Tortie Tuesday - 'Nipped Out

Ivy: Finally! Another Tortie Tuesday!

Holly: Yes, kitties, Tybalt is sharing his blog again with us today. And it is EXTRA exciting, because not only are we introducing you to our new Nip Lounger, but we also won an award!

Ivy: The nice kitties at PB&J gave us this great award:

This award was started by Chance's woofie brother Shadow. Isn't he great?

Here are the rules:

Give this award to at least one blogger who has a woofie as a friend. If they let a woofie blog sometimes, post information on woofie safety, or just love to cuddle with a woofie of their own, then send this award to them. Make sure you leave a comment on their blog letting them know you are giving them this award and don't forget to link back to the person who gave it to you.

We would like to pass this award on to our good friends Sassy and MoMo, who are not only friends of woofies, but are also NOMSS sisters with woofies! We would also like to pass it along to Riley and Tiki, who share their blog with their very own woofie Kesey.

Holly: And now for the main attraction . . . the NIP LOUNGER! The nip lounger is a fleecy catbed that has a special zippered pocket in the back that you put the 'nip in. Here we all are, checking it out.

Ivy: As you can see, I took to it right away. Look at my cute little pink tongue!

Holly: Yeah, you took to it so well you wouldn't share! Just look at you rolling all over it and not letting me or Tybalt near. Java, I hope you don't mind that your valentine is a nip hog!

Ivy: Oh, hush. You got your turn.

Holly: Right, only after I put my paw down and gave you THE LOOK.

Ivy: Yeah, well, look . . . you did some rolling of your own!

Holly: And then YOU found the baggie the catnip came from and wouldn't share!

Ivy: But you were the one who stole it out of the trash later . . .

Holly: Shhh! You promised you wouldn't tell! Now mommy will see this and know who did it. Maybe she'll forgive me when she remembers how sweet I was to her while I was all nipped out. Look, mommy! Remember how snuggly I was?

Ivy: You know mommy forgives us anything, sis. But reminding her how cute we are always helps!

Mancat Monday

Happy Mancat Monday, everykitty!

I would like to thank you all for thinking of my mommy after she was so silly and hurt her back. She is doing much better now, and she knows the improvement is thanks to all of your extra purring on her behalf!

My sisters and I are busy getting ready for Valentine's Day. I will be spending the day with my lovely Samantha, Ivy will be meeting her valentine Java for the very first time, and Holly won't say who her valentine is. She did get a secret admirer valentine through e-mail . . . I wonder who that could be?!

Mommy gave us our Valentine's Day presents early, probably because she just couldn't wait. My mommy is silly like that. =^_^= We got a new kitty cube to match the one we got for Christmas, and the best gift of all . . . a Catnip Lounger! We have pictures of it, but I think the twins are going to be putting them up for tomorrow's Tortie Tuesday. Let me tell you, that Catnip Lounger is great. All of us have rolled in it and drooled in it and napped in it and had sweet nip dreams in it. It's in front of the heatbox in mommy's room, too, which is the perfect spot! The only problem is, none of us want to share it. I'm ashamed to admit there has been some extra whapping going on in our house over it.

Oh, and before I forget . . . .

On Friday I reviewed "Fruits Basket," and there was some concern expressed that the bunny wasn't represented. Let me tell you, ALL of the chinese zodiac signs are represented, although some of them are left out of the anime. For instance, my mommy's sign is the Horse, and the character who is possessed by the horse, Ren, isn't in the anime but is in the manga. However, you all can relax . . . the sign of the Rabbit is in both the anime and manga! So the bunny is well-represented. The Sohma family member who is possessed by the spirit of the bunny is a young boy named Momiji. Momiji has a very sad background, but like Tohru is always optimistic and friendly. Momiji is super cute, and looks younger than his years. He adores everything cute, and even wears a bunny backpack to celebrate his sign! Here is a picture of the adorable Momiji.

Ok . . . I think I am now off to claim my spot on the Catnip Lounger! Wish me luck!

Friday Movie Review - Fruits Basket

I am reviewing something a little different today. Inspired by both Valentine's Day and the Chinese New Year, as well as MoMo's campaign for a "Year of the Cat," I have decided to review the anime series "Fruits Basket."

