tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72056772350418646292024-03-17T20:03:06.924-07:00Diary of a Familiar-in-TrainingGrimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-9977214043397154712012-08-01T15:56:00.002-07:002015-04-08T13:47:40.363-07:00Celestial Maintenance Problems<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Calligraphy';">This morning,
directly after breakfast I went outside to play in the garden.</span><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Calligraphy';"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Rapidly,
however, the sky darkened and began leaking water at an alarming
rate. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">This serious rupture apparently created an
electrical problem Up There, because Lights also kept flickering on and
off. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">It seems that Gods can't see well in the dark, because They immediately began crashing into the
furniture and making a terrible booming racket!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">I considered the
possibility of one of Them tripping and then tumbling out of the sky and landing on Yours
Truly. “Squished by a God” might look impressive in history books, but I certainly did not want that to be MY epitaph!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">I streaked through the garden, then skidded across the porch and planted myself halfway up the screened
entrance to my witch’s cottage. There I clung for several long minutes, dripping wet and mewing piteously. She finally had
the grace to open the door and pry me off the screen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">And…can you
believe it? My witch was laughing! She must be
powerful indeed that a Heavenly Catastrophe of this magnitude only causes her amusement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">As for this little cat? Well... </span><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Calligraphy';">Yours Truly shall be securely tucked under his witch's bed
until the Gods get this whole plumbing and electrical problem sorted out!</span></div>
</div>
Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com75tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-89529193635196499832012-05-18T17:28:00.000-07:002012-05-18T17:42:00.229-07:00The Uncertain Future<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the past year, my witch and I have established a
routine. It is as constant as the moon. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cancel that. One
thing I’ve learned through my magical observations is that the moon is always
changing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, okay… our routine is as constant as the sun. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wait a minute… the sun seems to shift and vary also. It has to do with what my witch calls “Seasons”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay, how about the stars?
Hmmm, no…. my witch has me
studying this thing called “Astrology” and apparently the stars are changing in
the sky every few minutes!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Good Gods! Does EVERYTHING in the universe go through Changes?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Apparently so! Even the simple things in Life that, at
first, seem certain, reassuring and constant….like my witch’s and my daily
routine.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This afternoon, when I came in from playing - promptly at
4pm I might add, as per our arrangement - my witch, for the first time, did NOT offer me tuna with
all its delicious juices <i>as she has every
day since I was a kitten</i>. Instead, she dumped canned catfood in my bowl .</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not sure that I can face Tomorrow now with all its terrible uncertainties!<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OrcKm6YNCeQ/T7bo1V3rOjI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/qg3K8ZsC_yU/s1600/grim+tuna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OrcKm6YNCeQ/T7bo1V3rOjI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/qg3K8ZsC_yU/s320/grim+tuna.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-5675174774738211572012-05-12T22:16:00.000-07:002012-05-12T22:36:31.886-07:00Lessons<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>My witch has informed
me that my requisite Year-and-a-Day of training will soon be completed. Then I will become a full-fledged Familiar!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>I must remind myself
to remain Humble in light of this Important Promotion, and yet, her announcement has caused me to reflect back
upon a few of the many lessons I’ve absorbed over the past year: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>Meditation is a boring activity reserved for older and slower cats. However, if you happen to be caught napping
during your witch’s ritual and claim that you were actually doing this thing
called “meditating”, you will manage to avoid a scolding. <o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>Your witch’s Purification Baths should only be observed from a Safe Distance…preferably
the top of the toilet or the far side of the room.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>Never turn your back or tail on a candle spell. Such spells can also be hazardous to
whiskers. Alert your witch immediately
if either appendage begins smoking.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>Sacred Time is whenever you want it to be… especially if there is a
bell on your collar.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>Your witch will occasionally require your aid in focusing magical
energies during a spell or ritual.
Pretend to be interested… <o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>AND…whenever your witch is mixing herbs, insert your face into the bowl
and generously contribute ALL your magical energies in one gigantic Sneeze - thus
effectively scattering the bowl’s contents to each of the Four Quarters. Your witch will be so impressed that she will actually shout your name.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>Do not attempt to play pendulum games with your witch. It will only piss her off when you continuously
manage to capture the bauble, thus winning the tournament. (Witches, I'm sorry to say, are rather sore losers!)<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>There are 4 magical elements and this is what I’ve learned about each
of them: Air produces things like birds,
fairies, butterflies and other fun creatures to play with. Fire will burn your tail & whiskers, but when
captured within the confines of a hearth, is soothing to gaze at for hours on
end. Water is best avoided except when thirsty and Earth (often in the form of
sand) is excellent for pooping. <o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>Tarot cards, when arranged in a pleasing pattern, make an excellent mat
on which to pretend to meditate. When doing this, use your mental powers to turn
your normally light and nimble body into a solid heavy mass that’s impossible
to budge. Your witch will be duly
impressed and eventually reward you with pleasing treats designed to lure you
off the cards.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>Do not dial 911 when the moon disappears. This happens on a regular basis - about once
a month - and whoever keeps taking the moon (Probably teenagers!) always seems remorseful and returns it within
a few days.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>Broom flying is a difficult skill to master. Realizing this, your witch will be patient
and provide you with daily opportunities in which to practice. However, resist the temptation to practice
when she produces a mop. Mops are associated
with the Nasty Element of Water and are beneath the dignity of any
self-respecting familiar.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>Every door is a magical threshold.
