OK, I accept that.  I've been been worked ragged at my job, I'm in a lot of
pain (either from the fibromyalgia, sore muscles, or - what I think is
probably the case - I have another kidney stone), so I'm feeling a bit
depressed myself.

I don't want to be overly dramatic and I honestly don't want people to rush
to ask me to stay, I just wanted to be sure I'm not causing problems for the
group - the absolute last thing I want to do.  So, OK, thanks for the honest
answer, Victor.

Oh, I can't be a drama queen any more!!??  ;>  LOL, again, thanks Victor.

Hugs,

CatNipped

Hey Victor!  Here's a cat story.......(this is a follow-up to the
first "Darla" story I posted a few years ago.  Didn't have internet at
the time of this incident, and have since moved into a new house - but
none the less, it's a true story.  

 "DARLA, YOU'VE BEEN A VERY VERY BUSY LITTLE GIRL"

I'm talking about my sweet faced little Darla........she did it again!

A couple of days ago, I was sitting right here chatting with my
neighbor Sandy, when our conversation was interrupted by some Blue
Jays outside.  Normally, the Jays just carry on, and on, and
on.....like when they're taunting a cat with a dangerous game of
"Catch Me If You Can".  However, it's easy to tell the difference in
sound between  "Catch Me If You Can"  and  "HELP! HELP! HELP!"  

Blue Jays are really lovely birds to look at, but no matter what
message they're conveying, it's not a pretty sound.

I jumped up, nearly knocking Sandy down, and in a mad dash through the
house towards the back door, I shouted to her over my shoulder "One of
the cats caught a bird".  I think Sandy was even more charged up than
I was, because she almost beat me to the door.

Sure enough, over the 7' high wooden fence and across the yard toward
the house, comes my sweet Darla with a large Blue Jay in her mouth,
going just as fast as her little feet could carry her.  She had to.
There were four other screeching Jays relentlessly dive bombing her,
as "pay back" I suppose, for taking out one of their crew.

I stepped through the doorway, on to the patio in an effort to
intercept Darla, in hopes of saving the bird. You see, It's become
routine at my house, as Darla often brings live critters home so (I
assume) I can chase them too. However, I could tell with just a
glance, that this particular Blue Jay was, without a doubt, quite
dead.

Now, when Blue Jays declare war, everything that is not of the Blue
Jay persuasion is the enemy, and it was looking like these Jays viewed
me as an even easier target than Darla.  So, since Darla's  Jay was
dead, that left one option.....try to get myself and my cat, along
with her afternoon snack into the safety of the house.  I thought,
'I'll just clean up the mess when she's done.'

As I ducked and dodged the onslaught of the dead Jay's comrades, Sandy
watched from just inside the doorway with a look of disbelief on her
face, and it became clear to me that she hadn't reached 'Journeyman
Catpersonism'  status yet when she stuck her foot out to block Darla
from bringing her booty into the house.  Truthfully though, I rather
knew it all along.  Sandy has 3 cats (and a d*g) of her own, but I've
lived across the street from her for 6 years, she comes over daily,
and still doesn't know my cats' names.

I hollered "No.......let her in.  These Jays mean business ! ! !"  

Sandy looked at me like I'd suddenly gone crazy, but stepped aside,
and WOOSH  goes this blur of white and black, and yes, blue past Sandy
and into my living room.  I followed, and Sandy (reading my mind)
quickly shut the door.  Once Darla realized that she was safe, and had
successfully pulled the whole thing off, she (very pleased with
herself) began strutting about with her prize, which of course quickly
drew a feline audience.

I like birds.  I don't like it when one of the cats catches one, but
catching birds is what cats do.  Well, some cats.  I think all cats
want, and even pretend to catch birds, but It takes a pretty clever
kitty to actually take one down.  So, being the doting cat mama that I
am, I set in to praising Darla, telling her what a clever little girl
she is, and saying to the other cats "Look you guys, Darla caught a
BIRD" while being careful to keep my eyes averted from the poor
mangled Jay clutched firmly in her jaws.

Louie came yawning into the room at that point.  He'd been taking an
afternoon snooze, maybe even dreaming of an evening bike ride, and was
no doubt awakened by the big noise Darla was causing.  The second he
caught sight of her sporting that Jay, he became fully awake, and
thinking that bird would look much better in his mouth than Darla's,
made a quick but feeble attempt to blatantly steal that dead Jay.   So
far, all I've seen Louie bag, are a few moths and a couple of lizards,
one of which was actually someone else's catch, and had already been
played with to death.

I scolded Louie, and told him to leave Darla alone.  If he wants to be
told he's a mighty hunter, he'll have to do better than catching a
dead lizard, or stealing a dead Jay.  Not to mention .........
stealing it right in front of me.

Sandy must have had her fill of excitement, because twice she made
mention of 'drinking a cold one' at her house, both times also
commenting on how noisy those Jays outside were still being.  She gave
Darla some well-deserved praise, and went home.  

I went for the camera…...

......and my husband, bless his heart, cleaned up the mess when he got
home.                            

(if you would like to see the picture I took that day of Darla with
her snack, I'm going to post it to a.b.p.a.)

(f you liked this story and want to read the first one I wrote about
Darla, it's on Flippy's cat page http://www.flippyscatpage.com/ in the
main menu, under "Cat Tails".

I didn't think I was being offensive, but I can often be rather dense about
bulldozing over people's feelings without ever knowing I'm doing it.  I
thought this might be one of those times.  You can't ever be too careful in
written correspondence, things can take on a totally different meaning than
what you meant to say - even smileys don't help.  I've read that 90% of what
we communicate is communicated by tone of voice and body language - when you
lose that communication, the written word seems so inadequate!

Hugs,

CatNipped

Nope, he is a spoiled brat rich kid and I would never do that to a perfectly
nice kitty!  ;>

Hugs,

CatNipped

Thanks Nan - I guess I was just being a big ole drama queen (Victor had me
pegged to a tee ;>) but, as I explained to Victor I love this group so much
I would throw myself on a live grenade to save it!!  ;>

I haven't heard back from Cheryl, and indeed she may have kill-filed me if
she thought I was attacking her.  I only hope that others will be able to
get in touch with her and persuade her to come back to the group - it sounds
like she needs to be here if she is still in so much pain.

And yes, you're totally right in that we have all probably lost someone dear
to us - Tweed lost her Mum, Lois her son, I my Dad, and you your DH, so
Cheryl is not as alone in her loss as she may be feeling. I know of no
better support group than the people here who are all sensitive, kind, and
loving souls.

Hugs,

CatNipped

Grief takes as long as it takes, and it's different for each person.
Everyone has different past experiences, as well as different innate
temperaments, which may help or hinder us from healing from a current
tragedy. There's no right or wrong way of grieving, nor is there a
standard time for "moving on."

I'm terribly sorry about your having lost your husband. And I'm glad that
you've found a way to go on. I hope that can help you show compassion
for others who've lost people they love, rather than insisting that they
recover in the same way, and at the same rate of time, that you have.

Joyce

Oh my, now you've made me feel guilty about not posting a Sammy story in so
long.  ;>  I've been thinking about doing a "Cooking With Mommy" story about
what I go through when I have to do that culinary chore.  I promise to get
right to it this weekend!

Hugs,

CatNipped