Getting Back to Normal

Things have been kind of crazy around here for the last few days while I tried to get some support for Rich’s CAF fundraiser.  I enjoyed trying to help out, but that was tough work!  Now that I’ve picked a winner of my mug, I’m hoping that I can just get back to being a kitty.  A big “thank you” to all of those who donated.

I think the old guy may be losing it.  He hid my mouse, Fuzzy, and owl, Soren, when he tried to have me select a winner of the mug.  Then, he couldn’t remember where he hid them.  Weird old man!  He finally remembered where they were and gave me back my favorite toys.

It’s nice to get back to just being a kitten again, but I sure hope Rich reaches his goal of raising $5,000 for CAF.  That would be really awesome.

Rod tells me there’s a big celebration coming up on July 4^th to recognize the founding of our nation.  He keeps telling me not to be scared when the fireworks start going off.  I’m sure glad I’m an inside cat and won’t be outside when all the celebrating starts.        

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Okay, it was a drag, but I finally helped the old guy pick a winner of the mug with my mug on it.

And the winner is…

SIGMUND (SONNY) KARDAS

Congratulations to Sonny and a big THANK YOU to all of you who contributed to help me raise money toward Rich’s fundraiser for the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF).  My contest for the mug is over, but Rich will continue with his fundraiser through his 50^th birthday on July 17.  He has a goal of $5,000 and still has a long way to go, so please retweet his posts and share his Facebook posts.  I’m going to go back to just being a playful kitten.  I hope you continue to enjoy my posts.

To donate to CAF, please go to: http://raceforareason2011.kintera.org/richcruse50

Thinks Aren't Going As Planned.

I don’t know what kind of game the old guy thinks he’s playing, but I’m not in the mood for it.  He said something about me choosing a winner of my mug but I really don’t understand what I’m supposed to do.  Rod, you need to make it simpler if you want my cooperation.  I’m a kitten, not a game show host.

I Need Room To Relax

I enjoy all the fun things I have to play with, but sometimes I want to relax a little.  The old guy keeps leaving a bunch of stuff on the coffee table where I like to lay and stretch out a little.  He really needs to clean things up.  One item is a cute kitten calendar that would look great hanging in the kitchen.  Come on Rod, get off your chair and do a little housework.

I’m also hoping I can get a couple more donations for Rich’s CAF fundraiser before the end of the day.  I need at least one or two of my fans to contribute so I can have a drawing after 5PM to see who gets my beautiful mug on a mug.  Just two more $10 donations would do the trick.  Purrrty please!

To donate to CAF, please go to:http://raceforareason2011.kintera.org/richcruse50

Email Rod at rodcruse@gmail.com with your name so he can verify the donation was received by CAF. Good Luck and thank you for supporting Challenged Athletes Foundation and me!

Follow @CrusePhoto, @CAFoundation and @TibblestheCat on Twitter for the latest news.

I'm a Little Depressed

I'm waiting for some contributions to CAF

When I decided to help the old guy's son, Rich, raise funds for CAF, I thought my fans would be rushing for a chance to win a mug with my mug on it.   I waited by the computer all day to see donations come rolling in and...NOTHING!  I was so bummed.  Finally, one fan made a donation last night, but I still need at least four more before 5PM tomorrow, so I can have a drawing and send a mug to the lucky winner.  Come on fans...a $10 donation or more gets you a chance to win my mug.  That's a couple of lattes at Starbucks, or a few Rubio's fish tacos.

My mood really changed after I got the first donation and I was able to feel like my old self for a while.  I think you'd rather see me playing with my "stuff" instead of moping by the computer.

To donate to CAF, please go to:http://raceforareason2011.kintera.org/richcruse50
Email Rod at rodcruse@gmail.com with your name so he can verify the donation was received by CAF. Good Luck and thank you for supporting Challenged Athletes Foundation and me!

Follow @CrusePhoto, @CAFoundation and @TibblestheCat on Twitter for the latest news. 

