all over it. They surpass me, alas. Oh well. I am elevated by the company I keep (yes, that means you, librarykitty, little fuzzball of yarn.) (I am a bit fond of him.)

signed, an irrationally exuberant Fatty Kitty

In Which: we have a guest blogger - librarykitty!

2008-03-01T22:17:00.000-08:00

Hi! I'm the librarykitty from Flathead County Library, and I'm visiting Fatty Kitty. He's letting me write his blog, even though I'm not near as fat..er..big as he is. And smart too! I really look up to that Fatty Kitty!

Today his Librarian (she is awesome) brought me to the Whitefish Library and showed me around. I got to visit with some Snowfolk:

And I also spent some time catching up on my reading in the children's department:

I'm going to recommend these books to Fatty Kitty - he spends too much time on the computer!
I can't wait to get back to the Kalispell library where I live, and tell Marilyn all about my adventures! I miss you, Marilyn. Wish you were here, love, librarykitty.

In Which: Librarians Run Amok and Fatty Kitty is Appalled

2008-03-01T19:50:00.003-08:00

My Librarian has eyeballs like dried-up raisins and she really should be building a database but...perhaps temporary insanity has set in. For instance, she's been laughing maniacally ever since viewing something on YouTube:

I cannot believe that librarians actually made this video. It must have been the tech support staff. Yes, that's what I intend to believe. A pox on Mighty Mouse! I just remembered that the tech support staff are also librarians. Nap! I shall take a nap. And I'll think of some way to get my Librarian back. After all... tomorrow is another day.

(with thanks to marjeedhag)

In Which: Fatty Kitty indulges the Librarian with her podcast.

2008-03-01T19:01:00.000-08:00

How frustrating it was to watch the Librarian try to get a pod catcher to work with Windows Vista. Thank goodness she finally gave up and commenced scratching my neck again. And my jaw aahhh how I looovvvee a good jaawww scratch...wait, don't stop oh drat! She's got it working on the bloglines account and now Garrison Keillor is spouting off about some poet. I suppose I've got Library 2.0 to thank for this.Meroowwww. Okay, she's scratching me again. Uummmmmmhhhh...she says if I'm a good kitty she'll podcast my monologue - the one I always give when she arrives home from being out. Well, at least then a Cat would have something worth listening to!

My Librarian has a good idea - what if the Flathead County Library makes podcasts of librarians reading children's books? Hmmm, I wonder if this is possible...wait..don't go...scraaaaaaatch meeeeeeeee.

In Which: Fatty Kitty admits he is bested.

2008-02-28T08:02:00.000-08:00

I was quite proud of my library trading card, but it is nothing compared to the Cat Cards generated by these two kitties. I especially admire Alice's, for purrfection of picture wedded to a most appropriate poem. I wonder what their brother Alton will come up with? How could I ever imagine a mere library trading card could trump a Cat Card?

A (slightly) Humbled Fatty Kitty.

In Which: Fatty Kitty gets excited about something

2008-02-26T16:47:00.000-08:00

I was snoozing on the quilt the other day, when I was rudely interrupted by the Librarian. I hate being interrupted when I'm doing something important, don't you?
Anyway, she dumped books on the bed and began taking pictures of them, whilst mumbling to herself. I draped myself over several of the books, so as to make the photos more interesting, of course, but she kept shooing me off. I had to go sleep somewhere else:

I was just dropping off again when down she comes to the computer and starts tapping away. I caught a few words, "...knitting books ...catalog...LibraryThing...." It wasn't until I gave up napping and hopped up onto her lap to watch, that I understood the full import of her monologue. She was finally getting a handle on her knitting book obsession and posting them all up on a website called LibraryThing. Thus, she'll be able to see if she has a book before bidding on Ebay next time!

I think this is a stroke of genius. I keep meowing at her to hurry and take pictures of my Garfield books, but so far, she doesn't get it.

