Well, it was one of those nice summer days. Overcast, cool and really no humidity.
The day was fabulous. Savannah, 7, was a delight. She behaved wonderfully and was very taken with Maria.
Now, Maria is about the nicest and smartest person I have ever known. In fact, she may be the nicest/smartest combo package. She has been going to the zoo for about 35 years and has been a volunteer for probably 15 to 20 years. She is used to taking kids on tours, working the info booths and knows many many people at the zoo. She is a walking encyclopedia.
Savannah was a walking ?, so it worked out well. Just as soon as Maria finished answering one question - in, I might add, the absolute perfect manner for a 7 year old, here came the next question.
Maria must be tired, just from that.
So Ms. S learned a great deal today. Got to feed a giraffe some special giraffe biscuits. Got to have Lorikeet birds crawl on her head and shoulders (as did all of us) while offering up cups of nectar. One apparently mistook my ear canal as some deep welled flower. Tickled at first, but then became a tad bit concerning... Several found my hair to be perfect material to try to pull - perhaps for their nests??? Maria's shirt was mistaken for a porta potty...
Anyway, wonderful day, including watching the cheetahs chase fake prey and make an amazing tight turn and still go in for the kill. We also got to see Tommy T - the 8 month old cheetah cub take his turn at catching the prey. He of course toyed with it after catching it... kids...
To see pics of Tommy, visit his blog. If you go back to November 2008, you can see him as a wee little cub.
So, the day was really wonderful. Then, we went back to Maria and Christi's place, had pizza, got to visit with Christi, got to see their 4 dogs and one of the 5 or 6 cats. After dinner S suggested a game of GO Fish, so we played and I won, whooo hoooo. Then Maria did some magic tricks for S and then S did some magic tricks for us.
Well, it was time to head home, so we dropped S off at her house. When we went to her backyard, her daddy came out of the barn in a pair of shorts and covered in transmission fluid, car grease and dirt. Trying to put a transmission in a vehicle and it wasn't going so smooth. Talk about your grease monkey! He was filthy!
S showed us how she could ride a bike without training wheels (since yesterday!!!), then we had to go home. I dropped mom off and came back to Kia Rio.
Jaz and Heljye waiting on the porch, happily anticipating dinner. Called for Ollie and he didn't show. Sometimes it takes him about 10 or 15 to transition from the hunt to coming inside. I fiddled around the house, and periodically called for him.
After 20 minutes and no show, I got a tad more serious about it. The wind was picking up and it was pretty strong. I got the dog whistle and the treat bag. Now it is 30 minutes.
Last time it took him this long to come when called, I ended up in the Impenetrable Forest with an extension ladder and the Ollievator at 2:30 am.
So, as you can imagine, I was not too happy. I actually have to get up in the morning and be at a part-time job (really PT - like 24 hours a month) so I was not keen on trying to figure out where he was stranded, but what can you do?
So, back in the house. Long pants, tall socks, boots, long sleeve shirt, bandanna, bug lotion, flashlight, dog whistle.
Here we go again.
I start with perimeter patrol. Now it is Friday night and I live on a state route, so there is traffic. There is also a bar out here in the countryside, and it is less than 1/2 mile away. It is about 9:30 or so, so folks are heading out all over the place. Lots of traffic noise to eclipse a weak cat mew in the IF.
I walk back and forth in the yard and hear nothing but loud animal movements (male deer are out there because you can see their markings on the barkless trees) so I am not totally keen on just plunging in. Never mind the raccoons and my neighbor telling me just yesterday that he killed a rat snake in his driveway.
So, after a few trips along the edge of the yard, I go out and walk on the side of the road, hoping not to find his body there. I walk up to the fence - in between cars, call his name and strain to hear a faint mew. Nothing.
I hear my name. It is Oneida, she is on her front porch with a cup of coffee, standing in the dark enjoying the cool summer night. I give her his description and she promises to keep an eye out. I ask about the status of her job interview. They called her twice to update her on when interviews would finish and when she should next expect to hear from them. I tell her THAT is a really good sign, they like you. She was pleased to hear it. Things are HARD here and they have 2 little kids.
So, back at the Ollie hunt. Back into the yard, flashlight to the porch hoping he is waiting there. Nothing doing.
I walk to the best opening spot to enter the IF. I pause, calling his name, flashing the light about to give notice I am in the hood. It is at this point that I think "this cat is the bane of my existence."
I am now in the IF. I am calling. I hear nothing. I move in about 7 feet, get still, call to him and listen. I move 7 more feet crossing over fallen branches and repeat. 7 more feet. Nothing. I hunch down and crawl under growth. repeat. Nothing. 7 more feet. A mew. I call, he mews I zig zag through the growth toward his mew. Squatting periodically.
I am thinking what a total bitch it is going to be to drag a damn ladder back here. Further in than last time. Damn, seems like he is closer to the neighbors house. Call, mew, flashlight around, move. repeat. Jeez, what is mom going to say when I call her at 10 pm and say I am coming for the extension ladder tonight. She nearly had me committed the last time. The biggest ladder I have here is 6 foot. Ok, when I get a steady source of cash, I MUST get an extension ladder. Call, mew, flashlight around, move.
Call. Mew is quite loud and sounds fairly low. Now I am perplexed.
He does not sound high enough to be afraid to come down. What could the problem be? Call, loud mew, flashlight - bingo - I get cat eyes. He is low to the ground. WTF??? I get closer he mews loud, I shine the light. The little fucker is standing on the ground mewing loudly. He is not up a tree, not trapped, not stuck, not being curled upon by black rat snake. Just standing there giving me his loud shrill mew. Not the same one that bolts me out of bed at 6 am, but the other one that demands attention.
Now I am perplexed. I pet him, he is happy. I turn around and begin the zig zag to get back out. I call, he sort of follows all the while with the shrill mew. I wonder. He is walking fine.
I get to the yard, he stands about 10 feet away and off to my left, still in the IF mewing loudly as though he is lost or calling a lost friend.
I call, he comes flying and runs up to the porch and stands by the door waiting to come in the front door with me. I open door, he goes to eat. Heljye jumps him at the food bowl, there is a scuffle. I put Heljye on a cat tree and pet him.
Ollie eats (I pat him down for signs of puncture or other wounds) then walks to his favorite spot in the hallway (world's shortest hallway) and plops down like he was just hanging round all damn day.
BANE.
bane:
killer, slayer b: poison c: death, destruction (the moles use this definition and so do I)
bane:
a source of harm or ruin : curse (we all use this one.)
So, Bane is now sitting in the window of the office, enjoying the cool breeze coming through the window screen and watching me type, then looking outside. Pretty as a magazine cover.
Bane.
I now feel icky ooey and buggie... covered in herbal bug repellent, spider webs and who knows what. Never mind the potential for a snake to drop off a tree at or on me.
So, um, to those people who need to scientifically "prove" that cats control their owners.
F you. Just get a damn cat and save all the research money and time. Please. Any cat person could tell you that while standing in line at the pet store with their umpteenth brand of cat food that the finicky little beasts turn their noses to.
Must bathe and pet Bane kitty nice nice before I go to bed.
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