Sunshine? Well, Kinda'

Well what do you know! I got up yesterday morning and the sun was shining. I mean, shining is a relative word when you're this far north (48th parallel). Not shining, like where it is also warm, but a weak, pitiful glow that feels almost like the real thing.

This morning the sun was shining, too, so I climbed into my usual spots to sun myself as best I could in the six inches of available light, but now it's gone again, and raining. Oh well, a day of mostly sunshine, then a couple of hours of sun this morning are better than nothing. Since I can't drive this motorhome somewhere sunnier, I'll have to content myself lying in front of the electric heater to keep warm. Anyway, I hear its snowing on the other side of the mountains, and I sure don't want any part of that!

Oh, by the way...when I compared myself to the two nieces my people came to stay with while their parents were gone, I forgot to mention how pretty they were. Cute, too! They are both gorgeous beauties, and so sweet. Okay, I'll forget comparing them to me. There's just no comparison. Obviously they only have two legs each, and they don't have dark, shiny coats. But they do have long, shiny hair on their heads and pretty blue eyes. And they do like to pet me!!! Sweet! Purr-r-r-r.

Life goes on here in the frigid forest. My people seem inclined to hang around with me a lot since they don't like getting wet every time they step out, or bundling up in sweaters, coats, gloves, and almost everything warm that they own. That's the good side of RVing to not so warm places, but I hope they don't forget to go out and buy me more food before it runs out.

Let me tell you, I need to grow more fur if we stay here for much longer! Until next time, m-e-o-w . . .

Inky Sees His First Mallard Ducks in California

Whoa! What are those noisy things waddling past
my window?

Don't look at me for a handout! Find two suckers, like I did, who'll drive you around the country and feed you everyday.

Snow Again???

The sun came out late yesterday and two Canada Geese showed up outside my window, although it was only in the mid-thirties. Woo-hoo! But before the real celebrating could begin, it was raining again and today it's snowing!!! It's March 28th, folks, so what's with this white stuff? Is this the north pole?

I don't think I have to worry about my folks coming up here again before mid-summer, if then. They refuse to step outside in the stuff so I also don't guess I'll have to take a walk in the frozen tundra. That's okay with me! Give me some WARM sunshine so I can warm my belly or just lie on the dash to watch those big honkers. They look like they'd be fun to chase - yippee!!!

I've Got People

Well the rain finally stopped for a little while SO IT COULD SNOW! What a disgusting sight! That white stuff on the ground doesn't look the least bit appealing, but luckily, it didn't cover the entire ground. And the sun came out for about 10 whole minutes this morning. And two deer just ran across the grass behind our motorhome.

It was beautiful, warm, sunny spring when we left Arizona and drove through California. What happened? My people are shivering under blankets and don't even bother to get dressed these days. Pitiful! Guess they're not really winter folks! Luckily I have a warm home and big windows so I can watch it all, and I don't have to go out to buy my own food, so I don't have to worry about getting my feet wet or cold. I've got people for stuff like that.

Life is good for me - purr-r-r-r.

Moon Pie or Jug Butt - Which Nickname Fits?

Guess what . . . it's still raining! I guess I had better find me an ark to climb aboard before many more days of this. Yes the sun does weakly peek out for a few minutes on some days, but what good does that do for a kitty's soul? A kitty in dire need of a sunshine fix!!! I want full, head-on sunshine that makes everyone smile and that I can lie in on my back to warm my belly.

Now, to add insult to injury, my people have found a new nickname for me. At first they called me "moon pie," which wasn't too bad. I am dark, my face is round, I'm sweet, and I'm all marshmallowy inside. But then they noticed the weight gain from behind, so now they're calling me "jug butt." Can you imagine? I look at my svelte, muscular build and all I see is a dark, handsome guy who really turns heads and wins hearts. But apparently my people don't see the same thing I do. Of course, I can't see myself from the back.

So I'll let my many, many fans decide. Which should I be called?

HELP!

HELP! I'm being held hostage in a place where the sun never shines. What kind of place is this?

