Bebe Monitor July 30

Big day here! Mister Mike noticed a little dog outside in the yard on his way to work...turned out to be named Tigger, and he was reportedly a Pekinese cross, all black and tan and white, kind of like me but more like Sissy in coloring, with a curly tail. He was wearing a city dog tag and had a tattoo, so Mama found out who he was and where he came from and set forth to taking care of him for the day.

We were not amused.

We hid in the kitchen. Mama brought a catbox out to the bathroom for us. Bebe and Sissy stayed on top of the cupboards, while I lounged on the counter, and Pinky and V'lu kept trying to get into the living room to see who was in there. I knew it was a dog so I stayed out of sight.

Mama kept the dog from 10:30am to 7:15pm, when his person came to get him. He didn't bark much and Mama kept him on a leash so he was ok, I guess, but I am NOT encouraging any more canine visits of any length of time.

Contentedly yours,
Ellen

Bebe Monitor July 30

Well. Its been quite a week.

Very hot. Slept on the floor for the most part, and Mama kept wanting us in the air conditioned rooms but we weren't interested - the fans and the noise, you know. Mind, that doesn't stop Pinky or Bebe from sleeping on the bed which is in the room where the cold air comes from.

Bebe is getting very picky and demanding on the food front. She's not eating anything until Mama figures out what it is she wants - which means there is more of the "good stuff" for us, because Mama will give Bebe something and then after Bebe turns up her nose at it, Mama will pull something else out for her and give us what she didn't want. Its working well for all of us but I know Mama is getting a little annoyed. Bebe isn't eating much but then again, none of us are - its too hot.

Mama and Mister Mike found two office chairs in an alley while out and about and brought them home, so MORE CHAIRS! These ones don't have arms but they do spin and are padded and are on wheels. They also bought a toaster oven at Walmart and haven't yet tried it out, but they are thinking it will be better to use than heating up the whole oven and therefore, the whole kitchen. They fuss a lot with the fans and doors with all this heat.

Trying to see what's under the fridge,

Miss V'lu

Bebe Monitor July 23

Sigh. So many pictures of me in this vulnerable state. But you must admit, I was a cute baby!

The weekend passed pretty uneventfully until Sunday. It was hot hot hot, and Mama sat up on the sofa and announced that she was going to cut her hair off and she would need Mister Mike's assistance...he was hesitant, but he cut the back so it was even, and it was all good. Now Mama's hair is really short - she cut out all the dyed stuff so her inner silver could shine through.

Aunt Amy came for lunch and a visit today and Mama played tunes on the computer for Amy. Pinky spent a lot of time cuddling with Amy, I visited from time to time, and everyone else got pets and attention.

Mama's a little concerned that I am not eating much today, but nobody else is either, so thhhbpt! I had some chicken, I had some canned food, but I really enjoyed the pasta salad. I still have to have my evening pill and I'll eat some then perhaps. She isn't that concerned though - I'm still bright eyed and moving around - no more than anyone else here, what with the heat. Mama has made a new perch for me - Mike brought some folding tables when he moved in and one is on either side of the tv - and I like the one closest to the kitchen door.

Mama's Reading: Bone Valley by Claire Matturro, a murder mystery thing that is barely holding her interest.

Mama's Listening to: the disco station, as usual.

purrrrrrrzzzzzzZZZZZzzzzzzzZZZZZzzzzzzzz (rinse, repeat)

Bebe

Bebe Monitor July 19

Well, the disco contintues...fortunately, I'm the Pinkster and the girls like to dance amongst themselves - I just cling onto Mister Mike for dear life and pray that the Mama doesn't see me there.

Bebe was starting fights this morning - she didn't want her head washed and she didn't want to wash anybody else's head either. Mama had to spray her a few times to get her to stop being so bitchy. She got weighed today and she's up to 9 whole pounds - that's from all the chicken breast she gets.

Mister Mike wasn't feeling good today so he stayed home from work and they went to see the doctor and he has an inflamed pancreas. He's off work for a few days and is to drink lots of water and NO DAIRY. He's watching a football game right now with the headphones on, and Diana Ross is blaring in the background - I don't understand it, but Mike likes to boogie down to the disco too and knows all the words, just like Mama.

So yeah, further on the disco...Mama rediscovered Limewire this afternoon and has burned two cds, as well as reburned a Mars Volta so there was some respite between the disco today.

Mama's Reading: she went to the library and got a stack of books out, hasn't started anything out of that pile, but is reading a Charlaine Harris book called "A Fool and His Honey". This is an Aurora Teagarden mystery...