In Which: Fatty Kitty Generates a Button

2008-02-26T16:28:00.000-08:00

Behold my button (over there on the right). It is pink (that was my Librarian's idea) and has a font that - according to my Librarian - is cute. The only thing about it that is mine is that is has my name on it. But I won't bite the hand that feeds me. I'll do as I'm told and tell you where I got my cute little button: right here.

In Which: Fatty Kitty throws down the glove.

2008-02-16T15:19:00.000-08:00

Greetings, bibliotechies.

I am quite fond of that word, bibliotechies. I borrowed it from a blog on my RSS feeds. You may look for it on my blogroll. Hmmmm. Maybe I'll have to think of a new asana called blogroll...

But enough chatter.

I, Fatty Kitty, issue a challenge to you librarians, especially the Flathead County librarians. I have created a trading card on Flickr for my Librarian's library. Voila:

So. Here is the challenge. Use the tool described in the Flickr toys page to make a trading card for your library. Then we can trade! And I will be the grandest Cat on the block, because none other has a librarian, thus none other will have Library Trading Cards. If I were undignified enough to giggle, I would do so now.

I am definitely becoming a TechnoCat. My Librarian will be so proud. Perhaps she'll give me some extra catnip. Yeowwwwlllll!

In Which: Fatty Kitty fights with Flickr, but not for long.

2008-02-12T17:25:00.000-08:00

Blog a photo. Blog a photo from Flickr.

Unfortunately, Flickr doesn't seem to have the proper respect for my dignity, and keeps on putting my photo of a goose in somebody else's blog. How frustrating! And a frustrated Fatty Kitty is no fun at all.

This goose, however, intrigues me. It lives at the Kalispell Branch of the Flathead County Library (FCL to their librarians) and changes clothes every so often. If I were there, at the Children's desk at FCL - Main, I would give that goose a piece of my mind. You'd never catch Fatty Kitty wearing clothes, although my Librarian once put socks on me - but that was completely against my will. I would have protested but of course, the wily Librarian caught me while I was napping. I forgave her when she brushed me, but only then. Fatty Kitty knows when to hold a grudge.

If this bloggy thing refuses to work for the fourth time, Fatty Kitty gives up.

It didn't work. Harumph. A link is all you will get. Blame Flickr, for Fatty Kitty has done his best!

In Which: Fatty Kitty Wakes Up and Does Yoga

2008-02-09T18:54:00.000-08:00

Greetings, librarian-types. I apologise (yawwwn) for falling asleep for so long. I woke up for a little while. And while I did, I did a little messing about with Flickr. I will preview my account for you, called (naturally) Fatty Kitty's Flickr, over on the right there, with my Flickr Badge. Clever, no?

All right. Prepare to be amazed. I will preview my yoga exercises - that's asanas for those in the know. And that would be you, O Librarians, wouldn't it?

I call this pose Rolling Furball of Thunder. Don't you think it is apt?

Next we have Dust Bunny. In this pose I lie quite still, with occasional twitches. Try to breathe deeply and not pant. No panting. (This is why dogs aren't very good at yoga, Downward Dog notwithstanding.)

Here I am doing an excellent rendition of the pose, Courageous Kitty, named for the blatant baring of the soft underbelly. Note the curling of the back paws.

And last, but not least, the difficult Chew Toy, a tribute to the twisty rawhide pet treats.

Ahhhh. I feel much better. Of course, the actual pictures were taken in much sunnier weather. I believe my Librarian was enjoying the morning by drinking tea on the front stoop when she was inspired by my dedication to the practice. Sometimes she even tries to stretch. I would add a deprecating remark here, but she has the key to the catnip.

In Which: Fatty Kitty says "If a Cat can, you can."

2008-01-19T20:49:00.000-08:00

Fatty Kitty is going to tell you a secret. Despite all my griping, I've been taking advantage of those RSS feeds, especially for putting holds on new knitting books that my Librarian loves so well. And despite misgivings that I won't be the only Greedy Gus after I expose my little habit, I'm going to tell you how to get the newest books, CDs, and DVDs at the Flathead County Library. Follow my instructions to the letter. I am not responsible for loose paws on the keyboard!

