Slow day, today. It was overcast and cloudy and I had no energy, so I just took it easy and napped and read. Currently reading a review copy of The End of White Christian America and watching season 2 of Marco Polo.
Steve has turned into an attention monster. He is following me around all day and sitting on my lap every chance he gets. The change in behavior has been insane. Managed to get some more pics of the pets for you all- here is Steve resting on the couch earlier while I was in the home office:
Once again, I tried to get a good Rosie picture and she ran off, but I tracked her down under the desk and cornered her, yet the obstinate bitch still wouldn’t look at the camera:
Finally, here are Steve and Thurston weighing down my lap as I try to watch tv:
Sometimes I feel like a 3rd rate Dr. Doolittle.
redshirt
Rosie also has her middle claw up at your camera Cole.
SiubhanDuinne
Book sounds interesting — are you actually going to review it somewhere? — and those top two pictures of Steve are wonderful! He must be very happy to have all that excess fur removed while it’s so hot out.
John Cole
@redshirt: Yeah. I need to go to petco to get a new muzzle so I can trim them. Thurston ate the last muzzle.
AnotherBruce
Hmmm, this is interesting.
Follow
Donald J. TrumpVerified account
@realDonaldTrump
It was just announced-by sources-that no charges will be brought against Crooked Hillary Clinton. Like I said, the system is totally rigged!
Also too, Chuckie Toad had Hillary on for an extremely shit filled interview. At one point the Toadster asked Hillary about the fact? that polls showed that Donald was considered the more honest candidate than Hillary by a 2 to 1 margin. But at the very end of the interview he reported that the FBI had cleared Hillary, She smartly declined to comment on this.
ThresherK
Dr. Doolittle?
Isn’t having a cat on your lap a standard-issue Bond villian accessory? Wouldn’t a cat and dog make you some sort of Dr. No?
Jane2
@John Cole: “Thurston ate the last muzzle”….he slays me.
SiubhanDuinne
@John Cole:
New rotating tag FTW.
Roger Moore
Maybe the loss of his hair has made Steve cold and he’s wants to sit in your lap for warmth. Always a possibility.
Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (Formerly Mumphrey, et al.)
Thank you for the pictures.
JPL
@John Cole: You have the perfect family.
Poopyman
@Roger Moore: No, it’s the fact that (in his eyes) Cole left him at a dog-filled death camp where they stripped him of his fur. Who knows what other horrors they had planned, but Cole came back and rescued him.
His clinginess is typical. I always interpret it as ” I love you and I’m sorry for doing whatever made you take me there. And if you take me again I shall shit in your shoes. I love you.”
Major Major Major Major
You’re at least a 2nd-rate Doolittle, JC.
Major Major Major Major
So who won this emailgate pissing contest, State or the CIA?
JPL
And to think I remember the good old days, when you were deciding whether or not to welcome Lily into your home.
Your a good man John.
redshirt
@Major Major Major Major:’Merica.
Gin & Tonic
Why no pic of #1 dog?
Mobil RoonieRoo
Looking at Steve’s expression in these pics, I think he might be plotting your murder. Just saying.
PaulWartenberg2016
I didn’t get any of my writing for Camp NaNo done today, and am still mulling over an article to write on my political blog but I’ve decided to save it for tomorrow.
Just remember that the last three days – July 1 through July 3 – is the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Thank ye.
And if anybody tries to guilt-trip me about the 4th of July, forgot it. After the #Brexit vote, I no longer feel any shame or regret that we colonies fled those foolish British to their inevitable self-destruction.
benw
Cute pics. That paw looks like a goddamn catcher’s mitt. You should have named him Yogi.
Bill E Pilgrim
Needs moar “then I tripped and crashed into the TV and pets and fur were flying everywhere and took out a supporting wall and the roof collapsed” but otherwise it was okay.
Emma
@SiubhanDuinne: Seconded.
PaulWartenberg2016
Are you reading the review copy of that book for an actual review to be published later?
redshirt
@John Cole: It’s probably more of a statement then a grooming issue.
Patricia Kayden
Steve looks resentful of you in that first photo. All your critters are adorbs.
Patricia Kayden
@AnotherBruce: All of us who live on Planet Earth knew that the email “scandal” would end like this. There was never any there there. It was only in the Rightwing alternate universe that Secretary Clinton doing what her predecessors did became a criminal offense.
Bill E Pilgrim
My comment was marked as spam?
Well, in the sense of being a riff using seemingly unrelated ideas pressed into a probably tasteless slab of text then yeah okay, it’s a fair cop.
Felonius Monk
I was thinking more Liza Doolittle.
Fine looking group of housemates you have there, JC.
Cat48
Nice family, John. I still like Steve the best.
zanamu
My theory is this: now that Steve doesn’t have to worry about his own high-maintenance look, he is free to stalk you. Good luck with that.
Technocrat
I love Lily’s “I’m not looking at you” look. My beagle does that when I catch him with a sock or something. It’s like if they can’t see you, logically the reverse is true!
redshirt
I hope Steve doesn’t try and eat me.