Mama's Listening to: MacArthur's Park by Donna Summer. GAWD.

Quietly waiting it out by the front door,

Pinkster

Bebe Monitor July 18

Miss V'lu here, letting you know what's going on.

First, Mama got the okay from the vet to start decreasing the prednisone, as Bebe is doing quite well and is being quite fiesty. Mama will take Bebe in for another xray at the end of the month to see if the tumor has shrunk any. Bebe is eating well and catching flies and playing and sleeping and breathing easily, so that is keeping Mama and Mister Mike happy.

Mama stepped on two of my paws today - first the front one and then while she was trying to sidestep me alltogether, she stepped on a back one. She apologized and I let her pet me after she chased me through the house.

Mama is doing a mountain of laundry today and doing crafts. Later, she is going to make meat sauce or something with hamburger for supper - she's not decided what yet.

Mama's Reading: Finished reading "Age of Consent" by Howard Mittelmark, a cookie cutter horror. That about sums it up.

Mama's Listening to: Rod Stewart, particularly, "Do You Think I'm Sexy" from the late 70's. Freakin' Disco - I hear from Pinky that she never used to loudly flaunt her like for that genre until the mid-90's, and she insists on dancing with us - I mean, there I was, laying on the floor minding my own business and the next thing I know, I'm being twirled around the kitchen. I'm hoping that she goes back to Mars Volta land soon - less chance for random dancing then.

Squinting at you,

V'lu

Bebe Monitor July 16

Yeah yeah, I was really small once upon a time. Name a cat who wasn't.

Still, I am very cute in that picture, and yes, that's the way Mama used to feed me and I'd hold onto the bottle after I'd unwrap my front paws (Mama used to wrap me up tight when she started feeding me because I was so excited and I'd try to claw my own eyes).

Anyway, we're now on Facebook with Mama, only its Catbook and Mama spent some time this morning getting all our pages together and then linking us as friends.

Yesterday was very exciting. Mama and Mister Mike went to his place and cleared it out and cleaned it all and gave back the keys. There was lots of stuff to smell! Then they went out again and came back from Dollar Giant with two mousey toys and a cat-sized blanket for us! I claimed the blanket. V'lu is partial to the red mouse that has a top-of-the-door attachment, while Sissy prefers the white mouse on the pink stick, but we've all played with everything, and its good.

After supper, Mama and Mister Mike went for a walk in the park that is behind the Neil Balkwill center and they swung on the swings and walked barefoot and stuff. They came back with all sorts of smells on them again!!

I am feeling much better - I'm playing hard, running hard, eating lots and breathing easy. Mama's waiting for the vet to call back so she can discuss the Prednisone, she'd like to cut it to half a pill 3 times a day.

Meeting Mama on the kitchen counter,

Bebe

Bebe Monitor July 14

Miss Ellen Cherry Charles here...

Today Mama and Mister Mike started cleaning the house in a frenzy - a hot day to be scrubbing floors and cleaning out cupboards and closets, but there you go. They were done with the tedium in about 2 hours, but the smell of vinegar lasted much longer...Mama said that vinegar and soap was the safest thing to clean with because we NEVER wait until a floor or cupboard is dry before we go stomping in to investigate.

Bebe was all frisky and running around this morning - and had her claws out so Mama didn't play with her much. I ran around too - it was fun! I also got my claws stuck in the front screen and spilled myself off the bench in the process. Bebe and Pinky were sleeping on the bed in the "69" position (I don't know WHAT that means but Mama and Mister Mike both giggled about it). It got really hot and so we all lazed around for many many hours. Now it is time for Bebe's pill and last feeding of the day (I tried to get in on her chicken breast earlier but Mama firmly said NO).

Mama's Reading: halfway through the "riding the bus with my sister" and http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/

Mama's Listening to: Franz Ferdinand, "Franz Ferdinand" ... the cd from 3 years ago. Yeah, come and dance with me Michael...

a blonde paw High Five,

Ellen

Bebe Monitor Friday the 13th

Yeah, so Mama and Mister Mike are making "Dahn dahn DAHN daaaaahn" noises about to day, I don't know what that means, but Mama said it was because it was Friday the 13th. Means nothing to me.

Anyway Bebe is getting so much better - yesterday she divebombed me and Pinky and got a snootful of catnip going - we all tried to stay out of her way. Meanwhile, she's eating chicken breast and a small amount of cat food and she's spoiled rotten and how come I don't get chicken breasts? Mama said if she wasn't on such a tight budget we'd ALL be eating chicken breasts, but Bebe is sick, so.

