animals – Page 4 – Site Title

MY BOOK

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Some of you know that my children’s book is out but since I am a tech klutz, I can’t get the visuals on here! I tried but I gave up! I have no patience for fooling around with tech stuff. Maybe, Elon can help if he is still on here! Just kidding.

I spoke to someone in Singapore and they were able to order a copy from Amazon Singapore. The same for UK, US, and Germany. I just found out that it is available in India as well through Amazon India. The other countries I am not sure of. If you would like to buy a copy, check Amazon in your country. Please buy a copy and BE KIND with your reviews but do give me a review. Hopefully, it is a good one.

“THE EXCELLENT ADVENTURES OF HONEY AND HUBIE”

It is a children’s book about a dog and a frog, two very unlikely characters, who go on an excellent adventure together. The book is filled with animals of all kinds and they SPEAK just like Chachi, the cat does. Believe it or not, I started this story when I was studying in the US and got around to finishing it two years ago! It was gathering dust all this time but now it is out and doing its rounds.

No clue how well it will do but that is not the important part. I had an idea and I brought it to fruition. The rest will take care of it yourself.

Book is Published!

Update: It seems that writing the story is not the hardest part, it is getting it out there. What’s happening? Not much I think but there is work being done in the background that I am not aware of. The eBook will take a couple of months before it shows up because there is a backlog and it takes time according to the publisher. For now, the book is just another title in Amazon’s massive children’s book category. I do see that booksellers have “one in stock” signs but not sure if that is a strategy to move the book or it is being bought. I’m telling myself be patient and it will work itself out if it was meant to be. You know how you want things to MOVE, that’s where I’m at right now!

I see it online but I can’t believe it yet! Anyway, it is on Amazon and other online booksellers but I don’t think you can order it yet. According to publisher, it is going to take a week or two to right itself out.

“The Excellent Adventures of Honey & Hubie.”

In the meantime, they are working on stocking the book. All I can tell you is that the cover looks good, it is very colorful, and stands out enough to catch a child’s eye. The characters look inviting enough for a child to want to read it and I don’t think they will be disappointed once they do. However, I am my own worst critic so I think, it could have been better! That’s coming out of a perfectionist’s mouth!

I hope it does well, fingers and toes crossed!

Who would I like to talk to soon?

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I would say it is my little love. The guy with the fur coat. He has been acting up and wants to have things his way, I am okay with it to a point but when he comes in wearing the pants that’s when it’s time to pull the plug!

Last night was another one of those nights when Chachi, the cat, or rather Little Einstein as he likes to be called decided that he was going to run riot and show me who’s the boss! It started with him doing the cat walk back and forth from my end to the other end of the bed and it went on and on. When I put a stop to it, he jumped off to get a drink of water and some food. Then he decided that the dry food pieces made good football material. He kicked them around for a while until I raised my voice and he took off running. After a minute or two of peace and quiet, I called him and he was a no show. So I went looking and as I rounded a corner, he jumped out with what sounded like a bark and ran up the stairs with a giggle no less! Sometimes I think he was a dog in his past life.

The problem is talking to the little brat is almost impossible. He knows when he’s in trouble and before I can say a word, he walks up to me, brushes against me and looks up with those puppy dog eyes. He’s a cat but the little guy plays dog tricks very well! Anyway, I plan to set aside some alone time tomorrow and me and the little man who wears the pants around here will pow wow together. I know he’ll pull out every trick in his cat arsenal to get away with murder but tomorrow’s the day. I’ll keep you posted as to how it went. If you’re thinking it will be a losing battle, you may be right. He may just walk out of that meeting with his John Wayne stride intact, pants hitched up higher than ever and with a grin plastered on his face!

Daily writing prompt

Who would you like to talk to soon?

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Chachi’s Tuna Fetish

Tuna is to Chachi as cheesecake is to his mommy! Chachi, the cat, loves tuna!

“While you’re up, human…..

bring me a can of tuna, would you?” Unknown

Yup, that’s my Chachi right there! He wants tuna seven days a week and if I try to disguise something else like chicken in his bowl, he cries, “Mutiny on the Bounty!” and goes on a hunger strike. The vet says, “Let him. He’ll eat his food when hunger strikes,” but the vet doesn’t know Chachi like I know my Chachi! I tried it for two days and each time he would walk to his bowl, look at it, smell it, snort, and look back at me. If that doesn’t work, he slams one paw in the bowl, moves it around noisily until he gets my attention. The little macho knows what he’s about and it’s not about being a cat either! He’s the boss and what he dictates goes.