 

Win my Mug on a Mug!

How would you like one of my fabulous Tibbles mugs?  I’m running a special 3-day contest especially for all my adoring fans to help the old guy’s son, Rich, raise funds for the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF).  Rich hopes to raise $5,000 by July 17 to celebrate his 50th birthday.  With a $10 donation or more, you have a chance to win this beautiful mug with an original Rich Cruse “mug shot” of me on it.
Come on fans!  Show how much you love me and make a donation to a great cause.  If I get at least $50 in donations by 5:00pm on Wednesday, June 29, I’ll have a drawing and announce the winner.  With all of my adoring followers, this should be easy.

To donate to CAF, please go to: http://raceforareason2011.kintera.org/richcruse50
Email Rod at rodcruse@gmail.com with your name so he can verify the donation was received by CAF. Good Luck and thank you for supporting Challenged Athletes Foundation and me!

Follow @CrusePhoto, @CAFoundation and @TibblestheCat on Twitter for the latest news.

The Old Guy Goofed!

The old guy tried shooting his first video using the iPhone4, but he forgot Rich's advice to hold it horizontally.  Duh!  I want to post it anyway because it shows me playing with a stuffed owl toy I got from Sonny, one of my fans.  Sonny also sent me a bunch of other stuff.  How cool is that?  Thank you Sonny!

Having fun with my "stuff".

I was kinda worried after the old guy chucked out some of my fun toys, but I've still got all kinds of fun stuff to play with all day long.  The tube Rich gave me is really cool.  I can hide in it and snooze, or pounce out at Fuzzy or the old guy. It took me a while to get moving in this video, but the old guy watches it at X2 speed as I  make the rounds.  One of my fans sent me some more things in the mail and I can't wait until Rod opens the boxes for me.

Mug Shot

How cool is this?  When Rich came down on Sunday, he gave the old guy a coffee mug with a photo of me on it as one of his Father's Day gifts.    I'm so photogenic!  Maybe I should start my own line of Tibbles products.

Hands Off My Stuff!

Geez!  The old guy threw out a bunch of my good stuff last night.  Now I need to make sure he knows I want what’s left.  The new tube that Rich bought me is really cool.  It even has a hole in the middle where my tail can hang out.  I like my old red cube as well, but it’s beginning to get beat up pretty badly.  Maybe I shouldn’t play so rough.  One of my fans sent me a message that there’s another surprise for me in the mail.  I can’t wait to see what it is.

Way Too Many Toys!

I now have so many toys, I have trouble deciding what I want to play with next.  The tube that Rich gave me the other day is really cool and all kinds of fun.  It's also a good hiding place.  Sometimes I use it to pounce out on the old guy when he goes to get coffee in the kitchen.  Today is trash day and Rod says he's going to clean up the place.  I need to tell him who's the boss around here and make sure he doesn't toss out any of my good stuff.



 

I'm Not a Devil Cat!

Tibbles, the Devil Cat

The old guy's son, Rich, thinks he's being funny, but I am NOT amused!  How could he make a cute little kitten like me look like that?  I'll find a way to retaliate the next time he's here.  Rod, you'd better replenish your Bandaid supplies.

Meanwhile, Rich is doing something really nice by raising funds for the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) in honor of his upcoming 50th birthday. He's been able to get some pretty nice gifts donated as prizes for people making contributions.  Check it out:

http://richcruse.blogspot.com/2011/06/raising-5k-for-caf-to-celebrate-turning.html

Today, he's offering a gift bag from Starbucks.

I have another new toy.

Rich, the old guy's son, had a new toy for me when he came down on Sunday. It's a tube and I'm having fun with it while I'm still checking it out.  Rod says my toys are taking up way too much space in the living room and that I'm going to have to choose which ones I want to keep out all of the time.  That's a tough choice.  He already tossed one of my wine cases and it looks as though he's ready to throw out the paper bag.  My red cube is also getting pretty beat up, but I think he'll let me keep that a while longer.  I need my own playroom.

