I Love You, Sushi.

For my one and only Sushi, a haiku on the second anniversary of the Darkest Day...

Little white muff paw
Unfurling to reach for me
Veiled eyes grinning true

...there's more to this story--click me!

Happy Birthday to Sushi Cat and ogunsgirl!!

Oh, Sushi! It's your birthday again. You're still the bestest kitty in the world. The two newbies are getting better (especially the grey one), but there is a very special place in my heart that only you could fill. Happy birthday, kitty. Let's you and me share this fish cake like old times...
To ogunsgirl: How time flies! We've known each other for over six years now and have become such good friends. You are always there for me! Hm. Let's see. Last year, I believe it was chocolate. So, I hope you like crab this year!

...there's more to this story--click me!

Music of the Week: Return by OKGo

So, a bunch of us are stuck at Nu, Nu, & Nu LLP because expert reports are due. I'm just chugging along and listening to my music. Return comes on. Don't know why, but this song always reminds me of Sush. I miss you, kitty.

Return by OK Go
Now its years since your body went flat and even memories of that
are all think and dull, all gravel and glass. But who needs them
now -- displaced they're easily more safe --
the worst of it now: I can't remember your face.

Return.

For a while, with the vertigo cured, we were alive -- we were pure.
The void took the shape of all that you were, but years take their toll,
and things get bent into shape...
Antiseptic and tired, I can't remember your face.

Return.

You were supposed to grow old. Reckless, unfrightened, and old,
you were supposed to grow old.

Return. You were supposed to return.

...there's more to this story--click me!

One Year Later

I love you so much, Sushi. It just breaks my heart to remember all of the wonderful times we had together, and all the times you comforted me when I couldn't rely on anybody. But you were there, and you were always there for me. You are a special kitty, and I don't think I'll ever find a kitty like you.

...there's more to this story--click me!

Operation Red Paintby Sushi Cat (guest blogger)

Hello, everyone!

This week welcomed another victory for the Feline Revolution. Auntie MonkeyPig was visiting so I took her and Momma to the big bridge in the city that has been painted red in honor of the Feline Revolution. The humans (poor idiots) call this the "Golden Gate Bridge," but of course their eyesight isn't as sharp as the eyesight that felines are blessed with (we kitties are able to distinguish red from gold, for example). As a feline operative, I arrived with the crowning glory for the bridge...Chairman Meow's stamp of approval:


Long live Chairman Meow!

Your comrade,
Sushi Cat

...there's more to this story--click me!

The Feline Revolutionby Sushi Cat (guest blogger)

Hello, everyone!

My days of retirement have not been wasted. As you all probably know, we felines always have something cooking. Momma and Daddy have always understood that I have deeply rooted Catmunist ideals. Well, today, I have finally accomplished my first act for The Feline Revolution! Check it out, folks:




Long live Chairman Meow!

Best regards,
Sush

[edit] I have reported to Chairman Meow the following:

Most Benevolent Chairman Meow,

Your wisdom confirms what my inner kitty has been telling me all along. I am happy to report that I have accomplished my first act for the Feline Revolution. I have spread the Revolution to the human-run Netflix headquarters, located at 100 Winchester Cir., Los Gatos, California. I thought that would be the most appropriate location for my first contribution to the Revolution. The humans here are wonderfully enlightened to the superiority of the Feline. Everywhere, there are feline-friendly establishments. We are welcome here.

Yours sincerely,
Sushi Cat

...there's more to this story--click me!

Happy Birthday to ogunsgirl and Sushi!

Join me in wishing happy birthday to ogunsgirl and Sushi!

Did you know that ogunsgirl and Nonny Nu have a lot in common, other than their birthdays? A few common things are: we both previously drove green cars, we both recently had a cat who we LOVED but who became lost or passed away, and we both got two new cats when we really intended only get one! There are other common things that happen to us that would really blow your mind, but they're not really fit for public consumption. I hope that you will like this daisy-encrusted cake that I baked for you, ogunsgirl!



