Last year when the smaller portion had just been released from hospital and was refusing to eat I resorted to silliness to encourage/bully him into it. On that occasion I featured the blow-up penguin who lives in our en suite.
However, the penguin is not the only blow-up beastie who shares our home. Lurking on top of the book case just inside the front door lives a leopard.
I cannot help thinking that he is in a prime position to menace guests, or unwary inmates. In support of my theory, some hours after I took his photo this morning he leapt from the book case and landed on the skinny one's sister. She was neither hurt nor frightened. Not a successful ambush at all.
This made it very clear that when the smaller portion gets home from hospital if he behaves badly it will have to be the penguin again. That leopard is simply too friendly.
I am a little bit ashamed to say that while visiting him in hospital I have been indulging in a little theft.
Each visit (and I go in twice a day) I liberate a few clinical waste bags.
They are ideal for using while detruffelating the kitty litter trays. In the home they are known as toxic waste bags, and they make an upleasant daily chore easier and more amusing. Small things for small minds.
However, the penguin is not the only blow-up beastie who shares our home. Lurking on top of the book case just inside the front door lives a leopard.
I cannot help thinking that he is in a prime position to menace guests, or unwary inmates. In support of my theory, some hours after I took his photo this morning he leapt from the book case and landed on the skinny one's sister. She was neither hurt nor frightened. Not a successful ambush at all.
This made it very clear that when the smaller portion gets home from hospital if he behaves badly it will have to be the penguin again. That leopard is simply too friendly.
Each visit (and I go in twice a day) I liberate a few clinical waste bags.
They are ideal for using while detruffelating the kitty litter trays. In the home they are known as toxic waste bags, and they make an upleasant daily chore easier and more amusing. Small things for small minds.
Doesn't sound at all silly to me. A job has to be done so why not add an element of humour. Very third form boyish humour. Well done!
ReplyDeletedinahmow: Laughter, of some sort, lives in my head.
DeleteOr you could borrow our dog - she loves nothing better than eating kitty truffles. (I know. Gross.)
ReplyDeleteI can just imagine you "liberating" those bags. You crack me up!!!
Cathy Oliffe-Webster: I read your comment late last night/early this morning and wandered off to bed thinking that if any at any time your finances are stretched then, so long as they didn't have to watch, cat owners would be grateful for such a service. Oh dear. Sometimes I am a very sick puppy indeed.
DeleteGood for you! Recycling is next to godliness, isn't it? It's lovely to hear from you, whenever you can get away from the wild animals inhabiting your domain. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: There are just so many wild animals around me. Jazz probably the most vicious. Jazz definitely the most vicious.
DeleteWow, clinical waste! All we have are old bread bags.
ReplyDeleteJoanne Noragon: We don't eat anything like enough bread to keep up with Jazz n Jewel's output.
DeleteEverything should have a dash of humor in it. Life would be dull without it. Glad you have a sense of humor. :)
ReplyDeleteDeb: It is often on the dark side, but I certainly do have a sense of humour. For which I am grateful.
DeleteIt is good that you are preparing things for his re-entry into the real world. Silliness is definitely needed.
ReplyDeleteStarting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: Lots and lots of silliness.
DeleteI can picture you in 'stealth mode' as you creep out of the hospital, furtively looking over your shoulder, checking to ensure that tell tale yellow isn't sticking out of your pocket.
ReplyDeletemybabyjohn/Delores: I prefer the nonchalent approach...
DeleteBad leopard! Can't Jazz teach him anything about menace?
ReplyDeleteLitter box cleaning always benefits from a sense of humor. Mine have to contend with the plastic bags from the grocery store. Not very entertaining. Glad to see your silliness poking out. :)
Laura Eno: I believe that Jazz and Jezebel make the same art form out of menance. Neither are happy to impart their wisdom - particularly not to bags of air.
Deletedetruffelating, my Gary is going to have a laugh over that one, love that bright penguin, he does have an authoritative look about him, be happy or else. Ha.
ReplyDeleteLinda Starr: A friend referred to the 'product' as truffels many years ago. Detruffelating seemed the logical conclusion.
DeleteThat penguin looks kinda cool. Not exactly Happy Feet cool, but cool nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteMichael Offut, Speculative Fiction Author: Welcome. The penguin is very cool. Way cooler than the Happy Feet dude.
DeleteThose bags *would* make an odious task slightly more tolerable! I rely on my not very clever imagination and pretend to be a miner sifting for gold. (That doesn't work, by the way; I never am even *briefly* fooled into thinking I'm sifting anything but cat waste.)
ReplyDeleteMs CrankyPants: Mining for gold? Now that is an imagination. Using the fertiliser to construct a bomb has crossed my mind before. And it would be lethal...
DeleteWe used to have that same penguin in our share house years ago. He'd often 'move' from room to room and give me a fright!
ReplyDeleteClinical waste bags sound PERFECT for kitty litter!
Kath Lockett: I can well understand that a moving 'Strict Mr Penguin' could be startling. He is not a relaxed bird.
DeleteClinical waste bags ARE perfect for kitty litter.
That is awesome! I could use some of those bags.
ReplyDeleteLove the inflatable animals, too. You're right, though, the leopard doesn't really look menacing.
Riot Kitty: Have you even seen a 'big cat' look less menacing? A complete wuss.
DeleteI can see why the leopard isn't at all menacing. He's smiling! He's rather cute, does he have a name?
ReplyDeleteI hope the Smaller Portion doesn't need much enticement to eat this time round.
