black-and-white cat – Page 23

Convalescence

Although only four years old, the vet says Boo has the teeth of an elderly cat and he had to get a couple of teeth pulled on Thursday. As you’d expect he was in a great deal of pain so we kept him in isolation in the guest bedroom for a few days while he was getting painkillers, both to give him some quiet time in a house full of pets and to keep him from running and jumping until he was off the painkillers.

My wife stayed with him that night but he was making such a ruckus through the night from some combination of pain and hunger and frustration at being cooped up that none of us got much sleep. After finally falling asleep I got woken up not much later by our dog Ellie, so I put on my warm clothes and took her downstairs so she could go outside and go to the bathroom. At which point she looked at me with an expression of “I don’t have to go outside, I just wanted to spend some time with you!” “A lovely thought, pup,” I grumbled as I stumbled upstairs, “but save it for the morning!”

We got freezing rain overnight and with the sidewalks coated in ice and the trains off schedule, I decided to take a vacation day and Boo and I curled up and slept off the morning. Friday night was another rough one so Saturday morning we were back to the two of us sleeping it off while the other pets all went to the vet for routine checkups. They had to get shots and were pretty subdued when they came home, so I let them all come in and join us, this is a shot of Trixie, Boo, and Sam (from left to right) curled up on my legs. Ellie was sleeping on the floor, the guest bed is on the frame and she can’t jump up onto it at her age (we keep our bed on the floor so she can still get into it with a little effort).

Boo recovered nicely and was given free run of the house on Sunday after some trial periods on Saturday, although he reminded me of when we adopted him, he’d go exploring the main house and then come back to the guest bedroom for some quiet time. Sunday night we all slept peacefully, that’s Boo in my lap below.

I Feel Like I’m Being Watched

I was standing on our front steps watching a squirrel move through a snowy tree when I turned around and was transported back 16 years. Up top is Boo watching me from our front door, below is Templeton watching me from the back door in 2001.

The Rectangular Cat

I don’t think it’s fair that Boo doesn’t have to follow the laws of physics like the rest of us.

Spying on Santa

For thousands of years on Christmas Eve, children have hoped to catch Santa delivering presents under the Christmas tree. But he always managed to avoid detection, until this year that is, when he looked down at a box beside a Christmas tree and realized, too late, the box was looking back at him. Don’t feel bad Santa, Boo is a clever little fellow. And the Boo Box has only increased his powers.

Boo Skies

The blue skies behind Boo are the sky blue walls of my office. When we bought the house years ago, to go along with the brown hardwood floors and area rug, I had the walls painted sky blue with a white ceiling, so I could have my earth and sky even while sitting indoors. My mini-earth is full of beautiful creatures too, but mine are more snuggly.

Son of Boo Box

I finally figured out why Boo was so enamored with the Boo Box, a box that was part of the packaging for the dog ramp we got for Ellie to help her get into the car in her old age. I knew that he liked the size, which was perfectly Boo-sized, but he didn’t show the same devotion to other boxes of the same size. Then I realized that the bottom of the Boo Box was completely flat, while the other boxes had folded flaps that kept the bottom from being smooth.

I’ve been drinking Carnation instant breakfast every morning for at least a couple of decades, so we get in delivered in bulk. The smaller boxes were close in size to the Boo Box and I realized if I opened it a particular way, I could end up with a smooth bottom. So I cut the top off and Boo took to it right away, although it is too tall for him to be able to stretch out like he enjoys. I also put out some old shoe boxes with flat bottoms that have a much lower height and he’s been enjoying those too.

I might wrap this one in wrapping paper so it looks a little more festive, or maybe I should see if Nestle is interested in sponsorship …

“Sometimes I Wish My Sister Didn’t Love Me Quite So Much”

But she does Boo, she does.

Boo had been sleeping on my legs when Trixie curled up beside him, inching her head closer and closer to his, waiting to see if he would object with each advance. When she reached her goal of having her head completely on top of his, he opened his eyes briefly but to her great delight he let her stay, and they both soon fell asleep.

Three Things

Back in 2000, Canon launched their first consumer digital SLR, the $3000 three megapixel D30. At the time I had a low-end film SLR and was looking to upgrade and was torn between getting the D30 or a much more advanced film SLR for a lot less money. While researching the D30 I found a website by an accomplished photographer named Michael Reichmann, Luminous Landscape, and his review nudged me to the D30.

While Michael and I photographed different types of things (and he was a vastly better photographer), I loved his approach to reviewing camera gear. He had a rare blend of talent, enthusiasm, experience, wisdom, helpfulness, generosity, charisma, and humility that made him my favorite reviewer. He evaluated gear based on how much enjoyed using it and how it helped (or hindered) his ability to get the shots that meant the most to him. He had an infectious love of photography and never lost sight of the big picture, that photography can be personal and meaningful and rewarding and emotional. And fun.

He died earlier this year from cancer and though I didn’t know him, I miss him.

I owe him a great deal for helping me settle on the D30. The camera had plenty of flaws but its strengths were even greater. I liked film, I loved digital. Less than half a year we adopted an adorable little kitten we named Scout. I’d give so much to be able to snuggle for even 15 minutes with Scout, who died a few years ago, and in a way the pictures help me do that. Here she’s a young kitten playing beside my wife. It’s funny that it’s almost hard for me to remember her being this young. On the one hand I remember clearly bringing her home for the first time, but it’s the adult Scout who always wanted to be curled up on or beside me that is so strongly imprinted on my memory.

Life is filled with ups and downs, something I’ve been reflecting on a lot tonight, so let me acknowledge some things that had such a positive impact on me in 2000 and 2001, and for years after. Michael, Scout, that first digital camera. Gone now, not forgotten, always loved.

(I do still have the D30 sitting around somewhere, but allow me the poetic license.)

“I Can’t Look Away”

Boo and I wondered the same thing: would this end badly?

I had kneeled to photograph Boo sitting in the broken Boo Box when Trixie jumped onto my shoulders and wrapped her legs around my head and began playing in my hair. I could feel the gentle pressure of the claws on all four feet, it didn’t hurt but if she got more rambunctious I was going to get scratched to pieces. I was afraid she’d dig in if I tried to remove her, so I kept taking pictures of Boo while she played.

Thankfully she had her fun without harm and when she jumped down I was tickled to see that with the camera at his level I had gotten a picture of a wide-eyed Boo watching her on top of my head.

Tag: black-and-white cat