Never, under any circumstance or even for an instant, allow your witch
to confine you to one side or the other of such a portal. Remember: It is your
Right to be on the Other Side of Every Door!<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>That’s it for now, kittens… although I’m sure I’ll think of more accumulated
Wisdom later.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a75lHEPh16U/T69BMwINUII/AAAAAAAAAFE/wclqkG_BaJI/s1600/grimalkin+Lessons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="483" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a75lHEPh16U/T69BMwINUII/AAAAAAAAAFE/wclqkG_BaJI/s640/grimalkin+Lessons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
</div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-36819029040791437842012-04-28T17:58:00.000-07:002012-04-29T08:01:48.867-07:00Protecting Witches<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3POElLaSps/T5yQ7AppFiI/AAAAAAAAAE4/Cg7V3I5HCyQ/s1600/grim+hunts+dragons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3POElLaSps/T5yQ7AppFiI/AAAAAAAAAE4/Cg7V3I5HCyQ/s320/grim+hunts+dragons.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<br /></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ages past… in fact, several months ago, when I was just a kitten…the
older and slower cats informed me that one of my duties as a
Familiar-in-Training was to protect my witch from dark entities that lurk
around the house and garden.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When they first told
me this, I did not understand. Surely my
witch’s powerful magic was protection enough?
Nevertheless, I took their instructions to heart and set about my Duty.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I quickly found many such dangerous creatures rustling and
hiding amongst the ivy and beneath the boxwood hedges!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My witch refers to these beings as “baby lizards” and “Fairy Dragons”, but any Familiar
knows that baby dragons grow up to be big and terrible dragons! (I assure you – I have done my homework and
read the tales! I am, therefore, well -versed
in such arcane matters.) These
diabolical cbeings must be exterminated before they can breathe fire and grow
too big for kitties to wrestle with!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, what I don’t understand is how a witch, as wise and knowledgeable
as mine, can have such a soft spot for these slithering entities in their
diminutive state!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I exhausted myself today, chasing and pursuing one of these potentially
lethal monsters in and around the hedges.
My unsuspecting witch was at her potting bench on the porch, sticking
green things in containers, totally unaware of the danger!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I finally captured and deposited the scaly creature
next to my mistress (So that she would know I was doing My Job and protecting
her) she actually dropped her trowel and scooped up the little dragon! Seeing it was still alive and only stunned,
she gently deposited it in the bed of ivy beneath the pomegranate tree. And then, she had the gall to invite me
inside the cottage for some tuna! Did
she think to distract me?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Undeterred, I gave her the Look that she deserved and then started
my hunt all over again!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And now I know why the older and slower cats said it’s My Job
to protect her…. Because witches are soft hearted idiots! I’ve concluded that it must be their one
weakness and explains why they need a Familiar.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-48110185389838880602012-04-14T17:44:00.000-07:002012-04-14T17:44:58.703-07:00Ostara - the Bunny & Egg Holiday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5YcstAKgwV4/T4oZkEL52II/AAAAAAAAAEw/5mJU82RlxSQ/s1600/grim+rabbit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5YcstAKgwV4/T4oZkEL52II/AAAAAAAAAEw/5mJU82RlxSQ/s320/grim+rabbit.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Another holiday! Why do witches have so many? I’ve lived here for almost a year now and it seems like every time I twitch a whisker, there’s another celebration we must prepare for. There’s absolutely no downtime!</div><div class="MsoNormal">This one is called “Ostara” or “Eostre” after some racy Goddess of yore. It must have something to do with eggs and rabbits because my mistress suddenly took it into her head to position a great quantity of both, along with fresh flowers, around the house. As if there wasn’t enough clutter already!</div><div class="MsoNormal">I will admit that, usually, her holiday arrangements are tasteful and artistic… But when she starts scattering cute little ceramic bunnies about the place, I really must put my paw down! </div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m sure we can do better than this!</div><div class="MsoNormal">So I ventured across the road and into the hills this morning (at grave risk to life and tail) and used my incredibly sensitive nose to sniff out the real thing for her.</div><div class="MsoNormal">When I journeyed back to the front door, mewing proudly and loudly as I could past the mouthful of real bunny fur, I was fully prepared for my witch to come running out in a high state of excitement.</div><div class="MsoNormal">What I was NOT prepared for was that she would begin to throw the gardening slippers that she keeps by the door at me!</div><div class="MsoNormal">In my astonishment, I dropped the bunny. The uncooperative creature began to hop away. I turned to give chase and that was when my mistress performed the Most Unspeakable Act! She actually grabbed me by my tail and then dumped me <i>inside</i> the house on the <i>wrong</i> side of the screen door!</div><div class="MsoNormal">She then began chasing the rabbit around the garden, flapping her apron at it. Did she think the bunny was going to obligingly hop into her apron? Humans are Terrible hunters! Naturally, the rabbit got away.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Which just goes to show how much Witches need their Familiars… Now, if only they would let us do our job!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .4in;"><br />
</div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-72302562010702617102012-03-14T18:56:00.002-07:002012-03-14T18:58:45.815-07:00Spring Cleaning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Good Gods! </div><div class="MsoNormal">My witch is “Blessing” the house again! She calls it “Spring Cleaning”. Correct me if I’m wrong but….Didn’t we do this LAST year?<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This time it involved (among the usual horrifying activities) spreading sticky wax on the wood floors and scrubbing kitchen walls with buckets of cleaning potion that are large enough to sacrifice a cat in… namely Yours Truly!<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I made myself scarce.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The fish in the pond outside amused me for a while until a rustle in the boxwood hedges distracted me. </div><div class="MsoNormal">For those of you who are ignorant in Feline Anatomy: my ears are ingeniously fashioned by the Gods in a manner that funnels sound and allows me to calculate the exact trajectory of an interesting noise. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Fearlessly and without hesitation, I pounced! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The resulting battle was of epic proportions! (Okay, admittedly it was a very young gopher and the fight only lasted a minute, but it would have been big and mean in a few weeks and, ultimately, I won! That's all that counts.)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve often heard my witch complain of gophers ravaging her garden, so I proudly laid the result of my “Garden Spring Cleaning” on the door mat. I also concluded that I’d saved her trip to the grocery store. Was it unreasonable of me to expect her to shower me with praise and tuna?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">However, when she stepped out the front door to call me in, the look on her face was anything BUT grateful!</div><div class="MsoNormal">I don't understand. After all, I was only helping…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W8t4LXKHrG8/T2FLRiFUMbI/AAAAAAAAAEo/z2GC5VzeRU8/s1600/gopher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W8t4LXKHrG8/T2FLRiFUMbI/AAAAAAAAAEo/z2GC5VzeRU8/s320/gopher.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-39106090519184964702011-12-21T10:26:00.000-08:002011-12-21T10:32:54.649-08:00Yule<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uVQ1axsj17U/TvIl4B19XQI/AAAAAAAAAEg/vndUcW1FcO8/s1600/village3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uVQ1axsj17U/TvIl4B19XQI/AAAAAAAAAEg/vndUcW1FcO8/s320/village3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>I am so mad! <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Apparently last night was the Yule holiday that my witch has been telling me about. But then this silly woman went off to join her other witch friends and celebrated it without me!<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>She tried to console me by saying that we could get up at dawn to watch the Yule sun rise, but I don’t see what was so special about it. I’m up every morning at dawn and this sun didn’t look any different to me than yesterday’s sun or the one before that. <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>However…<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b> I got my revenge while she was gone by destroying the Yule village she had set up on one of tabletops in the parlor. Little ceramic villagers don’t run very fast, but I still had fun terrorizing them. One of the residents, in fact, is still cowering under the sofa. I’m betting it will take her until next spring to find and rescue him!</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BnrpT_rHCZY/TvIj-SYCxcI/AAAAAAAAAEY/YQ6NQuZqywI/s1600/Village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BnrpT_rHCZY/TvIj-SYCxcI/AAAAAAAAAEY/YQ6NQuZqywI/s640/Village.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-68845407983234181692011-12-09T10:15:00.000-08:002012-06-02T10:17:03.897-07:00Paper Rituals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">My witch has a new hobby. She brings objects home in bags made of paper, takes them out and proceeds to wrap them in different paper. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Some of the things she brings home in the paper bags are removed and placed in different paper bags. She then stuffs more paper on top so the items inside are buried.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">When she’s done, she places them under my tree.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">At first I thought it was a marvelous new game that she had created for me. They were under MY tree after all! So I dove into my new playthings and had a glorious time killing the ribbons and pulling the tissue paper out of each of the bags and shredding it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">However, it seems that I was, once more, mistaken. At any rate, I was soundly scolded when she discovered the aftermath of my game. She carefully re-wrapped the objects and found fresh tissue to stuff in the bags. I was then warned to leave them alone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">So, I created my own “Paper Ritual” and took my frustrations out on the roll of thin paper she keeps next to the toilet. HA! Just wait until she finds THAT mess!</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DVs_5tB-NjM/T8pKec9-2GI/AAAAAAAAAFc/wSpQTn6RbO8/s1600/paper+rituals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DVs_5tB-NjM/T8pKec9-2GI/AAAAAAAAAFc/wSpQTn6RbO8/s320/paper+rituals.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-63220208318921178272011-12-04T11:12:00.000-08:002011-12-04T11:12:26.551-08:00Defective Toys<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c3HCMbAF4eY/TtvF8CoHL7I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/ixPMoCPRmS8/s1600/broken+ornaments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c3HCMbAF4eY/TtvF8CoHL7I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/ixPMoCPRmS8/s200/broken+ornaments.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I’m in trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I was playing in my tree last night and accidentally knocked off and broke some of the toys my witch had hung along the branches for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This morning, she was quite annoyed. She didn’t even believe me when I tried to blame the older and slower cats.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And honestly, it wasn’t my fault. Anyone should know better than to make a kitty’s plaything out of such thin glass. I might have cut my little paws!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-37125263918321451002011-12-03T14:13:00.000-08:002011-12-03T14:13:45.207-08:00A Tree for ME<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ePt0GS8oS6E/TtqebE0gT0I/AAAAAAAAAEI/KRt-K8iImTw/s1600/xmas+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ePt0GS8oS6E/TtqebE0gT0I/AAAAAAAAAEI/KRt-K8iImTw/s320/xmas+tree.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My witch is WONDERFUL!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Realizing my frustration with the weather outside, she has brought a tree for me INSIDE! Not only that, she has hung all sorts of shiny toys upon its branches for me to play with.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">She must not be aware of my amazing ability to see in the dark because she also illuminated the tree with tiny lights. I’d have explained that this was not necessary, but she went to so much trouble (and seemed so pleased with the results) that I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-24620338661691378772011-11-30T08:27:00.000-08:002011-11-30T08:27:57.493-08:00Diversions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3HtGYDq-Dw/TtZZRHi_a2I/AAAAAAAAAD8/xSaS3pXJ3Ao/s1600/beads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3HtGYDq-Dw/TtZZRHi_a2I/AAAAAAAAAD8/xSaS3pXJ3Ao/s320/beads.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Brrrrr…COLD outside! And the sunlight hours have shrunk so that it’s dark most of the time now. I’m going stir-crazy in the cottage, discovering new heights on the tops of bookshelves and the beams just below the ceiling. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But my witch has cheered me up by announcing that another holiday is eminent. She calls it Yule. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">She hauled in a bunch of boxes that were filled with things to adorn the cottage for the event. Always willing to help, I investigated each box thoroughly and pulled out most of their contents for her. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In the process, I may have played with a few of the items. How was I to know that they broke so easily?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-42261426407082731012011-11-09T15:35:00.000-08:002011-11-09T15:35:14.258-08:00All Hallows Eve<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a-oChfBTsXU/TrsNBCnsm8I/AAAAAAAAAD0/w8opUoaGCGE/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a-oChfBTsXU/TrsNBCnsm8I/AAAAAAAAAD0/w8opUoaGCGE/s320/2.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">What a busy night this was! </div><div class="MsoNormal">It actually began in the afternoon when my witch and her cronies began decorating the front porch with big round vegetables. Onto these, they carved assorted faces before inserting a candle into each one. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I tried climbing into one of the vegetables just to see if I would fit. (I did.) The witches laughed and insulted me by saying I was “cute”, so I promptly jumped out. After that, it took an hour of bathing to get my fur clean again. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, my mistress and her friends scurried off to the kitchen. Besides making a lovely pork roast for my supper, they amused themselves by concocting great quantities of popcorn balls. I’m not particularly fond of those, but I let them have their fun. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I was, however, curious when they proceeded to pile the balls into a large cauldron that was set by the front door. Around dusk, when hordes of short demons began appearing on the porch, the reason for their mysterious action became clear. The popcorn balls contained a powerful protection magic!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A demon’s attack upon the front door is apparently thwarted when one of these balls is forced upon it and, in a fit of frustration, the evil beings then disappear into the night. My witch is so clever!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As the evening wore on, the demonic assault wound down. I crawled out from behind the sofa. My mistress and her cronies collapsed around the hearth. As you can imagine, we were all exhausted from the frightening ordeal!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I was sitting in the middle of the parlor rug, dazed and reflecting on the night’s events, when one of my witch’s friends remarked, “I do believe Grimalkin sees a ghost! Look how he’s staring toward that corner of the room.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Well,” smiled my own witch, “they say that cats will perceive a ghost long before a human does.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We do?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Nonsense!” someone else said. “I noticed that spirit hovering over there as soon as we sat down!”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">She did?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now everyone, including yours truly, peered intensely at that particular area of the room. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“I see it too!” another witch piped up eagerly. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I didn’t see anything… but this gave me an idea for a bit of fun. I suddenly leaped in the air, fluffed my tail, arched my back and hissed in the direction of the “ghost” before dashing like mad from the room. I skidded to a halt halfway down the hall, then tiptoed back and peeked around the corner at them.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The witches were all sitting very still and looking at other with eyes the size of ping pong balls. Finally, one of them said in a hesitant voice: “I don’t think this ghost is particularly friendly. Perhaps we should do a Cleansing?”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-65622967762110702082011-10-19T10:19:00.000-07:002011-10-19T10:20:36.616-07:00Target Practice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bRvZq_x68iU/Tp8GP9QvtgI/AAAAAAAAADc/Kc0xJOLlCWA/s1600/fake+flock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bRvZq_x68iU/Tp8GP9QvtgI/AAAAAAAAADc/Kc0xJOLlCWA/s320/fake+flock.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Once again, my mistress has seriously underestimated my prowess as a hunter.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Just because I’ve never actually deposited a bird carcass at her feet does NOT mean that I am incapable of catching the twittering things!</div><div class="MsoNormal">However, she has recently installed an entire flock of imitation crows among the branches of a small tree she keeps captive in the living room. I assume she expects me to practice my skills on these?</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hopefully in the morning, when she finds every last one of these feathered fakes demolished, she will learn to regard my abilities in this matter with the proper respect! </div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-37571632612392202422011-10-15T18:40:00.000-07:002011-10-15T18:40:21.427-07:00Preparing for Samhain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KpdUDvkpy8A/Tpo1mPtWHtI/AAAAAAAAADU/GjByPz1uBg4/s1600/skeletens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KpdUDvkpy8A/Tpo1mPtWHtI/AAAAAAAAADU/GjByPz1uBg4/s320/skeletens.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Today, my witch started decorating for a festival she calls Samhain.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It must be terribly important because it involves lots of boxes being hauled into the living room. From one box came long strings of skeletons that lit up with a hideous green light.<span> </span>They were terribly fierce looking, but I successfully eliminated the threat before my mistress could touch them.<span> </span>Their bony little arms and legs were scattered everywhere by the time I was done.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">After that, I examined each item in every box and made sure it was safe for her to handle.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There was a very suspicious looking cat that was covered with black bird feathers of all things! <span> </span>My unsuspecting witch had her back turned when I discovered it.<span> </span>Who knows what might have happened!<span> </span>However, it is now half bald and cowering behind one of the chairs.<span> </span><span> </span>I’m pretty sure I rendered the demonic thing helpless before it had a chance to attack her.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A Familiar’s work is never done!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-50552074201808350482011-10-09T13:07:00.000-07:002011-10-09T13:07:50.719-07:00Strange Activities<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gEwFxAogLpE/TpH-gmM8GeI/AAAAAAAAADQ/dqFWiZ0BUo4/s1600/Grim+fall+leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gEwFxAogLpE/TpH-gmM8GeI/AAAAAAAAADQ/dqFWiZ0BUo4/s320/Grim+fall+leaves.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m beginning to suspect that witches are inherently unstable and frighteningly unpredictable.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let me explain that my mistress is usually rather fastidious when it comes to housekeeping.<span> </span>In my opinion, this is as it should be.