Cat Convos: Loki

yy

I’ve been putting off this post for quite awhile as it makes our loss far too real. Loki passed away peacefully at home surrounded by all of us who loved him dearly. Despite our unwillingness to let him go, Loki chose to saunter over to his next adventure.

Hiyu: Loki was the best playmate ever and the softest pillow in the world.

 

 

Kuri: Loki was born first, so literally, he was there for every moment of my life. I miss him terribly.

Me: The three of you had a lot of fun together.

Kuri: I keep forgetting he’s gone. He always answered when I called him, and I always answered when he called me. You always called it a game of Marco Polo, but it was really a game of Loki Kuri.

Loki and Kuri

Kuri: And sometimes it feels like he’s never left me, sort of like, he’s with me sharing my body and soul.

Me: Is that why you sometimes do things only your brother used to do?

Hiyu: Loki was the coolest cat ever. I miss him. He taught me how to play and how to really nap like a master napster. In return, I taught him the nuances of climbing and  balance.

Kuri: I miss him too, but as you say he will always be a part of all of us.

Me: In our memories and in our hearts.

~lisa

 

Kuri: Since I’m sure Loki is often still around, can he still join us for Cat Convos? I can tell you want he wants to say.

 

 

 

Cat Convos: Thank you!

Kuri: We’re back to cuddles and combining ourselves in Bengal puddles.

Loki: Thank you everyone for your well wishes. I’ve been hanging around, not doing much of anything, but I’m feeling much better right now. I’m taking it day by day.

Hiyu: Loki is even playing with us again.

Me: I’m happy to report that tests have come back showing that Loki has the most mild, unaggressive Lymphoma. We’re taking it day by day, but our goodbyes are not immediate.

Loki: The shock of only being given a few months has made me reevaluate my life.

Kuri: Me too, especially since I also had to have my tummy shaved for an ultrasound.

Hiyu: You two look really funny. Makes me glad I’m not a twin.

Me: Hiyu …

Hiyu: Self-interest is a hallmark of being a cat.

Loki: Hiyu cuddles with me too. He’s just a little on the opinionated side.

Kuri: We all are. Thought you’d be use to it now.

Loki: I’ve come to realize I don’t need to make many changes to achieve my dreams. I nap, I play, I cuddle, I purr ( maybe catch up on my reading) and I snuggle.

Hiyu: I like how you now guilt them into giving us tuna.

Kuri: and lots more snacks.

Hiyu: I’d give up all the extra tuna just to have you stay with us.

Kuri: Me too.

Loki: I know. I love you too.

Thank you Everyone

~lisa

 

Back Soon

We’ve been away on midlife crisis.

One of our regularly scheduled, every five years or so, midlife re-evaluation of where, what, how, why. It’s when we step back, reevaluate, and decide what is of the greatest importance at each new stage in life.

We are sad to announce that sweet, beautiful Loki has been diagnosed with lymphoma and we do not know how much longer he will be with us. It is not a change any of us want.

Most of the path forward remains the same: passionate about writing and creating stories, collecting and sharing world myth, loving my Bengals and immersing myself in the issues of diversity and inclusion.

There may be a little more on CERT (Citizen Emergency Response Team) and CERT (Cat Emergency Response Team).

Cat Convos will continue.

I may never know what is around the bend, but the Hill will continue its meanders through the space/time continuum.

I’m looking forward to sharing the adventure with you.

~lisa

 

 

 

 

Cat Convos: We’re Busy

Me: It’s time to write your Friday blog post.

Kuri: We’re busy.

Me: Too busy to blog?

Loki. Kuri & Hiyu: YES!

Me: It looks like you’re too busy napping?

Kuri: We have a lot to process.

Me: That’s why the three of you have become a snoring Bengal puddle?

Hiyu: The twins snore, I don’t.

Me: What are you processing?

Loki: Our new powers.

Me: Dare I ask?

Kuri: There’s a button on top of your laptop. If I rub my cheek on it, I can make the screen go black.

Hiyu: On your Xbox, I can push a button and make a tray come out.

Loki: And I can bat the tray back in.

Kuri: We have demands.

Hiyu: We want motion-sensor sinks.

Loki: And fans we can leap through.

Me: Not going to happen.

Kuri: We can shut off your computer, your television and your games. You’d best give in to our demands.

Me: I’m busy.

Hiyu: You’re looking at a computer screen that we can turn off.

Me: (typing earnestly before they shut off my Surface) “Ways to Bengal-proof.”

~lisa

 

Cat Convos: Secrets

Loki: I’ll tell you a secret.