First of all, my people drag me up here in a motorhome, then they leave me alone for long periods of time for a few days while they take care of their nieces. Now I admit those girls are sweet and nice as can be, but do they deserve more attention than me? I think not! For one thing - they don't have soft, shiny fur like me! And can they purr? NO!

Today my people seem to be home more, so maybe the tide has turned. They've been playing with me and my favorite toys: the big bug on a fishing pole, the feathers on a stick, the laser light, and my favorite little mouse that I always keep track of so it doesn't get lost. But I can't find any sunshine in the usual places, like the dashboard of the motorhome, and not in my soft little nest at the head of the bed.

My people keep promsing to open the windows and let the sunshine in, but it came out for a couple of hours yesterday - and no open windows. They said something about the temperature only being 43 degrees, and the sun was too weak. It was nothing like that big shiny ball in the sky in Arizona. It certainly was cold, and still is!

Today, like every other day since I've been here, I keep hearing the drip, drip, drip of raindrops. They seem to be making my people cranky. My he-person even threatened to leave and go back to Arizona, but the she-person reminded him of how much gas cost to get here. So I think I'm stuck here for awhile.

If you're reading this, please pray for sunshine in Washington so I can resume my tanning routine on the dash. I don't want to return to Arizona all white and pasty.

M-e-o-w!

Rain, Rain, Go Away. Inky Wants to Sun Himself Today!

Okay, here's my story since you last heard from me. I've discovered that RVing is not all bad. I found a nice little hidey-hole on the bed, and that's where I head when I hear the little ding-ding-ding that accompanies the key turning in the ignition. One ding and I'm like a stealth bomber, tearing through the motorhome without leaving even a whisper of a sound. I stay there until we stop, and I try to rest, but it's impossible with all the bouncing around in the back end of a motorhome. So when we stop for the night, I have a lot of catching up on sleep to keep me occupied and out of trouble.

I would love to say I'm allowed to lie stretched out on the dashboard while we're going down the road, showing off my fabulous physique. But that's not working with my people. They like to see out the windshield. Who knew? Oh well, no one can see my handsomeness tucked away in the back on the bed, but I've learned to live without the constant adoration I'm due.

I'm still waiting for my people to download the gorgeous pictures of me looking out the window at the ducks on the lake in California. Now I'm parked on yet another lake where Canada Geese like to frolic, I'm told. I'll keep my eyes peeled for them, but it's not as easy to stretch out on the dash and watch for them, like I did in Arizona. You see, there's no sun here - only rain so far. And it's c-o-l-d! So what's the point? No sun, no crowds to admire my muscular self, so why bother - except to watch for those danged ducks. I'm hoping I'll hear them honking so I can jump up to watch if, and when, they show up.

I don't know - do geese like rain? Oh right - they like to swim, so they must like water falling from the sky as much as they like it under them. Not me, though. I'm staying nice and dry waiting for a sunny day when I can once again stretch out across the dashboard to sun myself and watch for those noisy, waddling geese. I guess that it's too much to expect to be allowed out to chase them . . .

Until next time - m-e-o-w!

Keepin' Up With Inky

This is a short posting to keep all my many fans updated on my travels. I left the RV park yesterday stuffed inside a crate in the motorhome. What kind of vacation is this? Then we spent the night in Newberry Springs, CA beside a small lake after arriving late. Imagine my surprise when I checked out the window this morning and found some funny-looking big birds that waddle around and quack. Oh, and they also float on water! Hopefully, my she-person got some pictures of me watching the noisy quackers. Later today we drove through some white, fluffy stuff that was stuck on the mountains that surrounded us. Pretty, but it looked so cold - b-r-r-r.

Tonight we're parked next to a railroad track. What a scare I had when its loud whistle woke me from a sound sleep. Can't a sweet lovable fellow like me get some rest? After two long days of riding,, I'm pooped, and now I am having my rest disturbed by the rumble of a train and its whistle. Luckily, I no longer have to be stuffed in that crate. Now I have the choice of sleeping on the bed, the floor, or on top of a cabinet where I see out the window. This RVing life is getting better every day.

