Tagged Tuesday!

I'm very sleepy today because I had such a fun and active weekend at the Sweet Sixteens reunion.


But I was tagged by sweet Miz Allie Cat for the Catnip Capers Meme! What fun. So I'll play along before I resume my nap. And after my nap, I'll work on my villanelle for my darling Mickeybear! I miss him so much.

Here are the rules for the Catnip Capers Meme, quoted from Miz Allie's blog:

"All you catsters out there have to do is just list 5 things you do whenever you're on the nip, and don't forget to tag some friends! Let's find out just how wacked out some of us get!!"

Ohhh, I love 'nip! Here are five things I do when I'm 'nipped out:

1. If I'm lucky, I find one of Mom's t-shirts, or better yet, one of her bras. Then I wallow around on it, grab it in my paws, and bunnykick it!

2. I run around a lot. Well, I don't really run. I "tuddle." That's what Mom says, anyway. She says I walk and run as though I were wearing high heels, because I'm a curvy cat with small paws. And when I'm nipped out, the "tuddling" is that much more obvious!

3. I roll around on my back and wave my paws in the air. When I do this, I look like I'm boxing. Maybe I'm having catnip-induced hallucinations of being Mohammad Ali. But wait, it's my NOMSS friend, Cairo, who's the boxer, *giggle*!

4. I'm always snuggly, but being 'nipped out makes me extra-snuggly! Snuggle, snuggle, snuggle! Where are Mom and Dad -- I want to snuggle! Let me teleport over to Mickeybear's -- I want to SNUGGLE!

5. I rub my face against the 'nip. I like having it on my face! Mom calls me Kissyface because I kiss her and Dad so much, but when I'm 'nipped out, I become Nippyface!

And I'll tag three 'nippy-trippy girlcat friends: Miss Peach my sister, Ariel my future sister-in-law, and Gretchen my sweet friend.

Back to my beauty sleep... zzzzzzzz... (*purrrrrrr*)

A Wonderful Weekend

I had a delightful time with dear family and friends at the Sweet Sixteens Family Reunion. Ben and Lucy, my sweet brother and sister, and their wonderful mom, Toni, were fabulous hosts.

Mickeybear, I missed you being there, but I know you were with me in spirit. And our poem was very well-received, I'm happy to say!


I'll post the poem here, to share with those of you who couldn't make it to the Sweet Sixteens bash:

"Sweet Sixteens", a sixteen-line poem presented with love and purrs from Marilyn MonREOW and Mickey Mantle

Sixteen years ago or more they fit
Curled up into a hand
Such energy, they couldn't sit
For long: the wee firebrands!

Twelve years ago or more they lived
Their lives as young adults
With exuberance and purrs to give,
Athletic prowess to exult.

Four years ago or more they grew
Calmer, contemplative
Quiet wisdom felt quite new
To those who'd been so sportive.

Today, the Sweet Sixteens (or more),
Know love and living intertwine
And daily from their hearts outpour
Dear joy for life divine.

=-=

Now that I'm home, I'm going to work on a Villanelle for my Mickeybear, to present to him when he gets back. And guess what else I did today... I played Box Wars with my little brother, MaoMao! *giggle*

Sweet Sixteens Family Reunion!

The Sweet Sixteen Kitties are having a Family Reunion this weekend (from today 'til Sunday), and it's a special bash to honor, as MaoMao put it so beautifully, our precious feline friends who have gained in years and experience.

Everykitty is invited, and there will be all kinds of fun things to do: games, storytelling, delicious food and drink, and I will be reading a special poem I wrote in honor of the occasion. Here I am practicing my poetry reading, which will occur on Saturday night.


The poem I wrote is from both me and darling Mickeybear in heart and in spirit. He suggested to me the form I should use for my poem: sixteen lines with a rhyme scheme similar to his favorite poem ever (and one of my favorites, too): "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley.

So please, everykitty who can, join me and the Ballicai at the Sweet Sixteens Reunion this weekend -- it will be an extra-special event for extra-special and wonderful kitties.

And Mickeybear: you will be accompanying me to the reunion, for to quote ee cummings:

"i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)"

UPDATE: Good news to share. Momma caught Shadow, the fourth of the feral kitties, to go to his new home on the farm, away from the highway. That leaves only Starlight, and Mom is confident she can catch him soon, too.

Momma's happy the feral kitties are safer, but she's missing them. This quote speaks to where her heart is right now: "If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden."
~Attributed to Claudia Ghandi