Go to the Flathead County Library website (hereinafter known as FCL; a lot less typing for my kitty paws.)

In the upper right-hand corner, you'll see a link to "New Arrivals." Click it.

Up comes a page with links to all the different media that FCL collects (known as a collection, right?) Again, in the upper right-hand corner, you'll see a small menu square with the title "Library Info." The second choice is "RSS Feeds." Click it.

Now you're on a MT Government page. There are lots of choices for RSS feeds at this point. About a third of the way down the left-hand column, you'll find FCL's link to all their feeds. Click it.

Aha! What riches! DVDs! CDs! (I prefer bird calls...t ch tch tch...o bother, don't get me started!) New books in fiction and non! Click whichever you prefer (I preferred all.) After this you'll have to follow the directions for your browser and RSS feeder. I'm sure you have the wit to figure it out...eventually. If a Cat can, you can.

Now, the best is, that whenever FCL gets a new whatever, it comes right to your computer. You click on your feeds, you look at the new stuff, and YOU PUT IT ON HOLD RIGHT THERE! See? What did Fatty Kitty tell you? And you'll probably be first in line, except for maybe those technical processing folks down in the basement. Oh well, they are in the basement, so we'll let them have their fun.

Now, you ask, O Fatty Kitty, why did you make it so difficult? Couldn't you just give us the link? No, no, no, you drooling puppies, I could not. I have to have a little fun with my treasure hunt, don't I? And you know how I love to make people run around in all directions, don't you? Well, you do now.

You probably have another question (tiresome of you, but oh so typical). Why, Fatty Kitty, do you want to get knitting books for your Librarian? It's not the books, silly, it's that after she reads them she always buys some new balls of yarn! Maiow!

In Which: RSS feeds? Why not Fatty Kitty feeds?

2008-01-17T18:07:00.000-08:00

How tiresome it is to have one who should be waiting upon you all caught up with adding to the "Blogroll." A roll should only be about food, and food should have to do with moi.
She added one blog about a Cat to appease me. Harumph. More on this later; I hear a can opener.

Ta ta.
The Fatty Kitty

In Which: Fatty Kitty grudgingly does the required assignment (sigh).

2008-01-09T10:21:00.000-08:00

Well.
My online presence does owe its existence to a certain library project entitled Library 2.0. It seeks to update all the fuddie-duddies that prance about in such public institutions. My companion (clever of me to think of a neutral term for her, isn't it?) is participating in this, and requests I post certain obligatory messages to others of her ilk. Thus:

"Use one of your test posts to create an entry about the habits among the 7 and 1/2 lifelong learning habits that is easiest and hardest for you & why."

Easiest Habit: Accept responsiblity for my own learning. I like learning, so I'm always taking a class in something, or finding a new subject to read about. I think that's why I like doing reference work: I'm curious about everything. (Bravo! But needs work on being more responsible for the Cat box - fk).

Hardest Habit: View problems as challenges. Time is a problem, and it will take some doing to think of it as a challenge rather than a problem. But it's so much more positive to think of it as a challenge - I think I'll like that. (You would. All that perky, syrupy, chirpy stuff. Reminds me of a bird. Hmmm. Maybe that's why I put up with you - fk).

All right, that's done and I can have my blog back. Except now it's time to take a nap. Or three.

Yawningly Yours, PJ

In Which: The Fatty Kitty begins to introduce himself but gets sidetracked.

2008-01-08T22:12:00.000-08:00

Welcome dear library friends, to my humble blog.
I'll treat you to a picture of Me, a snapshot that is, alas, quite alarming.
Behold:

If you perceive my outrage, perhaps you will not blame me, when I point out that the little ragamuffin that seeks to replace me in my, er, dare I say servant...? No? Well, then, let us call her a tenant in my abode (she does do the cooking and cleaning doesn't she? I don't see why I need be so tactful). At any rate, the little brat seeks to replace me in her affections. And he does so while cheerfully wearing my own whiskers! As Stewie would say, "Damn him!"

Signing off in High Dudgeon, the Fatty Kitty