Next is Sushi cat! Honestly, we don't really know when the bestest kitty in the world was born, since she was a stray, but June 22 seems to be a good date. For Sushi, I have selected a lemon jelly donut. She's such a card! I had heard recently, however, that Sushi has been quite busy taking over the world. No joke, people. I believe she has started her own blog under the pen name "Chairman Meow." I have already purchased some CM stickers and will try to stick them on prominent SF landmarks. Mr. Nonny Nu and I have always known that Sushi is a pinko commie. But, she's our favorite pinko commie!! We love you Sush!

...there's more to this story--click me!

Hello!

Hi, everyone!

Sorry, I've been AWOL lately. The two weeks after coming back from Boston have been very, very busy work weeks, and then I took this weekend off from everything.

One thing has been weighing heavily on my mind, though. It has to do with little Sushi. A few weekends ago, I was chatting with one of my neighbors. She also has a kitty, and we discovered that we were going to the same mobile vet. Her kitty, like Sushi, is on the older end of the spectrum, and was very not used to going outside and seeing strangers. So, a mobile vet was ideal. The neighbor informed me that she had felt uneasy about the mobile vet's competence, so she bit the bullet and took her kitty to a regular vet down the street (our area is very pet friendly and is loaded with vets).

Based upon the mobile vet's analysis, my neighbor's kitty was prescribed some ear medication for a "slight infection." But, when the new vet examined the kitty, the new vet said that the medication should not have been prescribed because the ear drum could not be seen. A more indepth examination and test was done, and it turned out that the infection was not slight. New medication was prescribed and the kitty's hearing (once thought lost) has been regained! Furthermore, the other things that the new vet prescribed have given "new life" (my neighbor's words) to her kitty. The kitty is more lively now and have begun to do things that she had long ceased to do. The diminished mobility that was thought to accompany old age was apparently due to extended periods of just not feeling 100%.

After hearing this, I was of course ecstatic for my neighbor. However, I now feel very upset about not taking Sushi for a second opinion. My poor kitty. All I did was feed her regular stuff available from any supermarket and commercial places like PetsMart. I should have looked around for better food like I am feeding the Nu kitties now. I love and miss Sushi so much. And, now, I have yet another thing to feel like shit about regarding how I treated her.

I'm sorry to be such a Debbie Downer, but I just have to get that off my chest. I know you guys will tell me that I shouldn't blame myself, but we will all know that I should have brought her to a proper vet for a second opinion.

nn

...there's more to this story--click me!

History Repeats Itself

So, the Nu Kitties are a very spoiled pair. They get morning feedings at 7am sharp and dinner at 5pm sharp. They also get all day dry kibble buffet (hypo-allergenic, $26.00 for a small bag stuff because of Kash's throw up troubles), pure chicken breast snacks and catnip infused dried shrimp snacks. And, they get all this just because I feel guilty for never having treated Sushi to anything good while she was with us. Check out their breakfast and dinner selections--WERUVA. Click on "Cuisine," then scroll down on the left frame to see all of the new flavors:

Polynesian BBQ (red bigeye)
Mediterranean Harvest (tuna)
Outback Grill (barramundi)
Asian Fusion (shirasu)
Mideast Feast (tilapia)
Meow Luau (aloe)
Marbella Paella (calamari)
Mack & Jack (skipjack)
ETC.

The other night, they were served Steak Frites (shredded steak with potatoes, carrots, and peas). But, Kash didn't finish his dinner. He left all of the peas on his plate. When I saw this I quickly retrieved my camera, but when I got back to his dish, Skillet was there scarfing up the peas. There was only 1.5 left when I swatted her away:
The point is, though, that someone else had a battle with peas when they were young. Can you guess who?

...there's more to this story--click me!

Music of the Week: You're My Best Friend (Queen)

To Sushi...





Ooo. you make me live
whatever this world can give to me
It's you, you're all I see
Ooo, you make me live now honey
Ooo, you make me live
You're the best friend
that I ever had
I've been with you such a long time
You're my sunshine
And I want you to know
That my feelings are true
I really love you
You're my best friend
Ooo, you make me live
I've been wandering round
But I still come back to you
In rain or shine
You've stood by me girl
I'm happy, happy at home
You're my best friend.
You're the first one
When things turn out bad
You know I'll never be lonely
You're my only one
And I love
The things that you do
You're my best friend
Ooo, you make me live.
I'm happy, happy at home
You're my best friend
You're my best friend
Ooo, you make me live
You, you're my best friend.