Fruits Basket (2001)

Creator: Natsuki Takaya

Fruits Basket is a charming manga (comic) which was made into an animated series for one season. Fruits Basket centers on a young girl, Tohru Honda, who has recently become an orphan after her mother dies in a car accident. After briefly living with her paternal grandfather, she is forced to move when his house undergoes renovations and other relatives move in. Instead of asking for help from friends, the independent Tohru decides to spend the time it takes for the house to be renovated camping out in a tent in the woods, while going to school and working a part-time job as a janitor.

Tohru and the Sohmas

One day Tohru discovers that her classmate, Yuki Sohma, lives very close to her tent . . . in fact, her tent is in the woods on his family's property! Tohru does not share her secret with him, but it is later discovered anyway by Yuki and his uncle Shigure as they walk home one night, and come upon Tohru and her camp. Taking the sick and feverish Tohru home with them, Shigure and Yuki hear her story and offer to let her live with them. Knowing how independent she is, they deny that they are offering her charity, and instead ask her to become their housekeeper in exchange for room and board. Soon Yuki's cousin Kyo also moves in, and Tohru discovers the Sohma family secret.

The Sohmas have lived under a curse for many generations. Under this curse, thirteen of the Sohma family members are possessed by the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac . . . plus the spirit of the Cat, which was left out according to Chinese legend. For example, Shigure is the Dog, Yuki is the Rat, and Kyo is the Cat. The curse shows itself by transforming the person possesed into the animal under several conditions: when the person is sick, weak, tired, overly emotional, or hugged by a member of the opposite sex. Normally when their curse is discovered, the outsider has their memory erased and is discouraged from having any further contact with the family. However, in the hopes that Tohru is the one who will eventually break the curse, she is allowed to continue to live with the Sohmas. Will Tohru be able to break the curse?

Shigure, Yuki, Tohru, and Kyo

The legend of the Chinese Zodiac permeates the entire story and lives of the characters. Kyo and Yuki, being the Cat and Rat, have a strong rivalry between them, just as if they were truly the Cat and Rat in the legend. Kyo struggles for acceptance in his family, just as the Cat wishes to be included in the zodiac. Tohru finds herself sympathizing more with Kyo and his struggle, as she has always supported the Cat from the legend since childhood. However, she also grows close to shy and insecure Yuki, who fears becoming too close to anyone due to the curse. A romantic tension springs up between the three, even as friendship grows.

Yuki transformed into the Rat

"Fruits Basket" is a heart-warming series, full of humor, drama, romance, and whimsy. Tohru captures your sympathy from the first episode, with her optimisim even in the face of tragedy and hardship. The Sohma family members are each as unique and lovable as the animal spirits that possess them. This series can be highly addictive, and once you see the first episode, you will not be satisfied until you reach the end . . . and then you will be saddened that they did not produce more than one season.

Kyo transformed into the Cat

This kitty gives "Fruits Basket" two paws up, a warm purr, and a tail poof. Not only is this a wonderful anime that gives us proper support for including the Cat in the Chinese Zodiac, it also provides fantasy with a warmth and rare insight into the troubles of adolescence. I am sure that every kitty out there would love this series. Even my grandmama, who is very picky about anime, enjoyed this one. Celebrate the Chinese New Year and watch this series today!

Thursday Thirteen - Samantha Serenade

Here are thirteen songs I would like to sing for my tuxie princess, Samantha.

1. My Eyes Adored You . . .even though I never laid a paw on you, my eyes adored you


2. What's New, Pussycat? . . . I've got flowers and lots of hours to spend with you!


3. Calendar Girl . . . February, you're my little valentine


4. I Want to Hold Your Paw . . . Oh please say to me you'll let me be your mancat


5. Beyond the Sea . . . my lover stands on golden sands and watches the ships that go sailin'


6. Poetry in Motion . . . see her gentle sway, a wave out in the ocean, could never move that way


7. Annie's Song . . . You fill up my senses like a night in a forest, like the mountains in springtime, like a walk in the rain


8. Baby, I Love Your Way . . . I can see the sunset in your eyes, brown and grey and blue besides


9. My Cherie Amour . . . lovely as a summer's day, my cherie amour, distant as the Milky Way


10. The Wonder of You . . . and when you smile the world is brighter, you touch my paw and I'm a king


11. Unforgettable . . . like a song of love that clings to me, how the thought of you does things to me


12. Your Song . . . My gift is my song and this one's for you


13. Let's Stay Together . . . whatever you want to do is alright with me, 'cause you make me feel so brand new

Wordy Wednesday

(Mommy helped make this into a wallpaper. Clicky and download if you like!)