“My idea of heaven consists of all of the things I’d go to hell for.” Unknown

My other cat hated tuna with a passion and couldn’t stand the smell of tuna. However, Chachi is a whole different breed. It’s tuna or he’d die trying.

You guessed it. I’m back to giving him tuna and the little four-legged furball has a grin on his face each time he goes to his bowl. Yes, he won the battle and you can say he’s plump full of tuna now!

ME: “Chachi, we’re out of tuna baby.”

HIM: “WHAT do you mean we’re out of tuna?!!”

ME: “It’s really not good for you.”

HIM: “I DISAGREE!”

End of discussion. Now, you know who wears the pants in this household! He has his tuna and I have my cheesecake. A win-win situation all around and peace reigns supreme again!

Have an amazing day.

CATS!

I am biased on this one. I love cats! Perhaps not all cats but the two I’ve had. The first one I rescued on a stormy night. He was barely a few weeks old but I found him and his two siblings abandoned and could only keep one. I took Twitty because the orange ball of fur with the huge dark eyes just captivated me right from the start. I learned at that time that cats are emotional creatures. Somehow even at that young age, Twitty had formed a bond with his siblings. The day I took them away was a sad one. When I came home, Little Twitty gave me hell. He rattled the cage he was in and meowed constantly. He missed his siblings terribly. However, within a short period of time he adjusted to his new life. Cats are low maintenance so they make great pets. Give them food and water and they take care of the rest. They are loving creatures and they show love without being coerced into it. Twitty was my constant companion but he is gone now but the memories remain of a wonderful and beautiful soul.

Chachi, the cat, was a gift from a friend who passed away. I didn’t want another cat at the time because losing them brought too much sorrow. The friend didn’t listen and showed up with the little guy. I kept my distance and didn’t want to open my heart to him. He walked up, put one paw on my leg, looked up at me and I fell. We have a mutual love for each other, one that borders on the ridiculous at times! He follows me around and I talk to him whenever I get the urge and he listens like a pro. The best part is no talking back!

Cats are beautiful creatures. They are soft and gentle and there is so much wisdom behind those eyes. It’s hard to know what they are really thinking but who cares! He comes running when I call, stares adoringly even if I’m not looking my best and is ready for a kiss and a cuddle. The problem is I spoil them too much and they think they run the roost! Little Chachi thinks he wears the pants and taking the whip away from him is next to impossible! He doesn’t know it but I’m still the BOSS! I do think cats make the best pets.

Daily writing prompt

What animals make the best/worst pets?

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YIKES!

I walked out the front door this morning and all seemed calm and beautiful. The sun was shining and the tulips are getting ready to bloom. It was a peaceful world until I turned my head to the right and there lying on the ground was something small and pink. Thinking it was a chewing gum wrapper that some kid had thrown, not caring where it landed, I bent to get a closer look and YIKES!

It was a baby mouse, pink and grey with a sweet little pink nose. It wasn’t moving and it hadn’t been torn to shreds by a marauding cat in the dead of night either. My mind started churning. What do I do now? My first thought, “I’m not touching it!” However, I also knew that I had to do something. Rotting on the ground where it lay was a no go and calling someone to help get rid of the poor thing was a no go either.

Walking back into the house lost in thought, I came across Chachi, the cat, watching me intuitively. Little Einstein knew something was up. I also knew that if I let him out there, he would take care of the problem or he might just pick it up and bring it into the house, lay it at my feet as a small gift from him to me. YIKES!

Walking into the kitchen with my mind made up, I picked up two plastic bags. One for picking up the little creature and the other to secure him and then to put it in the garbage can. The predicament. I didn’t want to feel his lifeless body beneath my plastic covered hand. There was no getting out of it, it had to be done. “Tia, you can do this!” I told myself. My mind made up, I scooped him up and closing my eyes I put him in the plastic bag and secured the top. Mission accomplished? Not quite. I quickly ran into the kitchen turned the water on, lathered my hands with soap and scrubbed several times before rinsing off. I can still feel the chills going up my spine.