I'm going to have to "liberate" a few of the council supplied "doggy bags" when I get a kitty eventually.
River: And it isn't even a menacing smile. He doesn't have a name. What would you call him?
DeleteGrab laughter wherever and whenever you can. When will he come home?
ReplyDeleteSusan Kane: I need lots and lots of laughter. He came home a couple of hours ago. Way too early.
DeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteWendy aka Quillfeather: Thank you.
DeleteHave to admit, the penguin looks more fearsome than the leopard - go figure!
ReplyDeleteI had a real good chuckle at your description of the smelly kitty litter tray poo search... "detruffelating". That's hilarious, and very descriptive.
If/when I do find myself being owned by another kitty cat, I'll have to remember that word. Brilliant!
Yes, I would pilfer those waste bags too. They'd be perfect for doggie-doo bags. I've got poo bags tied to Jack's leash, in my pockets, car glovebox, drawers...
Vicki: It is hard to comprehend a penguin being much, much more threatening than a leopard isn't it? The penguin is bigger too.
DeleteHahahahaha! Gods bless you and your clinical waste bags!!!
ReplyDeleteYou're the Best!
xo
Austan: Mega thanks. You have to remember though - they are now 'Toxic Waste Bags'. Which is very, very true.
DeleteI'm starting to worry about you, EC and those blow-up dolls! Hmmmmm....let me ponder a while....
ReplyDeleteGrab a few extra bags for me while you're at it, please! That's a far better option than ripping someone's head off and nailing it to the counter! ;)
Lee: You have a problem with blow-up animals. Be careful or the penguin will pay you a visit...
DeleteSome days I would like the bags AND to rip people's heads off. Some days are like that.
I love your word "detruffelating." It sounds almost like an enjoyable task ~ yet I have the same task to do and so know otherwise. But it made me think of when I busted Annie "detruffelating" the box and had to build a wall around it to keep her out of it. How much more pleasant her breath would have been if it had been truffles...
ReplyDeleteCindi: It seems that Annie and Cathy Oliffe-Webster's dog share the detruffelating gene. And yes, doggy breath would not be improved. At all.
Deletethose bags needed liberating anyway
ReplyDeletekylie: That's what I said. Repeatedly.
DeleteI love it when your sense of humour shines through no matter what. That penguin should do the trick but the leopard..not. I too must remember that word 'detruffelating' but a bit long for scrabble unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteWe are lucky Precious won't use a litter tray (not since our Henry died) but always asks to go outside and rarely before 5a.m. (this morning it was 7.30a.m.) which suits me fine.
What fun liberating those waste bags. Keep up the good work. You deserve something in return for all the frustrations you have been suffering re hospital staff etc.
You mention 'when the SP comes home" but have you any information as to when that will be exactly? Hope he is doing as well as can be.......
Mimsie: There is always something to laugh at. Perhaps things that I 'shouldn't' laugh at, but I do. And I will. Often.
DeleteJazz is an early riser. I shudder to think what time he would be telling me he HAD to go out.
The skinny one came home a few hours ago and is now asleep. Hopefully for a while.
I think they can spare you a few of those waste bags with all you have been through there. :) Funny. :)
ReplyDeleteLynn: Whether they think they can spare them or not, they have donated some toxic waste bags to my cause.
DeleteAs a fellow cat caregiver, I am only too well aware that toxic waste is a pretty good name for some of those bombs :)
ReplyDeletejenny_o: We had a cat who could make my eyes water with his emissions. The current furs are bad, but not that bad.
DeleteI love the bags. I'm probably one of the few people who, while visiting the lab to have blood drawn, am eyeing the tourniquet (among other things) with a mind to art material potential. I think after all they put you through, the least they can do is provide you with cat truffle bags.
ReplyDeleteAs for the blow-up creatures... yes, it just does not do to have a smiling friendly leopard hopping on people. Perhaps the penguin might start pecking visitors instead. As has been noted, he does look rather humorless.
Paper Chipmunk: I find myself considering purchasing an AVENUE of the penguins, which may help to keep intruders away, in addition to keeping his high and skinniness under control. Its a thought anyway.
DeleteDear EC, here in the states, many organizations encourage consumers to take cloth bags into stores so we save on paper for bags and get rid of plastic. But I usually always ask for at least one plastic bag in which I can scoop the clumps of used kitty litter that the three cats with whom I live leave behind in the box. I applaud your creativity in pilfering those yellow bags!!!!! Go for it! Peace.
ReplyDeleteDee: Shops can no longer give out plastic bags here - the lightweight ones anyway. They have been banned for a few years now, and you carry cloth bags or buy heavy duty re-usable ones. Which made liberating the toxic waste bags even more desirable.
DeleteI want to know how exactly you cajoled him into eating by threatening him with a blow up penguin!!! Penguins are some of our favorite animals here.... we have some small stuffed ones from the academy of sciences, and love the books about them, and and and... I do suppose the emperor is TALL when standing over a prostrate patient??? GOOD LUCK and lots of love...
ReplyDeleteNicky HW: The penguin is tall standing beside him, and I suspect he feared what I would do to him as much as he feared the wrath of the penguin. I don't mind why he ate - so long as he ate.
Delete"detruffelating" is my favorite new word!
ReplyDeletedaisyfae: It is a good one isn't it?
DeleteAh, I divine from this that you are a secret football fan and you take these blow-ups along to matches! Good on yer!
ReplyDeleteDave King: Shudder. Not football for this black duck. Not any ball game.
Delete