My mommy wanted to tell everykitty and their parents how much she appreciated their well-wishes and purrs. She thinks she cracked her tailbone in that nasty fall, and driving to work and sitting all day is no fun as a result, but she can tell that all the purrs are really working!

The twins and I have a lot of catching up to do . . . so . . . here goes!

First, I would like to thank the wonderfully creative Sassy for bestowing upon me this wonderful award.

This award is given to those kitties who have consistently done an excellent job of blogging, and making the rest of us laugh, cry, and think. I would like to pass this award along to several interesting and worthy kitties.

1. Miss Peach, for always being such a caring and loving kitty to both her parents and her friends. We love you, Miss Peach!
2. Zippy, Sadie, and Speedy, for always making me laugh. I hope things calm down at your house soon so that we can visit you more often!
3. Tripper, the Psyko Stray for making me think. Sometimes after I read his blog I have to think really hard. (But mostly I just laugh.)
4. And last but not least, the kitties at Artsy Catsy. Even with their busy schedules, they still manage to keep us up to date.

And the wonderful Karen Jo tagged me for a meme! I've done it before, but I love having the chance to do it again. Also, the Terrible Tortie Twins were tagged for this same meme by Molly, and let me tell you, they are SUPER excited about it! Here are the rules:

You have to post who tagged you and link back to them and then to Petspix. Then you have to tag 3 other kitties, beans, woofies, or any other assorted animal.What three things would you do that you have never done before, if you knew you wouldn't get caught, get in trouble, or suffer any consequences?

Ok, my answers this time are:

1. I would learn to drive a car, so that I could take Samantha out with me and we could go get yummy food from those drive-thru places and eat until we popped! I hear you can get fish and chicken that way. . . and mommy always brings me back straws when she goes!
2. Speaking of straws, I would get a squillion straws and put them all in a great big pile and then lay on top of them. No one would take them away from me or throw them away. Instead, everyone would admire me for my treasure.
3. I would grow a green paper tree so that my mommy wouldn't have to go to work to hunt the green papers everyday. That way she would stay home with me. Oh, and everyday would be pajama day! Pajama day always means more snuggling.

Holly says:

1. I would make every door in the house have an easier latch thingy, so I could slap them all open instead of having to learn how to turn knobs. No room would ever be safe from my exploration!
2. I would go outside and hunt those naughty squirrels! They are forever coming up on my porch to stare back at me through the window and taunt me with their chattering and their fluffy, twitchy tails. I'd show them!
3. I'd have a room all to myself, filled with catnip and grandmama's shoes! Oooooh . . . they smell so good and make me so happy that I just have to bunnykick and purr . . . . and then bunnykick some more!

Ivy says:

1. I would go down to the basement as much as I liked and explore, explore, explore!
2. I would run out the door into the backyard as much as I liked and explore, explore, explore!
3. I would whap as many things as I liked without getting in trouble and climb the blinds and curtains as much as I wanted and eat as much of the doggie stinky goodness as my tummy could hold!

Since I don't think there are 9 kitties that we know out there who haven't done this meme yet, each of us will just tag one kitty.

Tybalt tags his darling tuxie princess, Samantha!

Holly tags Socks, because she wants to know him better!

Ivy tags Java, because she thinks he is a handsome mancat!

Tuesday Tattles With Tybalt

Hello everykitty! I am sorry I missed you all yesterday for Mancat Monday. I thought I would do my tattle to tell you why.

Sunday afternoon my mommy did something very silly. She was carrying stuff down to the basement, followed by the A.D. (Almost Dad), and she fell. She didn't fall in a graceful tumble, either. She landed on her back and slid down the stairs. One minute she was stepping down the stairs, the next she was going down them like she was on a Slip n' Slide! What she had been carrying landed neatly on a stair, safe and sound, her shoes landed at the bottom neatly lined up like they were waiting for her feet to catch up, and her hair tie pulled itself off and was left behind. She almost gave A.D. a heart attack! Especially since she was laughing so hard she was crying. He didn't know what to think. I guess he isn't that used to mommy yet, after all. At the time, she said the only thing that really hurt was her pride. And she couldn't stop laughing . . . she told me if I knew how to operate the camera I could have taped her for America's Funniest Home Videos.

