Hey ya'll. You know what, people have been sending love for Achilles to help him get well! He says he feels it and it is making him stronger. JJ says people are helping her with the $$$ too -- and you know what that means -- more cat food for us! No, not really, we'll let her use if for the house payment :-).

I heard that some of you are having a hard time with our Italian. That's o.k. We had to look it up in JJ's I talian book. Anyway, the red bicycle is rosso bicicletta and that is pronouced meowmeme rrrrrrmeowmeow. Haha. Got you! JJ's Italian book says (phonetically -- big word for a cat) row-so bee-chi-clet-a. And we also have that little scoundrel bianco ha pisciato (bee-ah-ko ha pis-chi-ah-toe). We almost spelled a bad word there, oops.

I have been trying to run a little up and down the hall because I really am getting rather fat. I am, however, the mother figure so perhaps it is appropriate. I can't get so fat that I can't jump up on my eating table though! Last night JJ had the light toy out. We can hear that she has it even when she trys to pick it up real quiet and we all come running. I get to play with it a lot, unlike the flying toy when Oregano and Tita knock me out of the way (they really don't have much manners but, teenagers, you know how they are).

We are eight cats now: Lucky, Spooky, Me, Oregano -- residents. And, Melody, Tita, Achilles and Annie White Paws. We wish Achilles and Annie White Paws would go away sometimes because they have changed out routine and we just HATE that! But, Achilles is pretty nice and he doesn't try to fight with anyone. He just watches and plays with Annie White Paws. Now Annie White Paws is another matter. She is wild -- running up and down the halls, jumping on the cheewawa, OMG -- she has more energy that 40 of me.

Sometimes I let Annie chew on my ears, if I am in a good mood. But sometimes she gets on my nerves -- like Melody -- you know, don't tell anyone but, I really can't stand her. That's why I try to beat her up sometimes. She is scared of me and that makes me feel powerful. Well, I know it's bad but it's true! If you humans would say what you really feel you would get in a whole lot less trouble with one another. Ya'll are always saying nice things and thinking other things. Oh well, what are you going to do with humans besides keep them around to open the cat food cans and change the water in our drinking fountain.

We kind of love JJ, though, but we won't admit it {_-

Jinx(sh)

I just noticed that Jinx wrote that Achilles is also known as Bianco ha Pisciato -- well that is wrong! Annie, that new ding-dang-doodle irritating (but fun) kitten is aka Bianco ha Pisciato. I don't even think Achilles has an alias yet -- except when JJ gets mixed up and calls him Ulysses.

Achilles and Spooky went to the vet today. Spooky saw Dr. Waller and got poked with a sticker and then <whoosh> right back in the box. Achilles saw Dr. Waller AND Dr. Gilyard -- isn't he importante! (don't know WHY we are writing all of this Italian when we know that JJ is going to Holland/Belgium and Germany next) Anyway, Achilles has not been feeling super great. He plays some and eats a little but mostly he just sleeps in the kitty cup bed. Dr. Waller said that he has some inflammation in his mammary area but he and Dr. Gilyard both agreed -- more antibiotics and see how it goes. This guy has had an awfully tough time. We haven't even been able to begin the hazing yet!! Though, Tita and I do try to refuse to eat in the same room with him. Usually JJ just tosses us in there anyway and closes the door. We've been revolting a bit and not eating our wet food -- we keep thinking that maybe one day we will get Fancy Feast instead of Friskies like the "old-time" cats, anyway -- so, we just eat LOTS more dry food to make up for it.

I have been feeling lonely lately so have spent lots of time in JJ's lap (when she isn't off with the rosso bicicletta) kneading and pretending. I know JJ loves me but, sometimes, there are so many animals here that it just doesn't seem like she can love us all. And that Cheewawa is so bossy and jealous, she has taken over the entire bed and she isn't but about 12" wide when she is all curled up -- but, don't try to get up there near JJ when she is there or she will start curling her lip at you!! JJ tells her to quit and we get to come around on the other side -- I like to come up to say good night but I usually like to sleep downstairs anyway, just in case I am needed to capture some deadly moths or spiders that have come in from outside -- before they can get upstairs and hurt JJ! I am also always on the lookout for other cats that might come in and try to take up residence -- and burglars, too, though I don't think any burglars would want to come in this house because JJ has a GUN!! She says she doesn't have any bullets for it and it doesn't shoot straight anyway but that she can do some damage beating a burglar over the head with it!! So burglars, with JJ beating you over the head and the cheewawa biting your ankles you won't have a chance!! Ha Ha!

It is getting late and we have to get JJ to go to bed. She has to be getting some sleep because she is going to be Touring Tanglewood on the rosso bicicletta this weekend in honor of her friends, Ellen and Jeanne!

See you 'round! (Tot ziens said Joy in the wooden shoes)

Oregano (aka Ded-de-Doh)

At least not in our house! (You didn't know that I read Homer, did you? -- ah, cats -- you will never cease to wonder at our fathomless skills!)

Anyway, Achilles (aka Bianco ha Pisciata) is home. He doesn't like Annie White Paws (yet) but seems o.k. with everyone else. He LOVES the Cheewawa and she likes him allright too! Tita thinks he is handsome so she spends all of her time growling and fussing at him. Oregano is worried that he will take over her spot with JJ at the computer (she won't let him but you can't tell Oregano anything). Lucky and Spooky don't even KNOW he is here!! Melody could care less. Me, I'm Queen of the House AND I weigh 15 LBS! So, if he messes with me, I'll just sit on him!!

JJ has made him a nest up in the computer room. He likes it pretty well and enjoys sleeping in the Cheewawa's blue bed with the fur on the edge. He likes to play in the cubes, too. (Oh, the Cheewawa ate our spider, that dog, oh my goodness, henny penny!!) JJ says he is very soft but NOT as soft and smooth as ME!!

He gets around pretty well on three legs. His hair is growing back and he doesn't seem to hurt at all. We can't believe that whoever was "taking care" of him before he came to JJ didn't take him to the vet for so long that his leg became so infected -- even though I consider him an interloper, I still feel sorry for the suffering he had to go through. He stayed at Dr Pete Gilyard's for FORTY-FIVE DAYS!! I think that is a record.

I also think it is time to watch movies and eat ice cream with JJ -- I have to go -- don't want to miss out -- especially since JJ is going off on the rosso bicicletta tomorrow!!

Jinx(SH)