Adam L Silverman
@PaulWartenberg2016: The 1st of July is the Last Stand of the Iron Brigade. Reynolds, in responding to Buford’s written request for help in order to hold the advantage from the high ground that he’d dug his two cavalry brigade’s and Calef’s Battery of Union Artillery into, brought up his wing of the Army of the Potomac. Buford was relieved to see that near its head marched the 2nd, 6th, and 7th Wisconsin, the 19th Indiana, the 24th Michigan, and Battery B of the Union Artillery – the Iron Brigade wearing their Hardee hats. Reynold’s was killed shortly thereafter by a to whom it may concern bullet and never saw Gibbons men fight the Confederates back and forth all day, holding the line as long as possible until the first day’s fighting finally ended. The Iron Brigade lost 61% of its men that day and though it was eventually refit, it was never the same unit that had functioned as aggressive shock troops at Antietam and Gettysburg.
Strike Hard! Iron Soldiers
Gelfling545
For reasons best known to himself, my elderly cat decided to break a 2+ year habit and go outside today. I came back from dinner to find him huddled at the back door flinching the sound of every firecracker. He’s currently behind the sofa trying to regain his composure. What a day to pick!
qwerty42
@redshirt: I hope Steve doesn’t try and eat me.
In that first pic, that is what he seems to be considering for our host.
gogol's wife
@qwerty42:
After tonight’s episode of Endeavour, we’re looking sideways at our cats.
Jordan Rules
Wow. Gatlin at 35 going to Rio for USA’s #1 spot in Men’s T&F 100M race. Nice!!
karen marie
@Mobil RoonieRoo: Yeah, my theory is Steve wants his coat back, and he’s watching Cole because he’s sure Cole knows where it is.
jeffreyw
@Mobil RoonieRoo: Steve’s expression is positively benign. Now here’s Toby, Mrs J’s tomcat, with an “I’ma gonna cut you, sucka.” glare.
NotMax
Discovered on Netflix: A Very Secret Service.
Humor so intensely dry it makes the Sahara look like a mudpit. Mad Men meets Get Smart, slathered with an extra-thick icing of Gallic ego.
Gin & Tonic
@Jordan Rules: And Jeffery Henderson jumped 28 2-1/4, best in the world this year. 48 years ago at the Olympics that would have been good enough for a silver medal.
That’s still astonishing today.
Davebo
Steve is not a particularly attractive Cat.
And since you chose to share, two words. Pedicure! ;0)
AnotherBruce
@Patricia Kayden: True that, but it seems to be very weirdly reported. It’s as if some media sources want to keep it quiet.
ET
@benw: I love poly paws. But they do look gigantic.
danielx
@Poopyman:
Steve clearly has mixed emotions: witness the full meatloaf position (paws curled inward etc), but wide open eyes – usually contraindicated by the position.
The Pale Scot
I don’t know much about Maine Coon’s physique but maybe Steve is a little too fluffy
Tazj
@danielx: That’s funny that you call that the “full meatloaf” position. I call it the Thanksgiving turkey position when my cats sit like that. Either way, Steve and the dogs are adorable.
SiubhanDuinne
I wonder how much longer these amateur fireworks are going to keep going off. They sound disturbingly close to the back of my apartment, although I can’t see anything. Been going on for at least 45 minutes, and I hope they stop soon.
SiubhanDuinne
@Tazj:
I might be wrong, but I think it was the cartoonist B. Kliban who originated, or at least popularized, the term “meatloaf” for that position.
Major Major Major Major
@Tazj: yeah, I call it the Catloaf.
stinger
The top two pix render on my screen, at least, like oil paintings done with a palette knife – gorgeous.
John Cole
@Davebo: I had a pedicure on Friday while Steve was being groomed. My feet look magnificent.
Adam L Silverman
@SiubhanDuinne: As soon as you hear the finale you’ll be close to the end.
trollhattan
@ET:
Wimbledon’s wide open and Steeeeve would have a decent shot with those mitts.
No One You Know
@Poopyman: Second that, although my cats always make sure I know that I’m in the wrong for taking them to the V-e-t. I am Unforgiven, until after dinner, usually.
Steve looks magnificent.
workworkwork
@Mobil RoonieRoo: No, all cats look like that.
Schlemazel Khan
@workworkwork:
True, but then all cats are planning on murdering us just as soon as they figure out how to work the can opener
lurker dean
Nice, JC. I remember being concerned about Rosie around a cat but she’s fit in well. I’m not quite sure how you got Steve to be buddies with the canines but it seems like it’s all worked out, even with the addition of a hyper puppy. Well done!
Damien
@John Cole: I’d call you a naturopathic doctor Dolittle. Except, ya know, they aren’t doctors.
Eric U.
@NotMax: I’ve been watching it. Always funny when they mistranslate the title like that. It reminds me of the 117 movies.
Schlemazel Khan
cats with opposable thumbs – HERE
The Pale Scot
@lurker dean: Could be because Steve is as big as Rosie, that’ll inhibit the “it’s prey” circuits in her head.