...there's more to this story--click me!

Friskies Commercialby Sushi Cat (Madison Avenue guest blogger)

Hello, everybody!

How are you? I am fine. I have been a very busy kitty. Friskies International recently hired yours truly to film a commercial for them. So, I sat down at a windowsill and tried to figure out what was the best place a kitty could be. I came up with two and couldn't decide which one would be best--at home with the kitty's momma and daddy, or in Pet Paradise. So, being the writer and director of the commercial, I decided to put both in! I found a male model named "Morris" to star in the commercial (he lives next door to me in Pet Paradise), and the rest of my pals also pitched in. Here is the commercial:


Morris as Himself
Written and directed by Sushi Cat
Produced by Cotton Doggie (Mr. Nonny Nu's doggie)
Cinematography by Mr. Jones (Man from U.N.C.L.E.'s kitty)
Sound by Happy (PurpleNiobe's doggie)
Catered by Jennie, Craft Service's PP representative (PurpleNiobe's doggie)
Hair and Makeup by Coco (3-Fish's and Freelance Midget's doggie)
Gaffer...Jazmine (PurpleNiobe's doggie)

...there's more to this story--click me!

Christmas 2007: Hello, my beauties...

Merry Christmas, everybody! Boy, has it been a hectic two days. There was a lot of shopping to get through yesterday. I had to go to eight different stores just for eggnog. I was looking for the Nus' favorite brand: Bud's Famous Egg Nog. Unfortunately, it's only available in the Bay Area.

My dogs sure were barking last night (translation: my feet were hurting when I went to bed from walking around so much yesterday). But, bright and early, I got up and wrapped the presents.* Stillman and Mr. Nonny Nu's brother were our guests today. A few members of The Backyard Petting Zoo showed up for the party, too. Sushi was there in spirit and celebrated with us as well.

There were also a lot of foods to be eaten. Latkes were the crowning glory of the day (more on that later), but we also had chocolates, caramelized walnuts, Spanish peanuts mix, homemade cheese plate (I personally selected and cut the cheese--HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAA!!!), pumpkin and double cream blueberry pies, Beard Papa cream puffs (these are seriously delicious), and steak with asparagus, mashed potatoes and gravy, asparagus, and dinner rolls. Also available were veggies plate for dipping in ranch dressing and chips with salsa and guacamole, but we didn't get to those because the lightweights didn't have room in their stomachs.

Anyhow, the moral of this story is that latkes are fun to make, taste great, and will be a part of the Nus' Christmas tradition from now on! The recipe is simple. This is not my recipe. It is the recipe of my Jewish Mother.** The ingredients are:

1 packet Knorr leek soup mix
1 bag Simply Potatoes Shredded Hash Browns
3 eggs

Scramble the eggs and then add the soup mix into it. Mix well, then mix in the potatoes (mix well again). Then, just heat up some oil (I used canola) and fry them in a skillet (the metal kind, not the grey fuzzy kind). Each portion should be about 2 tablespoons, when they are as brown as you like, just flip them over and brown the other side. Serve with sour cream and apple sauce.

Here are my beauties being crafted. First, their birth (background music provided by Mr. Nonny Nu):


Now, they go through finishing school:


Finally, Stillman sets the stage for their debut:


After the eating was squared away, Skillet hung out at the dinner table for a few more moments. But, Kash decided to stretch out on the couch. I crept up on him and stretched out, too. These two are such little...cutie ...pies. Stillman is allergic to cats, so we are very lucky that, armed with Claritin, she was able to withstand several hours of the kitties!

* Mr. Nonny Nu and I got a Rosetta Stone program to learn German! I'm on vacation until Jan. 7, so I'll be working on that. Can't wait!

** My Jewish Mother is not really my mom (she's not even old enough to be my mom), but she's Jewish and very motherly.

...there's more to this story--click me!

Kitty Korner (Houston, we have a problem.)