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Yesterday, however, instead of dusting the cobwebs from the ceilings of the cottage, she actually stood on a ladder and added TO them.<span> </span>And I’m not speaking about a single strand here and there... Oh no! <span> </span><span> </span>Great masses of webs are now strung and hung everywhere.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">And, instead of sweeping up the dead leaves tracked in from outside, she has deliberately scattered armfuls of them around the tables, across the mantle and even on her altar! </div><div class="MsoNormal">But, here’s the really odd part, kittens:<span> </span>After that, she went OUTSIDE and raked up the leaves that had fallen naturally on the lawn (where they DO belong) and then tidily disposed of them.</div><div class="MsoNormal">The older and slower cats have calmly informed me that this strange madness affects my witch every year around this time.<span> </span>They’ve assured me that in a week or two she will indeed recover.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I wish I could share their confidence.<span> </span>I am determined to keep a very close eye on her for any further signs of suspicious activity…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-14582147466442831762011-10-06T13:05:00.000-07:002011-10-06T13:05:02.185-07:00My Magic Carpet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">For months now my mistress has been swishing her broom around the house on a weekly basis, giving me ample opportunity to master the art of flying.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">The results, I’m ashamed to admit, have been a constant disappointment. <span> </span><span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">HOWEVER, last night I had a revelation!</div><div class="MsoNormal">A young man was visiting and noticed my fondness for sprawling on the throw rug in the middle of the kitchen.<span> </span>My mistress, as usual, was scolding me for being underfoot while she was trying to cook.<span> </span>(It’s a nightly arrangement we have:<span> </span>She scolds.<span> </span>I sprawl and ignore her.)</div><div class="MsoNormal">The young man grabbed the edge of the rug and quickly pulled on it in an attempt to dislodge me.<span> </span>I was too quick for him.<span> </span>I dug in my claws and held on.<span> </span>This was MY rug!<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">He swung the carpet around the floor of the kitchen, with me on it, in ever widening arcs and rapid circles.<span> </span>My head was spinning as fast as the carpet that I was clinging to.<span> </span>What fun! <span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Every time I lost my grip and tumbled off, I’d race back to the rug and hop on again!<span> </span>It was The Best Game Ever!</div><div class="MsoNormal">As she neatly sidestepped our movements, my witch commented wryly, “It looks like Grimalkin has a flying carpet!”</div><div class="MsoNormal">I was so astonished that I accidentally rolled off the rug again!<span> </span>Carpets can fly?</div><div class="MsoNormal">Reflecting back, I was certain that, at several moments during our game, my rug had actually left the ground.<span> </span>With growing excitement, I pondered:<span> </span>What if I could command it to fly by myself?<span> </span>The thing was certainly easier to hang on to than a silly old broom.<span> </span>(More comfortable too!)</div><div class="MsoNormal">Shortly after my mistress had gone to bed and the other animals were all snoring, I decided to test my theory.<span> </span>I started at one end of the kitchen, took off at full speed, landed in the middle of the rug. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>I found myself sailing across the kitchen floor and into the living room!<span> </span>It was AWESOME!<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">But there I was stopped.<span> </span>The damned sofa was in my way.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DduGMk1a2I4/To4JHlxOjgI/AAAAAAAAADM/KDOgq7ki2bY/s1600/flying+carpet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DduGMk1a2I4/To4JHlxOjgI/AAAAAAAAADM/KDOgq7ki2bY/s320/flying+carpet.jpg" width="262" /></a>Undaunted, I tried again from another angle.<span> </span>I backed to the edge of the living room and sprinted to the rug.<span> </span><span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">My rug and I were <i>just </i>on the verge of Lift Off when we crashed again – this time into the raised hearth of the fireplace.<span> </span>I shook my head to clear the celestial vision of stars that I was seeing and climbed off the rug to analyze the situation.</div><div class="MsoNormal">The carpet had definite potential.<span> </span>What we needed was more room.<span> </span>So I sat and thought and then I thought some more. ..</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">T</span>his morning, when my witch woke and wandered out to the kitchen to make coffee, she noticed the absence of the rug.<span> </span>In searching, she found it crumpled by the hearth in the next room.<span> </span>She scratched her head in bewilderment and carried it back to the kitchen.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I never said a word that would enlighten her.<span> </span>I didn’t even mention <span> </span>the fact that I had been up all night Thinking.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">However, with YOU, dear Reader, I will share the results of my Thoughts:</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have observed that when the dog has an “accident” on one of the rugs, my mistress cleans it and then takes the rug outside to dry in the sun.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I would hate to soil My Rug.<span> </span>However, the dog is certain to be blamed for the mess and, with my carpet outside, <i>there will be plenty of room for me to get airborn.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">A Win/Win Situation, don’t you think?<span> </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">I’m going to try it!</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-89884596136128286582011-10-04T16:08:00.000-07:002011-10-04T16:14:15.254-07:00What to do with a Sick Witch?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">With an entire arsenal of potions and herbs at their fingertips, who’d ever suspect a witch could get sick?</div><div class="MsoNormal">Yet here mine is, red eyed and red nosed, hacking and coughing while filling receptacles with spent tissues that are too yucky for even a dog to dig out and play with. All in all, it’s pretty disgusting. </div><div class="MsoNormal">The Heavens know, I’ve done my best to help! </div><div class="MsoNormal">As she lay in bed, I parked on her chest (where the trouble seemed to be primarily located) and attempted to purr my Healing Magic into her. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Ungrateful wretch! She compared my delicate weight to that of a fat elephant and then had the audacity to sneeze in my face! </div><div class="MsoNormal">A kitty can only take so much. I promptly moved out of range and onto the nice warm area where her head met the pillow. Perhaps from here, I could influence her mind to make the body better? I closed my eyes, meditated and purred.</div><div class="MsoNormal">My mistress was totally uncooperative. She quickly rolled over and dislodged me.