remembering Max

 ? - May 9, 2009

It was three years ago today that Max told us he was done fighting his kidney failure and was ready to rest. May 9, 2009 stands out as one of the most painful days of my life.

Today I want to celebrate some of the delightful things about Max by sharing a few things that are on the "Things I love about Max" list that I started in September 2008.

Things I love about Max:

• waking to find yarnball gifts beside my side of the bed
• endless tummy rubs
• gentle paw tapping as a request for attention
• yardtime
• playing with fish toy
• playing with yarnballs
• playing with string
• snuggle monster incarnate

• forever loves to be held
• water thief
• white chin and white whiskers
• soft purr
• little white patches on front paws
• silent requests for porchtime
• sleeping upside down
• nose bops

• nightly snuggles in bed
• enjoyment of being brushed
• yeowling shortly after I go to bed followed by wild yarnball play
• loves cheese, tuna, turkey, fish sticks
• jumping on the bathroom counter when I brush my teeth at night
• curiosity about bath water in tub
• rolling in the grass

• walking around with pooffy tail straight up in the air
• always would run to the door to greet me when I can home each day
• never had a problem using the litter box
• white spots on chest and tummy
• super-soft tummy furs

• frequently asking to be picked up
• long hairs between toes
• silent meows
• moth hunting
• treat corner

• diving behind couch cushions to get string
• ability to push and pull open doors
• love of watching birds
• recognition of the sound of the car
• standing up on edges of litter box when using it
• easy going temperament
• desire to be held upside down in my arms
• crazies on the loveseat
• how he found his way into Laura's heart

I love you Max and I miss you.

2012 Average Joe Cat Show

Today was the 9th annual Average Joe Cat Show. This event is a fundraiser for Purrfect Pals, my local amazing cat shelter. I love that all the cats are regular house cats! Many of them are even available for adoption. Somehow, I made it out without taking any extra kitties home. I didn't hear the tally as far as how many cats were adopted at the show but I hope many found new forever homes.

There are so many beautiful cats!

This guy took home first place in the Softest Fur in the West category

Barney took home several blue ribbons in various categories.

 He sure looks a lot like my Nahum!

Apparently Barney is a known heart stealer!

Hiding in the sock monkey bed!

Smudge, last year's winner of Most Obnoxious Cat

Smudge's not looking very obnoxious to me!

Amazing that cats can sleep with all the commotion

One of the many winners!

After collecting her prize, Lucy honors the judges by letting them each pet her.

What are all these people gathered around to see?

Adorable kittens, of course!

So cute!

The adoption room was filled with lovely kitties looking for their forever homes.

I wanted to take this one home

These little ones were hoping to go home with someone

One of the many fun things about cat shows are the vendors. The Average Joe Cat Show draws some great vendors.

Delightful custom mosaics by Gretchen Fuller - wow!

I love handmade kitty toys!

These are hand towels that fasten to the oven handle!

The Community Cat Coalition table, educating people about TNR

The Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project always has fun T-shirts

I saved the most exciting bit for last. You might remember, back in March, I told you that I had entered a picture of Theo and Willow in the photo contest. The voting closed a day before the show and the results were announced at the show.

The photo entries are displayed around the silent auction room

Willow's picture earned Second Place

Theo won First Place in the Funniest Photo category!!!!

When we got back home, we threw a celebration party for Theo! What fun!!! Thank you everyone who voted, we could not have done this without your support!

Theo posing with his Blue Ribbon and prize winning photo

A big thank you to all the volunteers and organizers at Purrfect Pals for putting together such a wonderful event!! The Average Joe Cat Show is such a great idea for a fundraiser, I hope other cat shelters borrow this idea. The crowd at this year's show seemed smaller than last year but I hope they raised a ton of money for the kitties. And now I'm left once again looking forward to next year's show!

ready for the weekend

What a week!! UGH! I just wrapped up the last of my work for the week and boy that feels good. I could so resonate with Catherine over at Corner of Cat's Mind, this week has felt like the longest week in the history of weeks. I was never able to get ahead of the schedule and thus it was always kicking me along each day. My time seemed to get sucked up in some sort of vortex so all my paperwork kept pilling up. Anyway, enough about that, thank God it's over! On with the weekend...

An ice cold Leinenkugel or Woodchuck Hard Cider would really hit the spot right about now, but sadly, I'm not up for the resulting migraine that alcohol brings, so Diet Coke will have to suffice. The forecast is calling for sun and warm temps for the weekend, oh yea!

And this weekend is not just an average weekend. Saturday is the annual Purrfect Pals Average Joe Cat Show!!! This is a full day, family friendly celebration of the amazingness of cats. The show is a big fundraiser for Purrfect Pals, my local amazing cat-only shelter. I've been looking forward to this show since I left last year's show! Those that have been following for awhile, might remember my write up about the show, you can find it here: Nothing Average About Average Joe.

This huge show is different than the typical cat show. The cats are all household cats and many are available for adoption. The cats are judged in categories like; longest whiskers, loudest purr, longest tail, softest fur in the West, etc. There are also many sponsors and organizations present. The Community Cat Coalition, which I am a part of, will have a booth set up educating people about the benefits of TNR and how they can get involved. I'll even be working the booth for a few hours in the afternoon! If you're going to be there, come on by and introduce yourself, I would love to meet you.

I'll be bringing my camera once again and so stay tuned for the write up of the 2012 show.

Meanwhile, I'll close with a few photos of Theo enjoying his still somewhat-new fish toy.

The kitties have been neglected all week and they are now clamoring for my attention. I had better get their string wiggling so they can play.