Skillet is out of control. I think she is either going through her terrible twos or she's going through her terrible teens. I don't know. She was born on August 4 so, in cat years, she's past her twos, but not quite to her teens, so I don't know what's going on with her. As you all know, Skillet has been going to all sorts of places where she's not supposed to go (e.g., the naughty place). Now, her new thing is to run out the door. Several times now as I was either coming home or going out, she'd sneak past me. She zooms out the door and hides in the bushes where Sushi used to love to hide. She doesn't run any farther than that, though. It's weird. She's doing a lot of stuff that Sushi used to do, like sit in the exact window sills where Sushi used to sit. The times that Skillet runs out the door, we've had to spank her, a couple of times pretty good by Mr. Nonny Nu. She's learning, but you can tell she still wants to go outside.

Now, the thing is, Kash is a pretty good boy except when he's around her. She goads him into doing things. And, although he's older, he seems to follow her lead sometimes. Mr. Nonny Nu informed me that Kash was seen sipping some vanilla milk shake through a straw. Yeah, you read that right. THROUGH A STRAW!! That guy kills me sometimes. He has never been one to jump high, not like Skillet. Kash has been a climber (he snuck into our weight room and climbed to the top of the Yellow Octopus several times, and then cried because he didn't know how to get down)--UNTIL NOW. Just yesterday, I saw Kash jump onto the kitchen counter. Before then, he had never done that (seemed too tall for him). Now, I'm worried that he's going to jump onto the naughty place, and since he's not as cautious in his jumps as Skillet is, I'm worried that he might jump right over the half wall.

But, here's the real problem. Kash has been throwing up for the past week. I don't know what is the cause of it. After he throws up, he seems to feel so much better. We have to put him on a baby food diet for the next four days and feed him Petromalt (lubes up his intestines so he can poop out whatever it is that is not supposed to be in his stomach). Poor guy. He is the sweetest little kitty. Very shy, very gentlemanly. He guards me when I shower the way Sushi used to, except he sits outside the bathroom door. Now, he has taken to sleeping in between us, right up against me, and under the covers! Isn't that a hoot?? I love him.

Anyhow, it's almost Christmas, so I went to Walgreens to get an ornament for our one-ornament-per-year tradition. Since Kash broke the ornament from the first year, I figure we should get two this year. Here's the one representing Kash and the other representing Skillet. (The color and personalities of the ornaments match the kitties.) Here are ones from before representing Sushi and a John Deere tractor (don't know why, but I always wanted one of these because the colors are so pretty).

...there's more to this story--click me!

Toasty...by Sushi Cat (four-legged guest blogger)

Well, I've been jumping around in my new duds for about a month now, so I figure that it's about time that I give an update on what I did with my old rags after that fateful, sunny day. I got them cryogenically frozen at the local kitty hospital, and then transported to a semi-permanent refrigeration unit that mom had reserved for me in Monterey called Monterey Bay Memorial Park (it's exclusively for pets). It was a very animal friendly place!

Then, a couple weeks ago (on Nov. 3), while Grandpa was visiting, he drove mom to Monterey Bay Pet. They arrived around noon for the scheduled funeral pyre of my old coat. The manager had thawed out my old coat and showed it to mom and Grandpa. Grandpa hadn't seen me in a long time, but he finally got a chance to say goodbye that day. We had a lot of good times together. Mom was her silly self, of course, tears and all (no singing this time, thank goodness). After the eulogy was done, the manager put my coat in this big pizza oven and set it on high for 60 minutes.

In the meantime, I showed Grandpa and mom around the place that kept my coat on ice for two weeks. First, I introduced them to the founder of the place. There were a lot of old coats laying around, ranging from big and tall to petite. Then, I showed them the petting zoo! Of course, there were quail and geese, but my favorite were the rabbit and...what's that? Yep, that's a rooster. Here's mom trying to get him to dance for her:
Well, before we knew it, my coat was revamped, pressed, and ready to go. Grandpa and mom brought it home and set it in my favorite place (this is where I usually sat to wait for mom to come home each night). But, now, it's in a drawer next to mom's side of the bed so that when I come home to sleep at night, it's right there waiting for me.

Oh, gotta run--I have a dinner date with Mr. Jones!

(MAYO status, here I come!)

...there's more to this story--click me!

Kitty Korner (11/1)

The honeymoon is not over!! These two are still cutie pies and are vastly different kitties than Sushi. Skillet is a complete ham and will stop at nothing to jump into things she shouldn't jump into. Kash continues to be the good (most of the time) little boy he has always been. And, they are still devoted to each other. I'm almost jealous. Here are some recent photos.
Getting ready for Christmas
Look at that face!
Mew!
What a poser...
Sleepy time!