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Well! If she insisted on refusing my help and succumbing to her illness, the least she could do was fill my food bowl first and clean the indoor box that she insists I relieve myself in!</div><div class="MsoNormal">However, when I made this gentle suggestion (pressing my nose against hers and meowing loudly to be sure she heard through her diseased haze) she only batted me away and groaned to be left alone.</div><div class="MsoNormal">And so, my fellow kittens, I ask you: What DO you do with a sick witch? I’m at my considerable wit’s end!</div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-52599959087851326212011-09-28T08:22:00.001-07:002011-09-28T08:40:58.765-07:00Pendulum Games<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dhEbONGCiHs/ToM_43oEd6I/AAAAAAAAADI/rAUyOvz0mOc/s1600/pendulum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dhEbONGCiHs/ToM_43oEd6I/AAAAAAAAADI/rAUyOvz0mOc/s320/pendulum.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">My witch has been disturbed lately… pacing back and forth and brooding. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was expecting kittens!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Finally, tonight, she lit some candles on the altar, made some stinky smoke and got out her pendulum. She obviously needed a fun distraction from whatever was worrying her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">For those of you who aren’t aware, a pendulum is a wonderful device that, when suspended between the fingers, swings back and forth and becomes a marvelous game for you and your witch to play together. The game is simple: Once it starts swinging, she tries to hang on to it and you try to snatch it away.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">I watched as her pendulum dangled and sparkled in the candlelight. Then, as it began to swing and take on a life of its own… I pounced. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Never was a kitty as ferocious as I! My claws ripped the helpless pendulum from her fingers and then dragged the unwary creature under the table where I swiftly proceeded to kill it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">My witch sighed and picked up its limp corpse. Score one for ME!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">She then proceeded to begin Round Two. She held it between her fingers and stared at it…the thing began to move...back and forth and back and forth and… I pounced again! Once more I tore it from her grasp. This time, I made it completely across the room with my victim before she caught us. I was clearly winning!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In a fit of frustration, my mistress put the game back in its box. I had no idea that witches were such sore losers!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-39038742445428131532011-08-11T10:49:00.000-07:002011-08-11T11:12:12.102-07:00Charm Bags<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aMzg8K3D_NM/TkQVgbsoz1I/AAAAAAAAADA/gfpbWsXXu6I/s1600/charm+bags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aMzg8K3D_NM/TkQVgbsoz1I/AAAAAAAAADA/gfpbWsXXu6I/s200/charm+bags.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">As I grow older and wiser, my witch has been gradually allowing me to assume some of the more serious responsibilities of a full-fledged Familiar. I naturally assumed that this stage of my training would be filled with excitement and thrilling magical adventures. Imagine my disappointment then upon finding that certain of the tasks assigned to me are, well quite frankly, rather tedious.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">For instance, tonight my mistress permitted me to accompany her to the Herb Room where she conducts most of her magic. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As I perched on the big round altar table, she informed me that we’d be making charm bags. My role, she said, was to concentrate my powers on the bags as she filled them, thus adding my magic to hers. No problem!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So I focused very hard on thoughts of Friendship as she took a bag and added a pink rock, a rose bud, a silver doodad of some sort and… I began to yawn and my eyes closed for a moment. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The next thing I knew, she’d finished that bag and started on another. This one, she said, was for money. I stared so hard at the bag she was filling that my eyeballs started exchanging places. To aid myself in focusing, I recited in my head: Money, money, money….What IS money, anyway? My witch says money puts food in my bowl. Does that mean you can eat it? Oh, Look! There’s a spider spinning a web in the corner of the room… I wonder if spiders catch money? I bet I could catch that spider and …</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Grimalkin!” my witch said sharply. “You’re not concentrating.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">She was right. I was bored. I sighed and tried again. “Money, money, money, money, money… What a strange sounding word!...money, money, money; I think I’m getting a headache; money, money… I forget: What IS money ?”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Suddenly she was tying the bag up with a green ribbon and it was done. Thank the stars!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But then she started on another! “This one’s for Protection,” she told me. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Right! By this time, I needed to protect my sanity!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The little Friendship Bag next to me caught my eye. I glanced at my mistress who was muttering an incantation as she concentrated on the bag for Protection. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">All by itself and before I could stop it, my paw twitched. The Friendship Bag flew off the altar and landed under a chair. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My mistress was still focused on the bag she was working on, so, in the spirit of furthering my education, I leaped after the Friendship Bag and proceeded to investigate it. Indeed, the little bag was VERY friendly! We played together happily for a few minutes until…… There was my witch standing over me with her hands on her hips. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Uh oh, I thought. Now I’m in Trouble!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But to my astonishment, she smiled as she crouched down and rescued the Friendship Bag. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Silly Grimalkin,” she said, lifting me back onto the table. “I guess you need a charm bag of your own.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A charm bag for ME? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I watched with genuine interest this time as she slipped a Tiger’s Eye stone into one of the bags. From the herb bundles hanging from the ceiling, she plucked a small handful of soft, grayish green leaves and stuffed those in the bag too. What was that smell?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">She tied the bag shut with a tight knot of red satin ribbon and placed in front of me. At first I was confused. What was I supposed to do with it? I looked up at my witch for instruction, but she just smiled at me and waited. So, I investigated the bag with my nose… and then sniffed again. What <i>WAS</i> that smell?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My mouth opened and my eyes crossed as a dizzying wave of euphoria crashed over my head and washed through my body in the most delicious manner! Suddenly, I was floating. No, I was melting.<br />