Mama's all happy to hear the hardcore purring that Bebe is capable of. Mama and Mister Mike lay their hands on her all the time and imagine a cookie crumbling, which would be her tumor, and Mister Mike imagined the Asteroids game too.

Anyway its too early to be all active and its going to be a hot one, so I'll be on the back of the couch snoozing if you want me...

Mama's Reading: riding the bus with my sister by Rachel Simon, for her online book club.

Mama's Listening to: Rod Stewart's "Every Picture tells a Story"

purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Sissy

Bebe Monitor - July 9

Today Mama went to see Melody Jones, and they did some energy work on me! I am not ready to go anywhere yet, in fact, I'm a little confused as to why I feel the way I do. However, it has always felt nice when Mama laid her hands on me (she was doing it right despite her inner doubts) and I know she loves me a lot - I love her a lot!

Melody noticed that I am bossy - I am not! But she wanted to work on my lungs and I wanted her to work on my energy more because it felt so good, but Melody said she would work on my energy after my lungs, so it was okay.

Melody encouraged Mama to continue feeding me chicken breast so wheeeeeee! I didn't think I was getting spoiled either...and I know if Mama could afford to feed us all chicken breast she would.

***NOTE FROM MAMA:

When I got home from seeing Melody, I picked Bebe up and she felt more solid - can't explain that better other than before today, she felt kind of fragile and weak, so I was treating her as such, and today I picked her up and she felt so much more...solid. Also, her purr is back to full tilt - haven't heard her purr like that for over a month.

Thank you Melody...

Bebe Monitor July 9

Well, a lazy weekend had by all. I slept wherever I could and got moved frequently, then Mama put her hair clip on my back leg and giggled a lot when I shook it off - but really, it was the most I moved all weekend.

Bebe is doing well. Mama has almost forgotten how sick she really is, and sometimes it hits her and she gets sad. Still, Bebe is eating (chicken and ham and whatever else, as well as the cat food she won't eat on the counter but will eat when its on the floor for the rest of us), she is playing some (of course, its been quite hot so nobody's been moving much), she is being affectionate and cute.

She also started two fights today and got V'lu and Sissy in trouble. She bothered me too but Mama caught her so I was off the hook. Really, Mama should know me by now...I don't start anything!

About to be kicked off the bed...

Pinky

Bebe Monitor July 6

Well, I'm spoiled ROTTEN. Just the way I like it too.

Mama's been feeding me chicken breast and ham and has offered me cat food but when she's obviously looking, I don't eat it...however, she put a plate of chicken/liver that was in the fridge on the floor for the rest of them and I ate some of it too and she caught me. That's okay, because I don't eat it when she gets it just for me - so I still get the chicken and ham. Thhpppppbt!

Meanwhile, its hotter than Hades around here. The a/c is pumping, the fans are churning on high and still there is only one room that is cool enough for the Mama - the bedroom. Mama says it will cool down in a couple of days - she'll be glad of that too, because she doesn't like the constant HUMMMMM either. Mama was going to go to a movie in the park tonight but it starts in 15 minutes and it is still 30 degrees out there, so she isn't going.

Mama's listening to: the MECHANICAL HUMMMM in the house

Mama's Reading: "Unholy Grail" by D. L. Wilson, which she says is a knock off of "the Da Vinci Code" and it is slow reading - she's too lazy to start a new book but she doesn't recommend this one at all.

I'm so cuuuuute,

Bebe

Bebe Monitor - July 5

Miss V'lu here...givin you the scoop on Bebe.

She's eating like a little pig and she's getting all the treats. I mean, ALL THE TREATS. She refused her canned food, so Mama is feeding her - get this - sliced ham and chicken breast. CHICKEN BREAST I TELLS YA!!! I can't tell you how mad I am at her, I hiss at her even if she's eight feet away, and then I get heck. Apparently she's quite sick but you'd never know it - she's running around, playing with her puppy, jumping up on everything she usually does, and acting the princess all the time.

I am not amused.

Meanwhile, Ellen tried to scale the bookshelves in the red room and scared the bejeebusses out of all of us, including the Mama. Apparently she was on the top shelf because of the nature of the books she knocked down. Mama told her to NEVER EVER EVER DO THAT AGAIN and she gave us all the same warning, but I'm not an "on top" girl so whatever, that rule doesn't apply to me.