Messing around:

...there's more to this story--click me!

You'd think...

...that getting two kittens would keep our minds off of Sushi, but it doesn't. I miss my little kitty so much. I'm at work and still listening to her playlist. Her face is the background on my computer screen, and her picture is front and center on my desk. (Even Mr. Nonny Nu's photo is off to the side.) I hope she's not lonely.

She's all alone at the kitty morgue right now. Frozen, of course. On November 3, I will be driving down to witness her cremation and to bring her ashes home. I want to keep her ashes, but Mr. Nonny Nu said I can't because it will get in the way of us moving on (which is BS--no offense, Mr. Nonny Nu--because I'm never moving on from this). Instead, we hope to bring her ashes to the cotton warehouse in Central California where she was born and spread her ashes there. I don't know. It just seems like she might be lonely anywhere except right next to me. Or, maybe, that's just me projecting again.

On a happier note, it's Nu, Nu, & Nu LLP's Children's Halloween Spooktacular today and the kids are just now arriving. I brought Reese's peanut butter cups, Hershey bars, Whoppers, and Kit Kat to pass out (I'm a candy stop on the parade route). So far, we have had a Spiderman, a shark, a Flash Gordon, a princess and frog (mother/son duo--"mother boy," a la Arrested Development, if you will), a flower and butterfly (mother/daughter duo), a dog in a dog house), "Mario" from Mario Brothers, a first year associate. (I'll update these later after the parade comes by.)

...there's more to this story--click me!

Moment of Enlightenment of the Week

Okay, I realize that these "[blank] of the week" blog entries may be misleading in that they imply that I have a [blank] every week. It has been a while since I've had a moment of enlightenment worth sharing, so the next weekly moment of enlightenment will probably not occur for another 6-9 months. Just fyi.

As you know, Mr. Nonny Nu got a new kitty last Tuesday. Kash is super cute and I love playing with him. At first, when I went to pick him up (his original master and mistress were lower income folks who just happen to love a pair of Siamese cats who had kittens), it didn't seem like he liked me. I thought he was adorable, but I was very worried that he wouldn't like his home. Well, that very night, after he had his drama queen moment (hiding under the couch for a couple hours), he ended up so comfortable with us that he just slept with us in our bed.

I admit that I felt a bit offended that he didn't do anything that Sushi used to do, and drew a clear boundary that Kash was Mr. Nonny Nu's cat and not my cat. I guess I felt wary of developing a close relationship with another cat, since I know the cat will pass away before I do, and it'll be Sushi all over again. But, the fact of the matter is, Kash is my kitty, too (if not for the fact that I have been the only one feeding him and cleaning out his litter box, then for the fact that California law says that I am entitled to all half of Mr. Nonny Nu's property).

So, I started checking out the websites of shelters around my area, and saw a lot of kitties in need of a home. Today, I finally went to the local PetsMart and also the Humane Society to look for a kitty. I didn't get to the Humane Society early enough and they already had all their adoption appointments booked up, so I was told to go back tomorrow.

Boy, am I glad I didn't adopt a kitty today. If I did, I think I might have adopted the wrong one. I saw a lot of kitties and cats--alot. There were several who I liked a lot and wanted to take home. But, I was looking for one who really connected with me, one who knew that I was there to take them home and that we were meant to be together. I honestly didn't see one like that. That was over six hours ago, but I am just now realizing that, despite logically telling myself not to, what I was looking for was another Sushi. There simply isn't going to be another cat like Sushi, who I bonded with immediately. That was just special and there will never be another moment or cat like that.

But, I think that the point isn't to get another Sushi. The point is to give a cat a home. There were so many cats I found online who needed homes. Some had stories to tell about their old families, which would explain why they weren't all just jumping for joy or "turning it on" when I visited them to say hello. It's not that these cats aren't bonding with me. It's that, maybe, they miss their old life or they miss their buddy they had known for years and years because their buddy got adopted and they didn't.