<br />
The bag wanted me to love it so I rubbed my cheeks against the fabric, releasing yet more of that intoxicating fragrance! I flopped on my side and hugged it against my face with both paws. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Suddenly, the bag flew into the air and demanded that I play with it, so we engaged in a mock battle that sent us both rolling off the table. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Even though her mortar and pestle, jars and grimoire all came crashing to the ground in our wake, amazingly, I heard my witch laughing!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I lay on the floor, my Charm Bag clutched in my paws, and gazed up at her. I think I was drooling slightly.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My witch is Wonderful! I realize that now. She is the kindest, wisest, most powerfullest witch on earth! I love my Charm Bag! I love my witch! Hello, Chair… I love you too! And I love the rug and I love my Charm Bag and my witch and I love…. My food bowl! Great Goddess, I’m starving! Let me think… Which way is the kitchen again? And after that, I think just a wee nap… I must be exhausted from all that concentrating.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My witch isn’t tired though. And, for some reason, she’s still laughing. <b><o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_sJ_aquzblM/TkQVuit5okI/AAAAAAAAADE/Xnede16f428/s1600/charm+bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_sJ_aquzblM/TkQVuit5okI/AAAAAAAAADE/Xnede16f428/s400/charm+bag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-31937107035208572252011-07-20T21:11:00.000-07:002011-07-20T21:39:21.724-07:00Meditation (yawn)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Can anyone explain to me why it is that the older and slower cats only seem interested in eating and meditating? </div><div class="MsoNormal">There they sit, usually in a little patch of sunshine, their paws tucked neatly into their chests in “Kitty Yoga Position”, their eyes at half mast and completely motionless for hours on end. </div><div class="MsoNormal">How do they do it?</div><div class="MsoNormal">I tried meditating once. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I decided it’s highly over-rated. </div><div class="MsoNormal">My whiskers kept twitching and, besides which, I couldn’t make my tail hold still. (I swear, the thing had a mind of its own!) </div><div class="MsoNormal">By the time I’d twirled around enough times, caught it and managed to pin it down, the older and slower cats were extremely irritated with me. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> Psyche, the feline matriarch, even cuffed my ears before stomping away to a “More Tranquil Area of the House.” She sternly warned me NOT to follow her!</div><div class="MsoNormal">My witch says it takes practice. Well, the older and slower cats certainly do THAT enough! They practice all the time. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Boring!<br />
I'd rather sprawl my legs out and just relax.... <br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QI9g-ECmdeQ/Tiemy99nXdI/AAAAAAAAAC8/I-opCSTVveo/s1600/meditation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QI9g-ECmdeQ/Tiemy99nXdI/AAAAAAAAAC8/I-opCSTVveo/s320/meditation.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-58950590433027535142011-07-08T17:24:00.000-07:002011-07-08T17:24:54.827-07:00I'm so Sweet!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_FlPKPxsnUY/Thee2C1XHCI/AAAAAAAAAC0/1uh_rvRuy0k/s1600/blog+award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_FlPKPxsnUY/Thee2C1XHCI/AAAAAAAAAC0/1uh_rvRuy0k/s1600/blog+award.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">First of all, allow me to explain that my immaculate little white paws are not very adept at typing.<span> </span>I’m sure that, given time, I will be able to master this skill.<span> </span>In the meanwhile, my witch has taken upon herself the task of transcribing the entries I make in my diary and posting them in a “blog”.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am perfectly fine with this.<span> </span>But, make no mistake, the words are all Mine – not hers!</div><div class="MsoNormal">Therefore, I was understandably flattered and delighted when she informed me that this “blog” had won an award from <a href="http://shewhoseeks.blogspot.com/">Debra – She Who Seeks</a>.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">“What’s the award for?” I asked as I mentally ran through the endless list of possibilities: Bravery, Cleverness, Humility, Superior Intelligence, Remarkable Insightfulness…<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">My thoughts were interrupted by her response.<span> </span>“Because you’re so sweet.”</div><div class="MsoNormal">“I am?”<span> </span>This was one adjective that hadn’t occurred to me.</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Yes, you are!” my mistress laughed and kissed me - which of course prompted a quick bath on my part!</div><div class="MsoNormal">She then showed me a picture of the award – a marvelous confection of strawberries.<span> </span>I happen to love strawberries!!!</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Let’s go get it,” I said.<span> </span>“I want to eat it right now!”</div><div class="MsoNormal">She told me that it was a metaphoric picture symbolizing “sweetness”.<span> </span>After she’d explained to me what “metaphoric” meant, I was at first disappointed.<span> </span>One definitely cann<i>ot </i>eat a metaphor.</div><div class="MsoNormal">“So what do I do with it?” I asked.</div><div class="MsoNormal">My mistress said that we should “pay it forward” to other blogs that we thought were incredibly sweet and wonderful.<span> </span>And then she also promised to buy some strawberries at the store.</div><div class="MsoNormal">This was a win/win situation – <i>I could eat my strawberries and share them too!</i></div><div class="MsoNormal">I immediately thought of my friend Magaly – she leaves such sweet and encouraging messages for me whenever I get in trouble.<span> </span>I have a feeling that if I was HER familiar-in-training, she’d let me eat salmon w/ whipped cream every day and never, ever scold me!<span> </span>Not only that, I just LOVE the creepy, spooky stories she writes on her <a href="http://pagan-culture.blogspot.com/">Pagan Culture</a> blog.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Also, <a href="http://amethjera.blogspot.com/">Amethjera of a Broom with a View</a>.<span> </span>It is so sweet the way she’s concerned that I might get hurt in one of my outdoor escapades . </div><div class="MsoNormal">I think one should also go to <a href="http://witchygodmother.blogspot.com/">Clara of Witchy Godmother</a>.<span> </span>She writes sweet stories for children in her blog and, sometimes, when I don’t understand something magical that my own witch is explaining to me, one of Witchy Godmother’s stories will make it perfectly clear.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">And, <span> </span>I can’t forget <a href="http://www.confessionsofapagansoccermom.com/">Mrs. B and her Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom</a>.