Living in the country, mice are a problem. I’ve seen several scooting by in the backyard and neighbors have complained about them taking over the garden sheds. However, this is the first time I have made contact with a dead one.

“In race, between cat and mouse, the mouse mostly wins….

Because the cat runs for its food……

But the mouse runs for its life……….

Purpose is more important than Need….” Unknown

Unfortunately, the little guy lost out. So goes the circle of life.

All I can say is YIKES!

Have an amazing day.

The Perfect Match

I would compare myself to a cat. Why? I seem to have an affinity with and for them and I see their qualities reflected back in me.

First of all, I don’t just see them as animals. Chachi, the cat, is my constant companion, my baby, and a confidante of sorts. He is quiet, introspective, independent, loves his alone time and affectionate but on his own terms. Exactly the way I am. He loves working out, yes working out, and joins me when I start my workouts. Nature is his preoccupation and he loves spending time at the big window in the kitchen watching life go by and since he is not an outdoor cat, it’s the best part of his day. We have a connection to nature in that respect.

We love to cuddle and we talk to each other, well I talk and he meows. The little things make us happy and life as we know it is on an even keel and that is how we like it. Hygiene is of the utmost importance, his is to fastidiously clean himself both morning and nights and sometimes in between as well! I ditto that concept. Cleanliness is next to Godliness as they say and cats are incredibly clean creatures.

Finally, we don’t like to be touched unnecessarily. Hands off is my stance and it is the same with him. However, he has a harder time saying no since I pick him up and shower kisses whenever I feel like it and he puts up with it even if at times he shows disdain for this “human” showing affection thing! We are connected in so many ways and we are at peace in each other’s company and sometimes I have this feeling that I used to be a CAT in a former lifetime! Perhaps that’s the connection between us.

Daily writing prompt

Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?

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The Straggler

I took a walk the other day. Walking is one of my favorite things to do. When the weather is nice, I am out there. When it’s cold, I am out there and during the in-between times I am out there. Lately I’ve had to put this passion of mine on the backburner because freezing weather has moved in and in between navigating the iced up patches of water and the muddy pathways, it has taken the joy out of an activity that I love.

I was bundled up but my face was exposed and the wind had decided to kiss my nose with its icy fingers to make its presence known. Just as I was about to give up and head back to the cosy interior of my place, I heard some squawking above. Looking up and to my surprise I noticed a flock of birds, they could have been ducks or geese, not sure which they were but they were flying in a L-formation, usually they fly in a V-formation heading to warmer temperatures down south. These were late heading out and there weren’t enough to form the V-formation either. Are they stragglers? When used in ornithology, it is defined as a stray, or strayed bird, out of its usual range or off its regular migration pattern. What had they been doing to throw them off course? Procrastinating? Couldn’t care less? We’ll make the journey when we feel like it? Or simply, we’ll move when the time suits us and not before.

Another definition for a straggler defines it as a person in a group who becomes separated from the others, typically because of moving more slowly. How many times have we experienced that? I know I have when life throws a curveball and I come to a complete standstill. At these times, I unsync myself and step out of the norm and what is expected of me. I move slowly and take my time and sometimes not at all. I stood watching as the migratory birds headed out, trying to keep up with what was expected of them and a thought ran through my mind. ”It is never too late” and another one followed suit, “Better late than never.” However, stepping out for a little while is ok but stepping back in and not letting too much time pass by is the key to moving on. You have to know the difference between the two..

Choosing to be a straggler is not always a good thing, keeping up with the status quo might be a better way of doing things but there are those of us who choose to be different. We tend to do things our way and if that means it takes a little longer to get there, to get back into the moment, so be it. Just so we never stop moving and we get to where we need to on time or a little late dragging ourselves to the finish line.

“Focus on what lights a fire inside of you and use that passion to fill a white space. Don’t be afraid of the challenges, the missteps, and the setbacks along the way. What matters is that you keep going.” Kendra Scott

I watched the birds fly out of sight knowing full well that some will make it and some won’t and that is the sad part because they waited and took their time. Reminding myself to get back on track, I walked home having learned a lesson from nature.

“The man on top of the mountain didn’t just fall there.” Vince Lombardi