28 posts tagged “gin”

So last night Ginger and I were sitting on my bed, playing Bubble Spinner.  All of a sudden she perked up and streaked into the kitchen, where she took up a stalking position.  She was focused on the corner behind the trash can where I keep all my paper bags.  I went in and turned on the light, and moved the trash can out of the way.  Gin's eyes were as big as cannonballs, and she hadn't moved an inch.  I moved a few more things, and she crept closer to the wall but I still couldn't see anything back there.  I pulled out about half of the paper bags, and still nothing.  Then I shoved the rest of them to the side and stepped back.  Gin cocked her head, then darted forward and re-emerged with a FUCKING MOUSE IN HER MOUTH.  It was tiny and gray, and its little arms and legs were all splayed out frozen.  I don't think Gin really knew what to do with it, after all she's been a house cat for the last eight years.  She carried the mouse into the living room and sat in the middle of the carpet with it in her mouth.  I probably should have been finding a box or something to trap it in, but I was too busy scrambling to get my camera to take a photo of my little girl's big day.  She actually caught a mouse!  This from a cat who once lost a moth in her own whiskers!  I celebrated too soon, though, as Gin then set the mouse down, and it ran into the closet.  WTF?  I mean I've heard about cats liking to play with their food before they eat it, but they're not supposed to actually lose it! 
So anyway, we spent the next half hour or so pulling things out of the closet, hoping to give Gin another chance.  But honestly, there's just too much damn crap in that closet.  I opted instead to close the door, stuff a towel under it, and give myself some time to decide what to do.  I am currently reading a number of websites that promise me I can build my own humane mouse trap out of household items.  We'll see how that goes.  Or maybe I'll just open the door and see if Gin can fulfill her cat destiny.

Hm, she looks none too happy up here. 

Let's ask my cat:

I guess the space heater and hot pad aren't cutting it, hmm?

For a few days this week I had a guest in the apt, a cat named Penny Lane who I was taking care of for a friend.  I was interested to see how Gionna would react, since I'm constantly tempted to bring another kitty home from the SPCA.  And, predictably, she was PISSED.  The first two days or so saw a lot of hissing, growling, passive aggressiveness, aggressiveness, and sulking.  BUT, by yesterday she was really coming around!  She was trying to play with Penny, rolling around on the carpet and dashing madly around the apartment the way she does when she's really excited.  Penny wasn't too interested in playing, but it was a really positive sign that another cat might actually be welcome.  Maybe when (?) I find a new job I'll celebrate by bringing another one home, who knows....

There was definitely a bit of evil eye going on in the photo above... if you look for Gin's reflection in the mirror you can see she's got an evil glowing eye too.
There's not much action in this vid, but I thought it was pretty funny that this song was playing in the background for some reason.

My tummy was sick this morning, so I didn't go to work.  Here's what I did instead:

Sat on bed, read blogs, ate an apple with peanut butter.  Then Gion licked some peanut butter off my finger.  She loooooooooooves peanut butter, and as soon as she smelled it she positioned herself next to my computer, stared alternately at me and the bowl I was eating from, and made pawing motions in my direction.  She's subtle, all right.

Not that I'm jealous or anything (although the catnip cigar is pretty fucking awesome), but Ginger always makes out like a bandit at christmas.  Check out what she reaped this year:

Our tastes are very similar, so naturally we both favored the catnip cigar:
The label says "El Gato Muy Loco," in case you were wondering.  And, well, it delivers what it promises:
I especially love how her back feet seem to be moving independently of her front half.  She kinda looks at them like, whose feet are those?  So, once again, a very successful christmas for Gionna.  And I.... well, I survived it, and let's just leave it there.

I saw some wheatgrass while shopping at Rainbow today, so I thought I'd get some and see what Gionna thought of it.  I normally get her the "Kitty Grass" at WF, which I'm just guessing is regular grass... really I have no idea what makes it so "kitty."  But anyway, I was eager to see Gion's reaction to the new variety of grass.  And?

HA!!!  Just kidding, she actually liked it.  I just can't stop laughing over that photo.  But see, here she is giving the wheatgrass an affectionate head-bump:
Really, I don't know where I'd be without my cat to entertain me.  Thanks, Gion!

My mom flew in today, and just like Santa she came bearing gifts!  A new VitaMix for me, and a chicken costume for little Gionna!  Okay, the costume is really just a little hat-thing, which had been roundly rejected by my mom's cats.  Cleo's too schizophrenic, Sweetie's too pathetic, Ricky's head is too fat.  Gin has a nice small head and is vigorous enough to be made fun of without losing all of her dignity, so it would seem to be a perfect match.  Did she go for it?

 

This may be the Ginger photo of the year:

Don't worry, Gion!  I still think you're beautiful!  Although, maybe you're not the sharpest knife in the drawer:

I brought little Gion home on Saturday, from the Cat's Cradle boarding facility in San Rafael.  I wish I had thought to take some photos, but this is seriously the best cat kennel ever!  It's in a weird-ish industrial type area, but inside it is a cat oasis with shelves, chairs, cat trees, and other ledges galore, all with cats draped over them.  The woman working there when I picked Gin up said that she had been sunbathing in one of the communal rooms when we arrived, and that she "loves people, and she eats everything!"  That's my Gion!  I was thrilled to see her, but she was a little stressed about having to go back into her cat carrier.  Sorry, Gin, it was the only way to get you home!  My dad and brothers had driven me to Marin, and we stopped in Sausalito on the way back to soak in the beautiful weather (which has since turned to wind and fog, as per usual).  Gin stayed in the car (parked in the shade with windows cracked, naturally) while we took a quick walk around.  My brother Diego spotted a crab in the rocks by the bay, which was kind of funny as I had just come from Little Sabine Bay which is also swarming with crabs (they pinch your toes if you don't keep moving around).  I didn't want to leave Ginger in the car too long, though, so then it was time to head back over the Golden Gate Bridge into the city.  I never use this bridge so whenever I do I am struck by how beautiful it really is... thank gawd it was built in the stylish Deco 30's rather than the tickety-tack 80's!.  Gin had mellowed out a little bit by the time she got home, and spent a good five minutes nosing around the apartment like she had forgotten she lived there.  Poor Gin!

So, we are officially all safe and sound at home.  And Gion is taking steps to insure that I am not able to leave again:
Although, I'm starting to wonder if she's itching to get back to Cat's Cradle with their many climbing surfaces and ample sunlight...