<span> </span>She has been so sweet and encouraging to me ever since I was a bitty kitten and first started keeping this diary.<span> </span>In fact, she may be the sweetest person I know!</div><div class="MsoNormal">So those are <i>MY</i> nominees.<span> </span>My mistress agreed, although she had her own reasons – namely that she thought these were some of the best and most interesting blogs she’d run across.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2wSWut8grfw/ThefjhvvdxI/AAAAAAAAAC4/qq7jYcTcEL8/s1600/strawberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2wSWut8grfw/ThefjhvvdxI/AAAAAAAAAC4/qq7jYcTcEL8/s320/strawberries.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">And now my witch and I get to go eat some strawberries!<span> </span></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-85608844873346817742011-06-30T14:56:00.000-07:002011-06-30T14:58:03.086-07:00My Moon is Missing!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iTGVyJFyE7k/TgzwziRGJkI/AAAAAAAAACw/gwxeBJ4Ack8/s1600/Grim%2527s+throne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iTGVyJFyE7k/TgzwziRGJkI/AAAAAAAAACw/gwxeBJ4Ack8/s320/Grim%2527s+throne.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">I looked in the sky tonight, then did a double-take and looked again. No wonder it was so dark outside. My moon was gone! I went to every window in the house and pressed my nose against the glass. I tell you: The moon simply was not there.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I even ran to the bathroom and peered into the tub.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Sometimes my witch invokes little moons to come down and float on the water that she bathes in. I thought perhaps one of her “Purification Rituals” had gone awry and that she’d forgotten to release the moons afterward. </div><div class="MsoNormal">But no, the tub was dry.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Should I inform my witch that the moon has been stolen? I don’t wish to alarm her.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Perhaps whoever took it will bring it back before she notices…</div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-37799895168137773712011-06-26T16:41:00.000-07:002011-06-26T16:41:23.387-07:00My Rightful Place<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dm2JNH9RjDU/TgfDZKV5ZnI/AAAAAAAAACs/kxGueUzcbVU/s1600/Bast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dm2JNH9RjDU/TgfDZKV5ZnI/AAAAAAAAACs/kxGueUzcbVU/s320/Bast.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">My witch is finally giving me the respect that I deserve.<span> </span>Today, she placed a statue of me on her altar. She even placed a sprig of catnip in front of my likeness as an offering to me.<span> </span>(I could get used to this!)</div><div class="MsoNormal">The image is a quite stylized approach and rather nice, but the artist was apparently unable to do justice to my excellent markings and immaculate little white paws.<span> </span>He therefore resorted to coloring my statue in black with gold trim.<span> </span>However, I’ll forgive him since only the Gods could create such an intricately patterned coat such as mine.<span> </span>Humble as I am, I’m content to have even a crude semblance of myself in this place of honor!<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">But why does my witch keep referring to my image as “Bastet” instead of “Grimalkin”?<span> </span>It must be a new term of endearment that she’s invented for me…</div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-57270934258757780202011-06-25T13:59:00.000-07:002011-06-25T13:59:53.027-07:00Midsummer Madness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v154HCzQIdM/TgZLRi9HepI/AAAAAAAAACo/xkrZjV74hBQ/s1600/grim+pants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v154HCzQIdM/TgZLRi9HepI/AAAAAAAAACo/xkrZjV74hBQ/s320/grim+pants.jpg" width="320" /></a>Mindful of my duties as a Familiar-in-Training, <span> </span>I followed my witch and her Cronies into the garden yesterday.<span> </span>Although I was fully prepared to assist in their Midsummer Festivities, the searing heat quickly changed my mind.<span> </span>(I even spotted a few fairies under the bushes fanning their little faces with leaves.<span> </span>That was a first!) <span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I consider myself to be extremely fit and athletic.<span> </span>Nevertheless, I confess that I soon collapsed in the shade on the front porch, panting like a young lion.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, there was my silly mistress and her friends, still out capering and celebrating beneath the blazing sun.<span> </span>I’d have concluded that witches must be impervious to the heat – except for the fact that they were all very red faced and their skin was leaking water at an alarming rate. <span> </span>This was truly Midsummer Madness!</div><div class="MsoNormal">It occurred to me that none of them are exactly kittens anymore.<span> </span>I fully expected one of the witches to topple over at any moment taking the others with her in a domino effect…and then what would I do?<span> </span>Call 911?<span> </span>Get the dogs to assist me in dragging their limp carcasses into the pond, one by one, to revive them?<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">You can imagine my extreme state of agitation and concern as I pondered the various courses of action!</div><div class="MsoNormal">I finally decided upon the only sensible solution… I closed my eyes and took a nice, long nap.</div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7205677235041864629.post-84996393424804732752011-06-15T14:28:00.000-07:002011-07-01T18:52:00.681-07:00Superstition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VwCLc0KUrjg/Tfkj6K0g_GI/AAAAAAAAACk/iUpNHdlz02Y/s1600/grim+Sweetness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VwCLc0KUrjg/Tfkj6K0g_GI/AAAAAAAAACk/iUpNHdlz02Y/s200/grim+Sweetness.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><span id="goog_1262870366"></span><span id="goog_1262870367"></span> It wasn’t my fault! </div><div class="MsoNormal">And who the heck makes tables with only 3 legs? They’re dangerous – especially when a kitty comes racing into a room and lands on top of one.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Over went the table and every blessed object that was on it ...including me! </div><div class="MsoNormal">As I sat in the midst of the rubble, my head swimming and congratulating myself on escaping any injury, my witch came rushing in. She stopped on the threshold and surveyed the damage.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I was on the verge of assuring her that everything was fine because I hadn’t been hurt, when she suddenly wailed: “Grimalkin! My favorite mirror!”</div><div class="MsoNormal">I glanced down at the shards of thick glass mingled with the rest of the debris.</div><div class="MsoNormal">“That’s seven years of bad luck for YOU, mister!” she said sternly.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Me??? It was <b><i>her</i></b> mirror! Why should <b><i>I </i></b>have the bad luck?</div><div class="MsoNormal">Then I saw the look on her face and realized it was because it will probably take her that long to forgive me.</div></div>Grimalkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13384243880670180901noreply@blogger.com3