Steeplejack
@SiubhanDuinne:
Yep. Cat vs. meatloaf.
lurker dean
@The Pale Scot: yeah, could be, that would make sense. I’m glad Rosie found a home.
Schlemazel Khan
@lurker dean:
I think when Cole gets around to finally writing that book about his weird pet adventures her story has to open the book. A sane person would never have done what he did that day. He is a better man than most.
proterozoic
Here’s a thought I had: if we know anything about ISIS and their sympathizers, it’s that these assholes love ruining holidays. With 4th of July coming up right on the tail of Ramadan, you know someone is going to try some shit. Especially with all the noise of fireworks going on… I can only hope that cops have their gunshot detectors sharpened.
Everyone stay vigilant, stay safe.
Schlemazel Khan
@proterozoic:
Meh. Too much paranoia. relax and actually enjoy the day.
Schlemazel Khan
@proterozoic:
Meh, too much paranoia, relax and enjoy the holiday. There is no boogie man under the bed.
Schlemazel Khan
Happy 4th to all you citizen, even those that only count for 3/5 of a citizen.
NotMax
@Eric U.
A lot of the same production team as for the 117 movies.
Jordan Rules
@Schlemazel Khan: Hmmm…peculiar joke like that institution.
Villago Delenda Est
@Schlemazel Khan: My favorite part of that is the cat licking then using his thumb to turn the page on “The Art of Military Strategy”.
fuckwit
That’s awesome. Steve has a look on his face that says “do NOT fuck with me, motherfucker”.
Suzanne
Steve is so lovely.
Every time I see a Steve pic, I think fondly about my Nico, who “crossed the bridge” about seven years ago. Nico was, I think, half Maine Coon and half Persian. She was smaller than Steve, with the shorter legs and kinda chubby body of a Persian, and the slightly flatter face, and her fur had all the Maine Coon coloring, but with the Persian softness. Just a gorgeous cat. Kinda dopey, too, at times. Because of her shorter legs, she couldn’t quite make the jump from floor to counter (36 inches) without smacking her back legs. Every time she did it in front of me, she would look embarrassed. My mom let me get her for my 16th birthday, from this cat lady in our neighborhood. For the first few days after we adopted her, she was pretty aloof, adjusting to her new home and our two dogs. She was an adult cat, of unknown age. My mom wasn’t big on cats, and Nico was never super-affectionate to her. But one day about a month later, my mom woke up to Nico grooming her hair. After that, she saw that Nico was pretty great. I don’t know if I’ve ever connected with an animal as much as I did that cat. I feel like we totally got each other on the deepest level. I had her through college, two cities, various apartments, a failed marriage, birth of Spawn the Elder, and then back into school for my current career path. Just the absolute best. The day we had her put down, I cried so hard at the vet’s office that I scared everyone else away in the waiting room.
Steeplejack
@Suzanne:
Good story about Nico. So sorry for her loss. I had a Russian blue named Neko from kitten to age 20, and it was awful when she died. But you have to remember the good times.
Suzanne
@Steeplejack: Wow, Neko had longevity! Twenty years is a good run. But you’re right—no matter how old or young, losing them is devastating.
I never knew how old Nico was. She had had at least one litter of kittens, and she was an adult when she found her way to the cat nurse lady. I had her for eleven years. I kept her as an inside cat, but about once a month, I would take her outside because she got angsty, I could tell. She was well-behaved indoors and I lived by the bed of the Rillito River for a while, and there were always poisonous animals around, so I would never have let her go outside unattended, but a periodic trip outside really scratched that itch for her.
rikyrah
Thanks for the animal pics.☺
ET
I saw a picture on Pinterest of a shaved cat who had a polished dragon/dinosaur cut. The head and tail were fluffy but the rest of the body had been shaved with the exception of a streak down the spine which had been cut too look like it had a those scales that spike up. So funny.
StringOnAStick
@Suzanne: We lost the best ktty I ever, ever had 9 months ago, a Steve doppelganger but smaller. I still can’t think about her without tearing up.
phoebes from highland park
@Davebo: Take that back! Steve is a gorgeous cat. And I bet your toes don’t look that great.
TriassicSands
In the photo of Rosie, I’m pretty sure she is giving the photographer the “middle claw or toenail” or whatever you call it for dogs. She may not be able to stop John from taking her photo, but he can’t stop her from giving him the “finger.”
Jay C
This must not be completely abnormal cat behavior*, we had the same thing with our smallest Himalayan, Pyewacket (a 6-lb runt who we lost last May after 13+ years *sniff*) – among other peculiarities, she never groomed herself properly, and her fur developed insane knots which could only be dealt with by the dreaded “lion cut”. For weeks after being clipped, she would jump up on the bed and curl up next to my wife (not usual behavior): once the fur got long enough, she went back to her usual station at the food bowls, and back to ignoring us…..
*assuming one CAN juxtapose the phrases “normal” and “cat behavior”
Isobel
That is one magnificent cat. The goat and I are jealous.