Kuri: Don’t, you’ll get us in trouble.

Me: Is it an important secret?

Hiyu: Yes, and we really can’t wait to tell you.

Me: Okay…

Loki: Keep the feather stick moving and we’ll tell you everything.

Hiyu: We’ve been practicing secret cat ninja skills.

Me: I thought all cats were ninjas.

Hiyu: True, but we decided we had to be more versatile to be a Cat Emergency Response Team.

Loki: I’ve secretly been watching dog shows.

Kuri: I’ve taught Hiyu and Loki how to make shoes disappear. If you stick your head in a shoe far enough, you  can walk it under some furniture. It drives humans nuts.

Me: You mean my friends?

Hiyu: I’ve taught Kuri and Loki how to open cupboards and how to hide in the highest places.

Me: So all three of you now know how to open cupboards?

Kuri: And sliding doors.

Me: Loki?

Loki: (feather in mouth) mmmph?

Me: What skill have you taught?

Kuri collides with Loki and the feather jumps back in the air. Hiyu, who’s been waiting for his chance takes it down.

Loki: I’m working on door knobs. I have the mechanics of it down. I’m still figuring out how to hook my paws around the knob to get a good turn out of it.

Hiyu: You almost did it.

Kuri: And once we can open all the doors, we can go anywhere and use our secret cat powers for the good of the world. 

Me: I think– (mid-air collision between Kuri and Loki. Hiyu jumps on his throne and laughs at them.)

Loki: Can we have dinner now?

 

Me: Yes.

I don’t tell them that I know the secret of locks and keys. ~lisa

 

We’re Back

It has been quite a while since the last post. I apologize for the longer than expected sabbatical. I’ve been exploring, training, certifying and in general meandering down many neglected roads.

The Bengal trio will have quite a bit to say about this on Friday.

Monday we will revisit rainbow mythology.

Wednesday, we’ll return to talking about writing and the new fabulous group I’ve found called Writers for Diversity. Founder Eliana West is a true inspiration to me.

Meanwhile, here’s a hint of things to come:

~Lisa

 

Cat Convos: CERT

Hiyu: You’re a CERT.

Me: Yes, and…

Kuri: We’ve decided we want to be CERT.

Me: You want to be a part of a Citizen Emergency Response Team?

Loki: Something like that.

Me: You guys aren’t exactly citizens and you don’t have opposable thumbs or…

Hiyu: We know all that.

Kuri: Yeah, we want to form our own CERT.

Loki: It’s brilliant and we can help other cats.

Kuri: Even dogs. We could help dogs.

Me: Let me explain a little bit about CERT.

Loki: We’re going to make our own CERT.

Hiyu: Yes, we’ve figured it all out.

Kuri: We’re going to be a Cat Emergency Response Team.

Me: Cat Emergency Response?

Kuri: I’m going to educate the public about having emergency rations & toys for all of their companions.

Loki: And I’m going to help with post-disaster mental health. I’m good at purring.

Hiyu: You can make little first aid packs for us.

Me: I’m not sure.

Kuri: We can help with search and rescue.

Hiyu: I can get to high places and I’m small enough to get into little places.

Me: That’s quite a dream you guys have there.

Hiyu: If it’s important to you then it’s important to us.

Kuri: You know how much we like to help. I even have an outfit for it. I can do security detail.

Me: You know I’ve got you guys covered. Your Emergency Go Crate is well stocked with food, water and toys. Your pictures, descriptions and up-to-date vaccination records are also there.

Loki: Why do we need more than toys and food.

Me: In case we have to evacuate. Human shelters only allow service animals and if I need to get you boarding then they need all of your records.

Kuri: I’m not going to be boarded. I’m going to be in the thick of it.

Hiyu: That’s why we’re forming our own Cat Emergency Team. We want to be part of the solution.

Me: My hope is that if there is a problem, you guys will take care of the house and the rest of the family while I’m out helping with recovery.

Hiyu: What if we agree to help birds?

Kuri: Or dogs or reptiles or–

Loki: Fish. I like to watch fish.

Me: I appreciate that you guys want to help.

Hiyu: So it’s settled. We’re your own Cat Emergency Response Team.

Me: I love you guys.

Loki: Purr

Hiyu: I can purr louder.

Kuri: Not as loud as I can.

Loki, Kuri and Hiyu: Purr, purr, PURR.

Me: May all you readers out there be safe and have a plan.

~lisa

Cat Convos: Introductions

Hiyu: Why do we have to introduce ourselves? Everyone already knows us.

Me: We have some new readers and long-term readers would also like to know a little bit about you.

Loki: I’ll go first. I want to get it over with.