Another good thing is that I still get fed on time, every day. Yipee! Until next time, m-e-o-w. Inky

Inky's Trials and Tribulations

Okay, here's the story folks. Nobody but nobody asked me my opinion of traveling before they started dragging me along in an RV. I mean, my first family was most likely RVers, and didn't anyone figure out that if I got away from that situation, it might be because I wasn't a happy camper?

So yesterday morning my people started the RV's engine, and I went tearing to the back of the motorhome. As soon as we were moving, I ran to the front and jumped up on the dash (after all, I am a handsome dash ornament) and started pacing back and forth. My he-person couldn't see around or through me, so before we got to the highway, my she-person was grabbing at me to get me down. Oh please! She still thinks she's fast enough to catch me, but I showed her.

As soon as they got the RV stopped, they caught me and locked me in the bathroom. How dare they? So I found a seat up on the vanity, and that's where they found me when we finally reached the RV dealer's, where they were having some maintenance done before we seriously hit the road. Then they stopped to get gas, then to buy a new battery, then to load up on propane. Somewhere in all those stops, I thought it was safe to get down and use my potty, which is inside the shower stall. They always leave the door slightly ajar so that I can always get in.

To my horror, the motorhome started moving again and the shower door slammed shut with me inside. Ugh! Kitty poop doesn't smell so great when you're locked in with it! So there I sat, quietly and patiently waiting for someone, ANYONE, to find me and let me out.

I was one exhausted kitty when we finally got parked back in our site, so I settled down for some much-needed beauty sleep for the rest of the day and night. I slept so soundly my she-person had to wake me for supper. That's a first!

Today's another day, and I'm enjoying looking out the open doorway. This Arizona weather is like heaven as long as you can peacefully lie in the sun and soak it up. Surely they don't plan to haul my gorgeous, sun-loving self off to the rainy Northwest, but that's what they're threatening to do when we leave here this weekend. I may have to borrow someone's fur coat to wear over my own luxurious fur to protect it and keep me warm.

Stay tuned for my next adventure(?) on the road. Until next time, purr-r-r-r.

Things I've Learned the Hard Way About Life

Can't nobody say I've had an easy life. Even though I now have a safe, warm, comfortable home with plenty to eat and drink, there are still dangers lurking in the dark corners for an overly-adventurous soul like me. I'm trying to learn, but let's just say I have to learn everything the hard way. Here's just a few things life has taught me in the past few days.

1. Don't stick your foot in the oven door when it's open! I have to check out every door that opens, and every nook and cranny that I can find. When the oven door opened, naturally I wanted to get in to see what might go on there. I stood up, and just as I got my foot in the door, my she-person turned and closed it on my foot. YIKES, did that hurt! I let out a yowl that got the door quickly opened again, and I limped off with a hurt look on my face.

2. Don't expect too much sympathy unless you yowl and limp for more than five minutes, dangling your paw in the air like a wounded bird. I forgot about my pain, and was soon running and jumping like nothing had ever happened. Next time, I have to remember to cry longer and louder. All I got in the way of sympathy was my she-person telling me I was lucky it wasn't my head, and that the oven wasn't hot! I did get an extra portion of treats, though, so maybe I'll try something like that again. We'll see . . .

3. Don't run your paws through your she-person's hair while she's asleep or you're liable to get knocked on your keister! I thought her hair looked like a nice place to play, but she thought I was a spider and nearly knocked me senseless.

4. Don't run out the door just because it's open. That's probably what got me here in the first place, but I had to go and do it again, just to see what would happen. It was dark outside and when I reached the far edge of the patio, I froze when I remembered what had happend the last time I did this. My he-person rushed out and grabbed me up, thank goodness. Since I'm so black, I could easily have become lost again on that dark, moonless night.

5. Don't believe that a closed door means you're not supposed to go through it. My people thought that they could keep me out of the bedroom and off them before daylight if they closed the door, but I showed them. I huffed and I puffed, and I slammed my muscle-bound body against that door until it finally popped open. Sometimes, it's people who can't learn. Score one for the kitty!

My favorite hobby is creating havoc - the more, the better. My people are beyond youthfulness, let's just say, so I'll keep testing them to keep them on their toes. Until next time . . . m-e-o-w!