La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Our day began with calm skies and 18˚C / 64˚F. It’s now after 1 p.m. and the temperature has risen to 25˚C / 77˚F, and there’s a pleasant breeze. However, there’s a warning of a “potential disruption due to coastal event” from 2 p.m. High winds and high surf. We’ll see what comes.
Moose (that’s Dudo above; Moose is the other one) is a fascinating cat whose personality continues to change even after being with us 10 years. Both cats were in a dismal shelter in Sevilla (and we think in a very small cage together) for the first 10 months of their lives. Moose was very skittish for a while. He wanted to be near us, but he didn’t like being petted. He has never sat in a lap (well, a few times when I tried to help, but he wasn’t happy). But he sleeps crammed up against San Geraldo every night and for siestas. He used to sleep next to me, but my restless leg syndrome wasn’t a good match with his unease. So, we’ve taken to sitting on the floor together while I pet him and he purrs and rolls around. I also kneel next to him in the kitchen when he eats (whenever he commands). He grows more and more affectionate and relaxed with each passing day and has now decided to snuggle up next to me when I first go to bed. Sunday night when I rolled over to go to sleep, he completely surprised me. He crawled under the comforter at the foot of SG’s side of the bed. We have never seen him crawl under covers at any time. It was kind of adorable.
Susan made me laugh often. She had a great friend, Patty, in Portland (Oregon), who I’m fortunate now to be connected with. Susan and I texted each other every morning and every night (at least). Given the 9-hour time difference, I would write good morningnight when I got up and goodnightafternoon when I went to bed. Our conversations were always profound. Immediately below is one of our exhanges.
It’s 2:05 and the wind is picking up. I had to close the kitchen door. San Geraldo has a loose stack of recipes he leaves on an open top shelf (don’t get me started). I heard some noise and found them all over the living room.
.
Nuestro día comenzó con cielos tranquilos y 18˚C. Ahora es después de la 1 p.m. y la temperatura ha subido a 25˚C, y hay una brisa agradable. Sin embargo, hay una advertencia de una “interrupción potencial debido a un evento costero” a partir de las 2 p.m. Vientos fuertes y oleaje alto. Veremos lo que viene.
Moose (ese es Dudo arriba; Moose es el otro) es un gato fascinante cuya personalidad continúa cambiando incluso después de estar con nosotros 10 años. Ambos gatos estuvieron en un lúgubre refugio en Sevilla (y creemos que juntos en una jaula muy pequeña) durante los primeros 10 meses de sus vidas. Moose estuvo muy distante por un tiempo. Quería estar cerca de nosotros, pero no le gustaba que lo acariciaran. Nunca se ha sentado en un regazo (bueno, algunas veces cuando traté de ayudarlo, pero no estaba feliz). Pero duerme apretujado contra San Geraldo todas las noches y las siestas. Solía dormir junto a mis piernas, pero mi síndrome de piernas inquietas no combinaba bien con su malestar. Entonces, nos hemos acostumbrado a sentarnos juntos en el suelo mientras lo acaricio y él ronronea y rueda. También me arrodillo junto a él en la cocina cuando come (siempre que él lo ordene). Se vuelve más y más cariñoso y relajado con cada día que pasa y ahora ha decidido acurrucarse a mi lado cuando me acuesto por primera vez. El domingo por la noche cuando me di la vuelta para ir a dormir, me sorprendió por completo. Se metió debajo del edredón al pie del lado de la cama de SG. Nunca lo hemos visto gatear debajo de las sábanas en ningún momento. Fue un poco adorable.
Susan me hizo reír a menudo. Tenía una gran amiga, Patty, en Portland (Oregón), con quien ahora tengo la suerte de estar conectado. Susan y yo nos enviamos mensajes de texto todas las mañanas y todas las noches (al menos). Dada la diferencia horaria de 9 horas, escribiría buenos días noche cuando me levantaba y buenas noches tarde cuando me acostaba. Nuestras conversaciones siempre fueron profundas. Inmediatamente debajo está uno de nuestros intercambios.
Son las 14:05 y el viento se está levantando. Tuve que cerrar la puerta de la cocina. San Geraldo tiene una pila suelta de recetas que deja en un estante superior abierto (no me hagas empezar). Escuché un poco de ruido y los encontré por todo el salón.
SUSAN: Patty was mean to me. She watched me take a fist full of pills (12) all at once with one swallow. She said, I don’t know how you do that, I would choke. I replied, I know how to swallow. She looked me up & down for a moment and said, I bet you do.
ME: She wasn’t being mean. She was just being honest… and complimentary.
• Atardecer de domingo.
• En mi camino del gimnasio hoy.
• A las 13:00.