Me: Okay, tell us your favorite things and one thing you really want to accomplish this year.

Loki: I like curling up in blankets and taking naps and I like stretching out in sunbeams and rainbow-beams and taking naps. I also like to hide in boxes.

Me: You really like sleeping, that’s quite true. What’s your goal for the year?

Loki: Doorknobs. I want to open doors on my own.

Me: Yes, I see you trying all the time.

Back Camera

Me: Thank you Loki

Kuri: I like to try everything my humans do. And napping. I like napping too.

Me: What’s your favorite things humans do?

Kuri: I like the way you scream when I jump in the bubbles baths and I like arts and crafts, especially with pipe cleaners.

Me: What’s your goal for the year?

Kuri: I want to read all your books and write a screenplay.

Me: A screenplay?

Kuri: Yeah, ever since I read Save the Cat by Blake Snyder, I’ve wanted to write just like you do.

Me: I don’t write screenplays.

Kuri: Maybe you should step out of your box and try.

Hiyu: My turn.

Hiyu: I like following people around just to see what they’re doing. I also like getting to the highest spots anywhere. I love running and jumping high.

Me: That’s quite true.

Hiyu: My goal is to keep the house safe. I do rounds every hour just to make sure.

Me: You do a great job.

Hiyu: I know.

Me: Favorite Books?

Kuri: Save the Cat and poetry books and game guides.

Loki: How to interpret dream books and hopefully someday I’ll find one about doorknobs. I’m still looking for my favorite.

Hiyu: High fantasy. I like books like Eve Forward’s Villains By Necessity. I like thrillers too and adventure stories.

Me: You guys are pretty cool cats.

Hiyu, Kuri and Loki: We know.

~lisa

 

Cat Convos: Signs of Spring

Kuri: What were you thinking?

Hiyu: I can’t believe you said baby slugs are a sign of spring.

Loki: Yeah, that makes no sense. You have us. Why care about slugs?

Me: Slugs are surprisingly interesting. Did you know they have thousands of teeth?

Kuri: I don’t want to know that.

Loki: If you want to know it’s spring, I can shed some light on that.

Me: I don’t believe you just said that.

Kuri: We’re shedding. Get it? That’s a sure sign of spring.

Hiyu: Anyway, back to us. You’ve been neglecting us.

Me: Don’t think so. We play several times a day and I always give you attention when you ask.

Kuri: You went on vacation.

Loki: Yeah, and left us here to shed on our own.

Me: I came back.

Hiyu: You brought gifts for everyone, but us.

Me: I broke out the catnip and you already had a new toy.

Loki: It’s not enough.

Kuri: Why do we only get Fridays? We should have a lot more days on the blog.

Hiyu: Kuri’s right. We can talk about all sorts of things all the time. How could anything be more important than us?

Me: Readers like to hear about other things too. Not everything is about you and your opinions.

Loki: We can read more books.

Hiyu: I like documentaries too, especially about birds.

Kuri: I can recite poetry.

Hiyu: I’m very philosophical.

Me: Yes, you guys are great, but you only get Fridays.

Kuri: You keep that up and we’ll never stop shedding on you.

Loki: I’ll wake you up in the middle of the night.

Me: You already do all of that.

Hiyu: Cat pile on top of her.

Kuri and Loki: Cat pile! Cat pile!

Me: Love you guys too.

~lisa

 

 

Rainbow Hill Meanders III

Have you ever gotten up on the wrong side of the year?

The baby slugs are out. When did New Year’s Day turn into late April? It’s certainly not an excuse, but The Hill did take a  hiatus from its meanderings for a full make-over.

We’ve given up the impressive wall of impenetrable thorns for rockery and native plants. Contrary to popular belief Himalayan blackberries are not native to the Pacific Northwest, but they sure do love it here.

The Hill has even added Hue lights so that on those dark, rain-soaked days there are still rainbows abounding everywhere. http://www2.meethue.com/en-US

Rainbow Hill has resumed its meandering through the space/time continuum. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be catching readers up on its various adventures.

Much to my surprise, Rainbow Hill Meanders now enters its third year. I’m not sure it will ever be grown-up, but it will always be growing and changing through its myriad experiences. However, a few things will remain fixtures here.

Mythology Monday will tour the world of myth and the cultures that share them with us.

Cat Convo Friday will remain. The Bengals insist upon it and who am I to deny them their voice.

Writing Wednesday will be competing on a weekly basis with Random Tuesday and the Slightly-Bizarre Thursdays.

Now that we’re no longer distracted welcome to Rainbow Hill Meanders III.

~lisa