Its freakin' hot here - we're all laying around like gutted shrimp, which reminds Mama of her favorite little poem:

Men who live in the tropics

Know what the heat can do

When their dicks hang limp

Like gutted shrimp

And their testicles stick like glue.

I think that covers Mama's reading material and song, coz when she recites the above, she does it with a slight Irish brogue and lilt.

I am the Queen of Everything,

V'lu

Bebe Monitor - July 4

Well, you thought it was gonna be all about the Bebe cat, didn't you? But I'll tell you all about today because I was there too.

Mama was very concerned about Bebe this morning - she was laying around and not chirping or anything and she fought her pill (she never does that) and then she wouldn't eat. Mama watched her like a hawk and only threw a tinfoil ball for me once, I was a little miffed but I got over it. Anyway, Bebe went and made a noise come out of her bum that sounded like the last squeeze of ketchup and then hastily covered it up, but Mama seen that it was indeed the trots. So Mama didn't worry as much about Bebe not eating, she was drinking water, but even Mama doesn't feel too hungry after her bum makes that noise.

Later, Bebe had some chicken breast for lunch - not lots, but some and I didn't get any, not even a sniff, and she played with her Puppy in the kitchen. She is hanging around with Mama a lot so the rest of us are keeping a distance, even followed her onto the sofabed to be close to her...

Last night Mister Mike made us all little bbq burgers - I only had some of the cheese, but I think Bebe had some burger and it had bbq sauce mixed right into it, so maybe that is why she's not feeling so great.

Mama's Listening to: http://www.lynxradionetwork.com and there's something called 70's disco on there that she is enamored with.

Mama's Reading: for her book club, well she tried to read a Clive Cussler, but couldn't make it past 20 pages, so is waiting for "Riding the Bus with my Sister" which she has on hold. Meanwhile, she's reading another Charlaine Harris book - vampire mystery/comedy - which is light and fluffy enough for right now but not on the list of the book club books.

Laying on the back of the couch,
Sissy Hankshaw

Bebe Monitor - July 3

Says Bebe:

Today I am feeling pretty good! Last night I was all feisty and "come on, I'll take ya!" and played with Mama's fingers but I scratched her too much so she stopped playing. Big wimp! But I'd slept a lot of the day because I could finally breathe easily and just welcomed the rest...

I haven't done much as its hot and we're all laying around, but I had beef for breakfast and chicken/beef for lunch! I watched Mama paint from on top of the cupboards, she's painting blue and green and has told me not to get a noseprint on the canvas.

Earlier today I caused a ruckus in the bedroom because I jumped on Pinky and he squawked (big wimp) and that got V'lu's nose out of joint as well as tail floofed up and then my claw got stuck in the bedspread so Mama had to come and help me out there.

After lunch I went and washed Pinky's head and then lay down beside him, but he left coz I got the hiccups. Now I'm gonna go lay around like everyone else here...

BumpLove on your shin,

Bebe

Bebe Monitor - July 2

Well, things have perked up here for The Bebe. Her breathing isn't as labored, and she's eating, and not just treats.

She's been above the cupboards in the kitchen, watching out the window, and keeping tabs on a bug that was too small for her. She comes for pets and lovings, and has sat at the computer here with me - so I can't type - so she is feeling a lot better. She still wants to be behind the bedroom door - not sure if that is a good place to rest or hide, but given that she is moving around and eating, I think its just a cooler place that isn't so noisy (a/c on full blast and every fan on high). She's stopped whapping her tail around so much, which I've noticed that she does when she's not feeling good.

I think tonight is a catnip night :D

xoxo

Mama

A Love Note from the Mama

Dear Bebe;

Mama loves you so very very much...

Please be patient with me while I try to keep you comfortable. I so want to hold you and cuddle you and not let you go and I'm sure that can't be comfortable, what with the xrays showing what they do.

I know I'll have to let you go soon...I'm so sorry we don't have more time together and if I could do anything to stretch the time or lessen the tumor or ease your breathing, I would do it in a heartbeat.

I look around the house and you are EVERYWHERE and I know you will be here in my heart forever but there are the scratch marks on the furniture and the doorjambs and you've always eaten on the cupboard and have always jumped up there when I was in the kitchen and I'll miss your chirp when you jump down and then there's your Duckie and your Puppy and the little white TY kitten that was bigger than you when I met you and I know how YOU LOVE ME BEST TOO, you are so loyal to me - there's always been a swell of pride in my chest knowing that I was the only one you were yourself with...

I really don't know how I'm going to be able to let go of you.

I love you so very very much...

xoxo
Mama