Click the thumbnails.
Haz clic en las miniaturas.
Lots of special love in your life, cats, friends, family
David:
And for that I’m grateful.
Maybe the winds are remnants of ‘Fiona’ who recently left our shores…..lol
Hope it doesn’t get too wild.
Wonderful memories you have of your friend, Susan.
Your cats have ‘died and gone to heaven’ since their they met you guys.
Jim:
Well, the winds never really arrived. Just a nice breeze. I do think the cats are very happy with us.
Thank you MItchell for sticking up for me!! (:
Patty:
Any time.
Cats are such delightful creatures. They change and grow throughout their lives, just like we do.
Debra:
You’re right. Dudo continues to change, as well, but he’s always been smart and attentive. Moose’s evolution is heartwarming.
Glad your friendship with Susan lives on with Patty.
BTW – Moose calls it his comcatforter. Just like him…in the middle of warmth above and below
Mary:
Comcatforter. I love the word!
The weather here has gotten glorious since yesterday….but those skies you featured are stunning and jaw dropping Mitchell. I just want to some days pick up and hug Moose!!!! I like Dudo too…but Mooses expressions crack me up.
Mistress Borghese:
I always find Dudo to be the more expressive of the two. But just try to pick up and hug one of them. Those claws would be flying in every direction in their attempt to get away. No attack, just frantic activity.
Your photos of the beach have prompted me into action – we’ll be booking our February trip to Benalmadena this week… Jx
PS I’m not a “cat person”, but those pics of Moose cracked me up!
Jon:
February can be such a peaceful time of year here.
Can you explain how moose and dudo got their names
John Gray:
The shelter named them. Moose’s proper name is actually Musy (or Mussy… I can’t remember which). No one knew where the names came from. But we decided since they already had microchips and passports, we’d just keep the names they had. Moose fits. Dudo means “doubt” or “I doubt” in Spanish and that seemed to fit him, too. Extremely smart and doesn’t take anyone’s word for anything.
Awww, Moose probably realizes that you need extra love right now. Very adorable.
I didn’t realize that Moose and Dudo had been in a shelter for 10 months, in a single cage, before you got them! (And, yes, as John Gray asked… how did they get those names? Have you told us before?)
Judy C:
Here’s the info on their names as told to John Gray.
The shelter named them. Moose’s proper name is actually Musy (or Mussy… I can’t remember which). No one knew where the names came from. But we decided since they already had microchips and passports, we’d just keep the names they had. Moose fits. Dudo means “doubt” or “I doubt” in Spanish and that seemed to fit him, too. Extremely smart and doesn’t take anyone’s word for anything.
Tuxedo loves to be held, and loves sleeping with us, and will crawl beneath the blankets on chilly nights.
Consuelo will not sleep with us, does not like being held, but loves me petting her, and comes running to me when I call her Pretty Baby Girl; seriously, the other night she was fast asleep, and I said, “:Where’s my Pretty Baby Girl,” and she woke right up and came running to me.
Our dearly departed, and still sorely missed, MaxGoldberg,. was by far the most affectionate, sitting with us, sleeping with us, following us around. I’d ask if he wanted a “KissyKissy,” and he’d lower his head so I could smooch it.
I miss that boy.
Bob:
I’d miss MaxGoldberg, too. What a sweetheart.
Cats are undoubtedly both loving or maddening when the mood strikes them. Moose’ and Dudo’s origin story explains a lot of their behaviour, and being brothers explains the rest of it, LOL! Almost makes me wish I wasn’t so horribly allergic to cats…. almost!
Tundra Bunny:
So many people suffer with cat allergies. I’m glad neither of us have that problem. Moose is quite like a shepherding dog. This morning when I was in the kitchen he led me into SG’s office and then curled up on the kitty condo for petting. He always wants everyone together.
Olga often crawls beneath the bedcovers, and my cats used to do it too. I always wonder how animals can breathe under there. They may not always show it (because cats seldom do) but your cats appreciate being rescued from their dismal shelter, I’m sure.
Steve:
One of our California cats loved it under the covers. He’d jump up while I made the bed. I never understood it either. He was fat and very long-haired. Our cats are very obviously happy. We saved each other.
I do love all your beautiful photos, such a life you lead.
Larry:
I need to remind myself to be grateful. Thanks.
“ So, we’ve taken to sitting on the floor together while I pet him and he purrs and rolls around. I also kneel next to him in the kitchen when he eats (whenever he commands). He grows more and more affectionate and relaxed with each passing day and has now decided to snuggle up next to me when I first go to bed.”
OK. Now I KNOW you’re just trying to tease me!!!
Xxxooo
Sassybear:
Yes, that’s always my goal.