Well, we kitties sniffed her to make sure she was ok, then we let her and the A.D. finish going down to the basement and then over to Grandmama's house for dinner. Mommy and the A.D. helped me chat at the M-Cat Super Bowl Party, and then mommy noticed that she was starting to hurt. Pretty badly. Well, the A.D. left for his house late, leaving mommy in my care. I spent all night in bed with her, making sure she was ok. But despite my best efforts, mommy woke up yesterday morning and knew that there was no way she was going to make it to work! Let me tell you, I was kind of excited about that. Even though it isn't nice that mommy was hurt, it was nice having her home! She couldn't do much, so my sisters and I got a lot of snuggling time in . . . first on the bed and then with the blankie on the couch in the living room. I spent extra time snuggling around her neck and purring extra hard in her ear, because I know that is the most healing kind of kitty purr. She's back at work today, at least until this afternoon, so I am back with everykitty now. I know I've been tagged for a meme and given awards and have even been invited on a Sassy adventure . . . and I'll be sure to catch up with you all! Purrs!

PS: It looks like the Twins finally have some interest! Thanks, everykitty! They are going to be excited when I tell them. =^_^=

Friday Movie Review - The Aristocats

Since Valentine's Day is drawing near, I thought I would start reviewing more romantic and kitty-oriented movies. Today I am reviewing the Disney Classic, "The Aristocats." I have seen several of my fellow kitties list this as their favorite movie on their blog profiles, so I am sure this is already a favorite.

The Aristocats (1970)

Director: Wolfgang Reitherman

Writers: Ken Anderson, Larry Clemmons, et. al

This is a wonderful movie! Not only is the movie about kitties, it also features more interesting creatures, such as a mousie, a horsie, doggies, and goosies! There is humor, romance, and a great musical score. And not only does it have all this, it has a great message for all the stray kitties out there: a loving home is best!

The story takes place in Paris, France . . . the city that is widely known as "The City of Love." Duchess, a regal white ladycat, lives with her three artisitically talented kittens: Berlioz, Toulouse, and Marie. A lovely aristocratic bean lady has been graciously adopted by them, and they all share a mansion together, with their very own butler. However, the bean lady makes a new will, leaving all of her possessions to her kitties, and the butler gets jealous and greedy! He drugs Duchess and her kits and dumps them far out into the French countryside.

Once you recover from the butler's perfidy, you meet the true hero of the story: Abraham DeLacey Giuseppe Casey Thomas O'Malley . . . . O'Malley the Alley Cat! Thomas O'Malley is a handsome ginger stray, and he comes to Duchess' and the kits' rescue, escorting them back to their home in Paris. Along the way they have many adventures, and meet many interesting animals, such as Abigail and Amelia Gabble, and their Uncle Waldo . . . all geese! Abigail and Amelia are hysterically funny when they decide that Thomas O'Malley needs swimming lessons . . . and when they teach the kitties how to waddle! The humor in this film is sure to please the kits in the family.

As you may have guessed, romance soon blossoms between Thomas and Duchess. However, there is also tension as Duchess is desperate to get back home to her ladybean, and Thomas does not understand how Duchess can have such a strong bond with a human. However, he knows that living with the lady is what makes Duchess happy, so he continues to escort her home, even knowing that since he is a stray, that will be the last he sees of Duchess and her adorable kittens. Before the final stretch home, Thomas introduces Duchess and the kittens to his ragtag group of kitty friends, and a new musical genre: Jazz! Who can forget the incredible talent of Scat Cat?

Once he gets them home, more trouble ensues with the butler and Thomas makes one last and valiant attempt at heroism, along with Roquefort, a brave mousie, and Frou Frou, the determined horsie heroine. Finally Thomas sees how Duchess can be so fond of a human, and he becomes a contented housecat along with her and the kittens. . . happily ever after!

I give this picture two paws up and an extra loud purr . . . it is funny, romantic, and has a great soundtrack! I will leave you today with the words of wisdom Thomas and Scat Cat shared with us in their song, "Everybody Wants to Be a Cat."

Everybody wants to be a cat,

Because a cat's the only cat

Who knows where it's at.

Everybody's pickin' up on that feline beat,

'Cause everything else is obsolete.