I almost adopted a kitten today, but maybe that's not really the cat for me. The older cats are so hard to place, and they are the ones who had to leave a previous life or became separated from their life long friends. They have such negative prospect and have lost so much (compared to kittens). No wonder they aren't the happiest campers in the shelter and aren't rolling on their backs putting on a show for perspective adopters.

I'm rambling now, but I guess my point is that I realized that I was looking for something that no longer exists, and what I should be focusing on is helping out the worst off kitty that I can help.

...there's more to this story--click me!

My Sushi Playlist

Here Comes the Sun (Beatles)
There Are Places I Remember (Beatles)
Just Call Out My Name (Carole King) ***[edit] Added at Sushi's request.
So Far Away (Carole King)
I Won't Last A Day Without You (Carpenters)
Pictures of You (The Cure)
Just Like Heaven (The Cure)
Time AFter Time (Cyndi Lauper)
Someday We'll Be Together (Diana Ross)
Tiny Dancer (Elton John)
Both Sides Now (Joni Mitchell)
All Of My Love (Led Zeppelin)
Leaving On A Jet Plance (Mamas and the Papas)
This Will Be Our Year (OK Go)
Crazy (Patsy Cline)
Always (Patsy Cline)
I've Got Your Picture (Patsy Cline)
You're My Best Friend (Queen)
These Are the Days of Our Lives (Queen)
There She Goes (Six Pence None the Richer)
My Girl (Temptations)
Stand By Me (Temptations)


From Sushi:

...there's more to this story--click me!

It's true, folks.

What the Sush said about talk amongst the Nus about getting a new kitty...it's true. We did talk about it this weekend. I am so ashamed. It's just that, as I walk throughout the house, I just see all the places where Sushi Cat used to be. I never really understood how much a part of my life this little kitty is. Everything reminds me of her.

Bright and early each morning, she meowed me awake and I'd go downstairs to feed her breakfast. Then, she'd visit one of several watering holes, either downstairs, upstairs, in Mr. Nonny Nu's shower, or (if I was showering at the time), she'd jump in with me. She was my shower gargoyle and would sit on the rug outside my shower and stand guard. Then, I'd head downstairs to go to work and she'd say goodbye at the door, or she'd sit in a window and wave to me.

Throughout the day (on weekends, I'd get to see her do this, which was such a treat), she'd lay in the sun either on the floor upstairs or downstairs, or look out of the upstairs window. She loved windows and chairs, and nooks and crannies. Sometimes, I'd jump in there with her. We'd stare at each other for hours. I'd pet her and I'd pull on her ears. She also loved to scratch on her three scratch pads. And, everytime Sushi went outside, she would make it a point to walk behind these shrubs (because she knew that those were the ones I'd have most trouble getting her out of).

But, Sushi's favorite, by far, were cushioned areas, like:
chairs in the dining room
her couch with her very own bedspread
our bed (it belonged to the three of us)
throw blankets
laundry baskets

We even caught her sitting in the freshly dried laundry in the drier!

Then, after work, when I came up the driveway, I'd look up to the second floor window or to the stairwell to see Sushi waiting there for me.

Of course, she's nowhere to be found these days, even though I see her tracks everywhere. After we put her to sleep, I saved some of her fur, a toe nail, and a whisker. I put them in a box, and now that box sits on my bedside table (it's black and grey, just like Sushi).

Sushi was such a big part of my life. I never really understood how big until now. On the one hand, I think that having another cat in the house will do us good. But, on the other, I feel like I'm betraying Sushi because it's so soon. I don't think she'd approve.

Is it too soon?

...there's more to this story--click me!

Music of the Week: So Far Away by Carole King

Looks like Carole King had a Sushi of her own.



So far Away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore?
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
Doesn't help to know that you're just time away
Long ago I reached for you, and there you stood
Holding you again could only do me good
How I wish I could, but you're so far away

One more song about moving along the highway
Can't say much of anything that's new
If I could only work this life out my way
I'd rather spend it being close to you
But you're so far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore?
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
Doesn't help to know you're so far away
Yeah, you're so far away

Traveling around sure gets me down and lonely
Nothing else to do but close my mind
I sure hope the road don't come to own me
There are so many dreams I have yet to find
But you're so far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore?
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
And it doesn't help to know you're so far away
You're so far away
Yeah, you're so far away
You're so far away

...there's more to this story--click me!