Another toy bites the dust.

I had fun playing with this feather toy when the old guy's physical therapist, Troy, was here the other day.  He was teasing me with it and I was trying to catch it in mid-air.  However, it really takes two to play with this thing and the old guy is too busy trying to make a video of me to help me have some fun.  It's kinda hard to hold on to one end and play with the other.  I did my best, but in the end, the feathers came off.  Time for a new toy.



  

I Think I'm In Trouble.

Rich, the old guy’s youngest son will be 50 on July 17.  To celebrate, he’s trying to raise $5,000 for the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF).  Rich works with CAF quite often and is really impressed with all that they do.  I cleaned out my kitty bank today and made a small donation.  If you’d like to join me, here’s the link:

http://raceforareason2011.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=451145&supid=285201911

You can give as little as $10 to help this worthy cause.

I think I got on the old guy’s bad side this morning.  He keeps a lighted magnifying glass in the kitchen so he can read the small print instructions on the back of frozen food boxes and I have lots of fun playing with it.   Today, the back cover came off and the batteries went somewhere under the refrigerator.  I think the cover went under the range.  I tried to fish it out, but couldn’t reach it.  Maybe Rich can help me find it when he comes down to see us today.

Late Night Fun

Sometimes I get an extra spurt of energy late at night and I can always rely on Fuzzy to have some fun and games with me.  Unfortunately, the old guy didn't have enough lights on and the video he took of me is pretty dismal.  He needs to get some lessons from his photographer son, Rich.  I heard Rod say that Rich is coming down tomorrow to take him to a Diane Krall concert at Harrah's, Rincon for Father's Day.  That sounds like fun.  I'd wish my dad a happy Father's Day if I knew who he was and where he went.  Oh well, I'll just tell the old guy happy Father's Day and try to be gentle with him tomorrow.

ADHS?

Sometimes I have trouble concentrating on things for very long.  The old guy says I must have ADHS, but I think that—like most young kittens and kids—I’m just distracted by all the new things in my world.  There are just so many things to do and way too much going on.  Just give me a little time to grow up and I’ll settle down to a lazy, boring life—just like the old guy.

Tibbles Meets His Match

The old guy’s back has giving him a lot of trouble lately, so he had Troy, the physical therapist from Cardiac Rehab, come to the house to give him a treatment.  He put Rod on a special table and really gave him a good workout with all kinds of stretching and massaging.  After Troy was through, he played with me and gave me a workout like I’ve never had before.  By the time the old guy grabbed his camera, I was pretty pooped out, but I sure did have some fun.

The old guy is moving around really good right now, so maybe I can have some more fun with him after I recuperate.

A quiet day

I guess it was a busy weekend for the old guy and he's still recovering from all the activity.  I really had to get on him to open a new bag of kibbles for me, or I think I would have starved to death.

I've been kinda lazy today as well.  Sometimes I just want to curl up under the computer desk and relax while the old guy is reading the NY Times on-line. In the afternoon, the sun shines through the kitchen skylight and there's a perfect spot for me to lay and get nice and warm.  I guess I've got a pretty good life at that.

A sunny spot.

I want to be alone.

Helping Fold Laundry

It's getting harder every day for the old guy to do chores, so I try to help him out as much as I can.  He washed a couple of loads of laundry this morning, so I decided to give him a hand when he dumped it on the bed.  I thought I did a pretty good job of folding a towel, but he didn't seem to appreciate it all that much.  In fact he said that what I was doing looked totally obscene.  Geez, there's no pleasing some people.

Spaghetti for dinner

Yeah, spaghetti for dinner!  I really enjoy it when the old guy decides to cook some pasta for dinner.  It’s real easy to snag a couple of strands while he’s dishing it out and I can have all kinds of fun with it, even if it does‘t taste all that good to me.  Rod says he's going to have to get the carpet cleaned pretty soon, so I'd better have fun making a mess while I have the chance.

