Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Monday, July 21, 2014: A Playful Kitty

Tommy is really catching on to the routine. Although there was still a 4:00 and 6:00 wake up, we then slipped back to sleep until 7:45. After taking care of her needs (food, water, litter box) and my needs (coffee), we watered the plants. I’m still surprised that she doesn’t spend much time even looking at them much less trying to chew on them.
We’re now ready to check the computer and handle the morning posts.  Tommy sits on the floor and talks to me for a while before joining me at the desk to finish posting and printing my daily puzzles. From there we head to the living room to check out the morning shows. When the balcony crew comes passed out balcony, Tommy seems puzzled.  I foolishly decided to pick her up and bring her over.  It’s the first time she’s ever scratched my chest and I quickly (but safely) put me down.
After that I think she decided to play by herself.  She spent a considerable amount of time playing with the ball of yarn from my mother and the small cloth piece of “candy” and foil crinkle ball from my sisters. It was so much fun to watch her amusing herself and just enjoying being a kitty. She flew around the living room pouncing on and capturing the different toys. At one point when I went out to refill my coffee cup, she hid under the barrister’s bookcase and waited for me to sit down and “find her.”
When I returned to the computer, we also spent a few minutes playing with the reflection from my glasses. When I have the desk lamp on and bend down to talk to Tommy my glasses reflect the light onto the wall. While I’m doing much needed neck stretches, Tommy’s chasing after the reflection.  Who knew that we could have so much fun just using a light and my glasses?
Tommy went bounding out only to return a minute later and as she talked there seemed to be some urgency in her voice. I got up from the computer and followed her to the living room to investigate. Halfway across the living room, Tommy laid down in front of me and stretched out in the stance that signals that it was time for her head, neck, and chest rubbing.  I guess she figured that now that my neck was good, it was her turn.  What she doesn’t know (?) is that it’s also one of my favorite things to do. She just lies there and purrs and enjoys it. She only moves to re-position herself to let me know if I haven’t spent enough time rubbing the front of her neck.
We moved to the bedroom for our last hour together before I had to leave for dinner with a friend.  The television was on so there would be some human voices and the workers had already moved down passed the window. When I left, Tommy felt contented and never moved from the bed. I’m sure that I’ll still be reprimanded when I return.
 Sure enough, there was a price to pay when I returned, but I had a strategy that I knew would distract her.  After giving her a treat to apologize for leaving her, I placed some plants on the new plant stands that I bought to keep the plants in better positions to be ignored. Tommy had to investigate the new pieces but ignored the plants that were on top of them.  Score one win (even if it’s temporary) for the human!
While I was putting away some groceries, Tommy did nip my leg to remind me that the evening playtime had not yet occurred.  When I tried to engage her, she chose to use toys that didn't need my assistance. (Score one for the kitty!) She played hard and then “crashed” on her favorite chairs. When it was time for bed, she spent some time investigating the open (screened) window and under the bed before calling it a night and joining me on top of the bed.

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