It’s been a really busy weekend for the old guy’s family and he hasn’t been paying as much attention to me as usual.   Friday was the 53^rd birthday of Rod’s oldest son, Greg, and Carli, his oldest granddaughter, got married on the same day.  He’s going to the wedding reception Sunday and his daughter, Jill, is flying in from Chicago for the occasion.  I’m hoping he’s going to bring me back a couple of little snacks.  They are having it at Iva Lee’s in San Clemente—a restaurant that specializes in gourmet Southern cooking (is that an oxymoron?), so I’m hoping for a few Cajun tidbits.

  

Where's the fish taco?

Yesterday, was World Oceans Day, so Rubio's had an on-line coupon to pick-up one of their tote bags free to celebrate the occasion.  The old guy went down and got one just for me.  That's nice, but where's the fish taco?  I know he must have bought a couple and he usually shares a little piece with me.  I bet he scoffed them down there without even thinking about sharing. Oh well, the bag is nice and big and I think I can have some real fun with it once I have it broken in a bit.  It's a lot stronger than the paper bag, but I'm going to work on it.

It was a paper bag.

The old guy went to the store again today and let me play with the paper bag from Trader Joe's that he brought back with him.  I guess I got a little carried away.  He says they sure don't make those things like they did when he was younger. Rod's gonna have to break out the vacuum to clean up my mess.  Sorry about that!

Just Stretching out.

My red cube is getting in almost as beat up as the green one was when it suddenly disappeared.  I’ve really got this one broken in well and it suits me just fine, so I hope the old guy keeps his mitts off of it.  Today is one of those days when I just want to laze around in my cube and maybe do a little stretching with no interference.  I’ll kiss up a little to Rod a little later and see if he has any chicken left in the refrigerator.  That would make it a purrfect day.

In The Basket

I think I've found my spot for the rest of the afternoon.  Don't bother me!

Feelin' Frisky

Sometimes I get a burst of energy and just have to let it out.  When that happens, it’s hard for the old guy to keep up with me.  I can zip around the house pretty fast.  After a while, I run out of gas and it’s time for a nap.  I think I’ll go check out the old guys bed.

Keeping It Inside The Box

I’m sure glad the old guy didn’t breakdown the second wine case.  I’m spending a lot of my time in it and having all kinds of fun with Fuzzy.  Rod thinks I’m pretty weird and is wondering if all cats act like me.  He says he thinks I need help.  Ha!  The old guy is petty weird himself.  He’s asking me if I’m a southpaw, or maybe ambidextrous.  What’s that all about?

Fruit Inspector

Grapes and cherries, and pineapples!  Oh my!  The old guy went to the produce market today and brought back all kinds of stuff.  I've seen grapes and cherries before, but this is the first time I've seen pineapples and cantaloupes.  He also brought home some blueberries.  I bet I could change the color of the carpet if I can get my paws on them.  All this fruit is fun to play with, but there's nothing here that I want to eat.  Bring on the chicken!

More fun with Fuzzy and the Cube

I'm so glad I found my fuzzy mouse again.  My red cube is getting kind of beat up, but I still have lots of fun playing in it with Fuzzy.  The old guy has even let me keep the wine cases for a while longer and I've turned the living room into my own entertainment center.  Rod's talking about it being time to get the carpet cleaned, so I hope he doesn't mess with any of my stuff when he gets it done.  I heard him tell someone on the phone that he's going to the produce market again today, so I'm looking forward to what he brings home.  He sure can make those cherries disappear in a hurry.

Fun With Food

It’s a new month, so the old guy tore off the May page from the kitchen calendar and I was able to pounce on it before he tossed it.  All kinds of fun! I can hide my kibbles under it and enjoy chasing little bits of food around all morning long.  I know, I know…I’m not supposed to play with my food, but I’m still just a little kitty.